{"id":385404,"date":"2026-07-03T21:40:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T21:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/385404\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T21:40:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T21:40:38","slug":"youngest-woman-to-row-from-california-to-hawaii-gets-shock-visit-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/385404\/","title":{"rendered":"Youngest woman to row from California to Hawaii gets shock visit in the middle of the ocean"},"content":{"rendered":"

A woman attempting to become the first American woman to row solo across the mid-Pacific got an emotional birthday surprise she never saw coming \u2014 an entire US Coast Guard<\/a> crew serenading her with \u201cHappy Birthday\u201d<\/a> in the middle of the ocean.<\/p>\n

Kelsey Pfendler was on the 41 day of her journey on the open water when a Coast Guard cutter pulled alongside her tiny rowing boat during her 2,500-mile journey from California to Hawaii<\/a>. Pfendler, who has been documenting the entire journey<\/a> on TikTok, posted a video<\/a> of the whole crew bursting out in a chorus of \u201cHappy Birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is so cool,\u201d Pfendler said after the crew wished her a happy birthday. \u201cThis is so special for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Pfendler<\/p>\n

Pfendler launched her ambitious expedition from Monterey Harbor at 6 a.m. on May 21, setting out alone to row to O\u2019ahu, Hawaii. Instagram\/@kelseypfendler<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The journey from California to Hawaii is about 2,500-miles. TikTok\/@yourowkelsey<\/p>\n

\"For<\/p>\n

For Pfendler, spending her birthday alone at sea wasn\u2019t unexpected. Instagram\/@kelseypfendler<\/p>\n

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Pfendler launched her ambitious expedition from Monterey Harbor at 6 a.m. on May 21, setting out alone to row to O\u2019ahu, Hawaii. The voyage was expected to take up to 90 days.<\/p>\n

The chance encounter was just as memorable for the Coast Guard crew<\/a>. \u201cThis is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us, truly,\u201d one crew member told Kelsey over the radio. \u201cIt\u2019s not as exciting as crossing the ocean.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendan, the cutter\u2019s skipper, praised the remarkable feat. \u201cWe\u2019re really excited to see you here,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it\u2019s an incredible way to show how impressive the human body is.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Pfendler, spending her birthday alone at sea wasn\u2019t unexpected. \u201cNot this last year, but the year before my 30th birthday, I was essentially in the same spot but with three other women when we rowed as a team,\u201d she said in the video. \u201cI fully expected to spend my birthday on the water for this row.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, she didn\u2019t anticipate the impromptu celebration. The video, which has been viewed over 5 million times, shows the two boats exchanging greetings over handheld radios.<\/p>\n

\"Pfendler<\/p>\n

Pfendler estimates she will arrive between July 3-5 at Ala Wai Harbor in Honolulu. TikTok\/@yourowkelsey<\/p>\n

Beyond making history as the first woman to make the journey alone, she\u2019s also on track to shatter another record. \u201cI\u2019m about 500 miles ahead of the men\u2019s record, so I\u2019ll be the fastest person to do this row,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n

Pfendler estimates she will arrive between July 3-5 at Ala Wai Harbor in Honolulu.<\/p>\n