Female US rower completes historic solo journey from California to Hawaii
Kelsey Pfendler set out to become first US woman, youngest woman and fastest woman to solo over 2,400-mile journey
A Grand Canyon river-rafting guide who aimed to become the first US woman to row solo across the mid-Pacific has completed a record-breaking journey from California to Hawaii .
Hundreds of people gathered to cheer on Kelsey Pfendler as she pulled into a Honolulu harbor on Friday night on her 21ft rowboat, Lily, after nearly a month and a half at sea, local media reported.
Pfendler appears to have broken both the previous women’s speed record as well as the men’s speed record, according to records maintained by Ocean Rowing Society International, which adjudicates ocean-rowing achievements for Guinness World Records . The organization didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press about Pfendler’s finish.
The rowing society’s online records showed on Saturday morning that Pfendler finished in just under 44 days, faster than the previous comparable female record-holder’s 86 days or the male record holder’s 52 days as recorded by both the society and Guinness World Records .