US Media Toast Record-Breaking South African Honeymoon Couple
A South African newlywed couple – Riaan and Vasti Manser – are making news in the USA where they have broken a record by rowing a kayak from California to Hawaii in 39 days… even though Riaan was injured during the first week when their boat – aptly named ‘OnHoneymoon’ – capsized. The 2,400 mile […]
A South African newlywed couple – Riaan and Vasti Manser – are making news in the USA where they have broken a record by rowing a kayak from California to Hawaii in 39 days… even though Riaan was injured during the first week when their boat – aptly named ‘OnHoneymoon’ – capsized.
The 2,400 mile trip from Monterey to Hawaii lasted 39 days, four hours and 27 minutes, breaking the 5½ hour record recently set by four men.
The adventurously romantic couple – who met in Cape Town in 1999 – had previously rowed from Morocco to New York City, a feat which Riaan believes made them feel a little over-confident for this challenge. But the ocean soon woke them up to the harsh realities of its force.
On the second day a massive storm capsized the boat and Riaan’s forehead was cut as he was thrown across the cabin.
Riaan – a renowned explorer who was the first person to cycle around the perimeter of Africa – told the Monterey Herald that “it felt like a car crash”.
From then on the couple checked in with a friend in Monterey – Jake London – on what weather conditions lay ahead of them, which enabled them to catch the winds, avoid hurricanes and make the trip in record time.
Their relationship also took the occasional hammering. He said: “We had some tough days… You start to play the blame game — like we would blame each other for putting the chili spice in the wrong place — you can do it by default.
“The best people with the best intentions getting locked up in a confined space like that would not be able to avoid conflict.”
During the trip the couple saw many whales but only one other human – a sailor who waved to them from his ship. They caught plenty of fish, but also noted that unfortunately the sea pollution was as bad as conservations make out, spotting “a chunk or pile of plastic every 10 to 15 seconds.”
Back on land Vasti (nee Geldenhuys) said: “All praise be to God. We only made it with His grace. Arrived in Waikiki, Hawaii after 39 days at sea. Breaking the world record for the fastest row accross the Pacific. And it is our Honeymoon.”
Riaan said: “Thank you world of good people. Vasti and I safely here in Hononlulu. Exact opposite spot from our home town Cape Town. We appreciate the well wishes and congratulations. Amazing how it’s just a determined, head down approach that can deliver amazing results. We never had the world record in mind. Good things happen when you put yourself in the path of good things. Hard work. Belief. Support. Cheers everyone. All of you in all the timezones across the planet. Aloha from Hawaii.”