American rower Kelsey Pfendler sets fastest solo time on California-to-Hawaii route

Kelsey Pfendler arrived in Honolulu on July 4 after 43 days, 17 hours, and 55 minutes at sea—the fastest solo crossing from California to Hawaii regardless of gender. The 34-year-old American departed Monterey on May 21 in her 21-foot boat. Her time surpasses all previous records on a route that demands precise navigation through mid-latitude Pacific weather patterns, where miscalculations invite headwinds and becalming.