Since our last roundup, one soloist has taken to the water. He is the only person rowing the world’s oceans at the moment.
This is one of the quietest times of year on the Seven Seas. It is hurricane season over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans — not the best time to go rowing. In the Pacific, hurricane season runs from May to November; in the Atlantic, it goes from June to November. Once these end, more rowers will begin their challenges.
Aurimas Mockus: Meanwhile, Lithuanian rower Aurimas Mockus is attempting to cross the Pacific Ocean from east to west. He started in San Diego on October 15 and hopes to land in Australia in six to eight months. His boat was built in Ukraine, modified in Lithuania, and then shipped to California for the launch.
After the first few days, he has started to pull away from the coastline of San Diego into calmer waters. The beginning of any ocean rowing journey is tricky. Near the coastline, you have to cope with sea traffic. Most also have to contend with seasickness as their bodies get used to the new routine of non-stop rowing.
A year of training
Mockus has never rowed an ocean before and has spent over a year preparing, including a trial row in the Baltic Sea.
“I had several goals — to test the autopilot and parachute anchor in real conditions, to assess how the boat feels in the open water, and how it rolls on the waves,” he said. “Also, to test the navigation system and communication.”
Buoyed by the experience, he wanted to start his journey as soon as possible.
“Since one Aurimas [fellow Lithuanian Aurimas Valujavicius] has already managed to conquer the Atlantic, I think another Aurimas is left to…row across the Pacific from America to Australia,” he said.
Aurimas Valujavicius crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 2023. He became the first Lithuanian and third person ever to solo row from Spain to the U.S.
