The three Scottish brothers who set a world record for fastest Pacific row — in 139 days

Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan Maclean completed the journey from South America to Australia in 139 days, arriving in Cairns, Australia, on Saturday, after rowing over 14,000 kilometres (9000 miles) nonstop.

Their reward: a world record, becoming the first team to achieve the full crossing, the fastest unsupported row across the full Pacific Ocean.

The trio from Edinburgh, Scotland, said they endured seasickness, injuries, and violent storms, including one that swept Lachlan overboard, while raising over €808,000 (700,000 pounds, $945,690) toward a €1.15million (1million pounds, $1.3 million) target for clean water projects.

The three rowed from Peru into the Cairns Marlin Marina, playing the bagpipes and waving the Scottish, Australian, and United Kingdom flags. More than 50 family members, supporters and fans, including their mother, Sheila, greeted the brothers.

In the hours before their arrival, the eldest brother, Ewan, uploaded a video calling the marina ahead of their approach.

“Do you have pizza and beer? I repeat, do you have pizza and beer? Over.” The 33-year-old said the journey was the hardest thing he had ever done, one he would have never contemplated without his siblings.

“We’ve shed tears of joy and laughed till our cheeks hurt,” he said.

Things began to look dire toward the end. “We seriously thought we might run out of food,” middle brother Jamie, 31, said.

According to the Macleans, the experience changed their outlook on life. Through the Maclean Foundation, the brothers' charity, they hope to continue fundraising for initiatives that will supply clean water to 40,000 people in Madagascar.

The previous record for the fastest full, unassisted, nonstop Pacific row was 160 days, set by Russian solo rower Fyodor Konyukhov in 2014.