First Four-Man Team Wins Great Pacific Race From California to Hawaii and Set a New World Record

HONOLULU, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

The first of 13 teams competing in the Great Pacific Race arrives into Waikiki, setting a new world record and completing their epic 2,100 nautical mile ocean row.  They left Monterey, California on June 9^th at 10am and are expected to arrive into Waikiki, Hawaii early on Tuesday 22^nd July.

WHAT:   GREAT PACIFIC RACE, inaugural and first-of-its kind rowing race across the Pacific. The winning team will be crossing the finish line at Diamond Head in 24 hours' time.

WHO:    Team Uniting Nations: Craig Hackett (New Zealand), Andre Kiers (Netherlands), Junho Choi (Korea) and Caspar Zafer (Great Britain).

WHEN:   Tuesday July 22^nd currently estimated as early in the morning.

WHERE:  On the water: Finish line extends 3nm due south from Diamond Head Lighthouse, O'ahu

On land: Crew will row past Waikiki beach and arrive on land at the Yacht Club in Waikiki.  (1599 Ala Moana Boulevard) Check the website for finish line map and details: http://greatpacificrace.com/finish-info/

VISUALS: For best visual and interview possibilities, please contact Sandra Martin at sandra@newoceanwave.com  

At the finish line there may be some spots for select media on one of the safety yachts to watch the finish and get up close to the boats to take photos and videos as the crew rows to land.  Spots on boats need to be pre-booked in advance. Please contact Sandra Martin.

FUN FACTS:

• Team Uniting Nations never knew or met each other before they turned up in Monterey a month before the start: they had each applied individually and were assigned together as a team by Race Director Chris Martin.
• They are the first four man team to ever to row the Pacific Ocean setting a new Guinness world record.
• They lead the crew in second place by around 120nm and approximately 2 days.
• Their water maker broke 8 days into the race and they have used a manual hand pump desalinator to turn sea water into drinking water during their voyage.
• Despite mending their seats one has become so damaged that it no longer slides meaning that they are rowing without the use of their legs making progress slower.
• Each crew member is expected to have lost at least 30lbs in weight as crews consume around 4,500 calories of freeze dried meals yet burn up to 7,000 calories each day.
• Team Uniting Nations has completed the row unsupported although race chase boats have ensured their safety throughout the race.
• Craig Hackett is the first New Zealand male to row the Pacific and is Skipper of the boat, he is also a Commercial Diver from Napier, New Zealand.
• Andre Kiers is a Psychiatric Nurse from Beilen in the Netherlands.
• Junho Choi is a Marketing Manager from Seoul, South Korea and is the first ever Korean to row any ocean.
• Caspar Zafer is a Producer from Great Britain and currently living in Los Angeles.
• The crew has rowed naked a lot, as saltwater soaked clothing can chafe the skin.
• They generally rowed for 2 hours before swapping out to take a break while their crewmates take over the oars.
• The team have faced winds gusting in excess of 50 knots and waves higher than 30 feet during their journey.
• The race extends 2,100 nautical miles / 2,400 statute miles / 4,000 km from Monterey, California to Honolulu, Hawaii.
• No boat carries engines or sails as they are powered 100% by the muscles of the crew.
• This is the first ever Great Pacific Race which will be repeated every two years.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Based in Hawaii:
Sandra Martin, Great Pacific Race
+1-831-917-4184
Sandra@newoceanwave.com

Jessica Switzer, Blue Practice
Jessica@bluepractice.com