Kicker: Paddling the Pacific

MEGAN BASHAM, HOST: Antonio de la Rosa celebrated his 50th birthday alone on the Pacific Ocean. He sailed 2,500 miles from San Francisco to Hawaii on a tiny boat that barely pokes out of the water. 

The native of Spain made the impressive solo journey to draw attention to ocean pollution.  

But here’s the really impressive part: His boat did not have a sail. And when a reporter from KHNL asked if the boat had a motor, de la Rosa responded…

DE LA ROSA: No, no motor, no, no, no.

Then with a smile he pointed to his bicep.

DE LA ROSA: Only the motor is—this is a motor (laughs)

That’s right, de la Rosa paddled all the way from California to Hawaii—the middle of his narrow boat serving as a standup paddleboard platform. 

He ate dehydrated food and sometimes fished. He slept at night but woke up hourly to check on his gear. … He paddled 10 hours and arrived in Honolulu 76 days later.

AUDIO: Aloha! Welcome to Hawaii!

And with that, de la Rosa paddled into history as the first man to cross the Pacific as a standup paddleboarder.

It’s The World and Everything in It.

(Photo/Antonio de la Rosa, Facebook)

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