A four man crew is set to shove off from La Push, Washington, on Friday, May 1, 2026, aiming for a roughly 3,100 mile, human powered row to Maui. The voyage will unfold without sails, engines or a support vessel, so the team will depend solely on rotating shifts at the oars, navigation and their onboard systems. Organizers estimate the crossing could take between 50 and 70 days, with a hoped for mid summer arrival in Hawaiian waters.
The Row West team, made up of Joshua Dukes, Greg Anderson, Johnny Martinez and Wilton Ngotel, will depart the rugged Pacific Northwest coast to begin the transpacific attempt, as reported by Big Island Now. Dukes, a former Maui firefighter, told the outlet, “This journey is about more than crossing an ocean; it’s about pushing beyond perceived limits.” The outlet also notes that a portion of funds raised during the expedition will benefit Aerial Recovery, a nonprofit the crew supports.
Who’s on board and how to track them
According to the team’s website, Row West Pacific, the crew combines military veterans, endurance athletes and community leaders, with short bios, sponsor information and gear details posted online. The site links to a live YB Tracker feed that will show real time positions, and it directs followers to daily video updates on Instagram and YouTube. Row West also lists a GoFundMe and a merchandise page to help cover expedition costs and equipment.
The challenge and the cause
Ocean rowing is widely regarded as one of the toughest endurance feats around, with crews facing around the clock shifts, long stretches of isolation and exposure to severe weather, local coverage notes. Beyond the athletic test, the Row West mission carries a service element. According to Row West Pacific, proceeds from the effort will help Aerial Recovery, which the team says trains and deploys veterans and first responders for disaster response and anti trafficking operations. Organizers say the attempt is meant to push human limits while drawing attention to the nonprofit’s work.
How to follow
Supporters who want to follow the crossing can watch the live tracker and catch daily video updates through the Row West Pacific website and the team’s @rowwestpacific Instagram and YouTube channels. The crew asks followers to check the site for tracker links, update schedules and fundraising details ahead of the May 1 launch. Expect position updates soon after departure as the team settles into its westward grind across the open Pacific.
