Mark Agnew
Kayaking from San Francisco to Hawaii, is this the boldest adventue ever? Photo: Troy Squillaci
Kayaking from San Francisco to Hawaii
In 1987, Ed Gillet kayaked from San Francisco to Hawaii and it was, and remains, the craziest expedition or adventure arguably ever. He was unsupported and spent 64 days at sea.
Before you say "but people kayak and row from San Fransisco to Hawaii all the time now", this was different. Ocean rowing boats and even ocean kayaks are specifically designed for long open crossings.
The rowing boats that complete the same route in the Great Pacific Race, for example, have a seal cabin at each end and water tight hatches for food. There are solar panels to charge navigation tools and water makers. If the cabin doors are shut, these ocean boats even self right in the event of a capsize.
Read More: Rowing for 12 hours non-stop
Ed took an off the shelf double kayak and used the other cockpit for his supplies. Apart from some reinforcing of the hull, there were little to no modifications. He removed the partition between the cockpits so he could slip down into the hull and sleep.
At night, he would tie two sausage like inflatables to the side of his boat and sleep. He navigated with a sextant, relying on sights of the sun and stars. Ed had no fanfare as he set off in his off the shelf vessel, into the unknown.
The Pacific Alone details Ed's epic journey.
He expected the journey to take around 40 days and had supplies that reflected that expectation. But it was an El Nino year, so the usually reliable trade winds that would have propelled him across were absent. With no help from the wind, he slogged on under his own power alone.
Although he laments the lack of wind, one wonders if a strong trade wind year might have been too much for a normal sea kayak. Was it a blessing in disguise or a curse?
Moving much slower than expected, eventually Ed ran out of food and relayed on fish and his tooth paste.
Soon, the newspapers began to speculate that he was dead.
If you want to know more about his epic epic adventure, you should watch the above YouTube clip and read Pacific Alone by Dave Shiley. Until you do, I won't ruin anymore of this epic adventure.
Some kayakers have made it across in specifically designed ocean kayaks. There are (relatively speaking) many ocean rowers who have made the crossing. Andrew McAuley tried to kayak from Australia to New Zealand and tragically died within sight of land. Others have made impressive crossings elsewhere - Olly Hicks and George Bullard island hopped from Greenland to Scotland in a double kayak.
But no one is yet to replicate Ed Gillet's epic feat from San Francisco to Hawaii in 1987.