Female rowing crew smashes Pacific Ocean race, raising money for good cause

HONOLULU (KHON2) — In an amazing test of endurance, Full Foarce, a four-woman crew (two of whom live in Hawaii) rowed 2800 miles across the Pacific Ocean in the World’s Toughest Row. It took them 38 days, 9 hours and 3 minutes to row from California to Kauai.

Against all odds, and even after capsizing and losing their rowing chairs, they finished in fifth place. They are one of only several dozen teams in the races history to make it all the way.

They said they did it, not only to prove they could, but to encourage others to follow their dreams and to raise money and awareness for two charities: Play Like a Girl and the Papahanaumokuakea Marine Debris Project (PMDP).

“Just seeing the amount of garbage out there, when we’re so far from land, so far from any people, it just blew our minds,” Full Foarce crew member Laura Newton said. “And it really inspired us, and made us realize this is a huge issue, and we are super supportive of the PMDP organization. And it made us proud to be rowing for them.”

“For the next generation,” Full Foarce crew member Cassidy Hurd added. “We hope that they can look at us as a source of inspiration, that times do get tough, and life is hard, and your your goals are going to be hard. Nothing’s ever going to be given to you. But if you put your head down, work hard, stay determined, like you can accomplish anything in life.”

They said they are selling their boat and plan to donate those proceeds to charity and that they also want to go on another adventure but are not sure exactly what that will be.