So how did you actually manage it? What was your sleep pattern like?

Well, so I think the solo Mid-Pacific is a really unique route for a handful of reasons, because there's a lot of failure associated with that Mid-Pacific row, especially the solos, because it's really hard to break away from the California coast, as, especially an ocean rowing boat, but a solo ocean rowing boat.

The current and the wind and wave direction predominantly goes south for the first, like, 300 to 400 miles off the coast, so you have to kind of fight laterally across the, the wind wave direction, um, kind of take everything beam-on until you get off the continental shelf, which is around 400 miles off, and you can kind of pick up the trades that are taking you to Hawaii.

Um, so I was very aware that weather was going to be a huge piece of the start of the row.

Um, I actually had multiple different possible launch dates that we had to cancel because it looked like a good window, and then the window changed, and that was a big part of, I think, why my first week was really successful, is because so much of that first week...

And really, like, the r- the, that type of row, that specific row is made within the first week, 'cause if you obviously don't get off the coast, you don't succeed.

[laughs] So we had, I think two or three different, um, launch dates that got canceled before I launched on my May 21st launch date, and we were just waiting for an opportunity where there wasn't as much significant wind pushing me back toward shore, um, as possible.

... or did you get some decent weather just pushing you all the way?

What was day one like, just leaving Monterey?

It was super emotional because I ...

So I was doing, like, an unsupported row outside of a race.

And, like, with these solo mid-Pacifics, the weather window is really important.

Um, so I had actually was almost about to leave and then had to cancel it three different times because of weather differences.

So, like, by the time I actually left, I had been, like, had the boat in the water, getting everything packed, getting everything ready, and then had to call it off because, like, the weather had changed.

And then by the time I finally got the weather window and it stayed and it was perfect, um, I had, like, gone through that so much that it was, it was definitely, like, an emotional experience.

Can you share some of the harder moments you had on the boat?

Now, uh, with that w- uh, kind of feisty pre- early weather, uh, what kind of experiences did you have? Did you ever have a knockdown?

Oh, yeah.

Um, I didn't capsize this time.

I capsized my first row, but I got lucky enough to not capsize on this row, but I did have moments where I thought I was going to.

Um, it was a real- it was, like looking back on it, it was a really cool thing to experience on the water, where I, I, I think it was day like four.

Um, my weather team was like, "There is a system coming through at like 3:00 a.m. You're gonna hit it." And like looking at the, um, the forecast, you know, those v- like, uh, if you've ever seen Windy, that visual aspect, you can kinda see the, the radar and what's coming at you.

And it was just like this thick band that kind of hit like a brick wall all at once at like 3:00 a.m. And I, I w- you know, I was on deck kinda like waiting for that weather system to hit me, and it was just like this wall came through at like 3:00 a.m. of like 30 to 35 knot winds and driving rain from the side, and it was still dark, obviously.

so how far out were you, uh, when you realized it was gonna be a big deal when you got there?

And what has made you, like, bold in this way when it comes to coexisting with such wild waters in both the river and the ocean?

Well, I think there's, like, a lot there.

In one question.

So I...

We could talk the whole hour about that, right? Yeah, for sure.

I have always loved... water specifically because I think it represents such a powerful force.

I think there's something really beautiful about being able to be in a place where you are very obviously not in control of the situation.

What was that like for you to realize like so many people were so excited about this journey you were on?

Oh.

Because [laughs] she got inundated so f- quickly, and I felt so bad because it w- I didn't expect anyone to care about my story, so I was like, "Oh, you'll just like, you know, it's just like daily updates.

I'll just send it to you.

You put it up.

It's fine." Um, but I was making all of the stuff, obviously.

I, I had, um, I had different, a few different types of like, just like waterproof cameras, like, you know, action cameras, and I was just like thinking about what I wanted to share.

Um, and I, I knew going into it I wanted to do daily updates because I think it, it was just like a good routine for me, and it would've, it kept me kind of like accountable to making stuff.

It's like, to see what the limit is, um, and to see what you find there, right? And my, I guess my question is, is that some, a way that you process through these long journeys or these experiences? And if so, what did you find there?

So what are some of the things you saw that motivated you to- Take this specific distance.

Well, that's actually a great question because I, the reason I did my first row, so I did a, a team row in 2024 with three other women.

Same route essentially.

I went to Kauai.

Um, I watched the LAT 35 women's team set the women's four record, um, in, I think it was 2022.

And, um, watching their row, seeing that that was even possible was a huge motivating factor for me to start planning my first row.

I knew about ocean rowing.

Like, y- you miss her already, huh?

The 32-year-old spends much of the year guiding rafting trips through the Grand Canyon, and also works as an emergency room technician during the off-season.

I love boats.

I love long expeditions.

I've been a river guide since I was 18 years old, and I just, I love boats in the middle of nowhere.

I did a, a row, um, with a team of four to Hawaii from California in 2024, and I loved it so much I knew I needed to find a way to get back to doing another row.

Kelsey hopes this journey inspires others to set difficult goals and challenge themselves.

So think about what your scary thing is, and, and, and find it and chase it because that's what we're here for, to be alive and to, to feel it all, and to feel the good and the bad and the whole spectrum of the emotions, and you guys are super capable and just as strong as you wanna be.