In the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, a solitary figure battles towering waves and howling winds in a tiny rowboat. Lithuanian adventurer Aurimas Mockus, 44, is attempting an unprecedented feat – to row solo and unassisted from San Diego to Brisbane, a grueling 12,000 km journey that could take up to 8 months.
A Novice Rower Takes on the Pacific
Remarkably, Mockus had never rowed before embarking on this epic challenge. He purchased only the hull and instruments, assembling the rest of the boat himself and training intensively to master proper rowing technique.
Setting off from San Diego on October 15th, Mockus was immediately confronted with the harsh realities of life at sea. In the first three days alone, he managed a mere five hours of sleep, his body aching and hands blistered from the relentless rowing.
When you’re in survival mode in a stressful situation, when you realise that you must paddle with all your might and that there’s no other way to do it, you just paddle, forgetting everything else.
– Aurimas Mockus
Battling the Elements
A month into the journey, Mockus has already faced his share of adversity. Unfavorable winds have forced him to row for 22 hours straight to avoid being blown off course. He’s had close calls with equipment failure, including a near-dead lithium battery and a broken oar shattered by a massive wave.
The conditions have been unforgiving. Mockus described feeling like a “zombie” after a particularly hellish week battling winds and currents. He’s had to ration his use of satellite internet and autopilot to conserve power, knowing that a major equipment failure could spell disaster.
You can’t joke with the ocean when the wind blows over 27 knots overboard, and the waves are more than six meters tall. The weather conditions were not very kind, but I dared to paddle because sitting and waiting is difficult.
– Aurimas Mockus
Extreme Isolation and Naked Rowing
Beyond the physical toll, the psychological challenge of extreme isolation looms large. Mockus admits that loneliness and homesickness hit hardest at sunset after a long day of rowing.
To stave off saddle sores and chafing, Mockus has taken to rowing naked for much of the journey, a practice that has an added perk: “The good news is that I’ll be back with a nice tan,” he quipped.
Rowing in Solidarity with Ukraine
For Mockus, this journey is about more than just the record books. Having previously raised funds and delivered aid to war-torn Ukraine, he is dedicating this row to the Ukrainian people.
I know it won’t be easy, but it’s not easy for the people who defend their country either, so I wanted to dedicate my rowing to Ukrainians. I decided to remind the world that the war is not over … We must remember the first day of the war, how we felt, and how afraid we were.
– Aurimas Mockus
As he battles storms, isolation, and the ever-present perils of the open ocean, Mockus hopes his journey will inspire others. “I aim to show that a simple, determined person can cross the ocean,” he said. “The most important thing is the desire to overcome and to force yourself to do what you want.”
With some 8,000 km still to go, Aurimas Mockus has a long and arduous row ahead. But with unwavering determination and a higher purpose driving him, this unlikely adventurer just might make history – one naked, grueling stroke at a time.
