ONLINE SEGMENT: New rowing World Record holder Kelsey Pfendler joins North Country News on Friday, July 10, 2026

HONOLULU- She did it!

After spending nearly 44-days at-sea and rowing 2,400 some miles from the California coast all the way to paradise, Kelsey Pfendler, a 2012 graduate from Adirondack High School in Boonville, NY, is now the first ever American woman to row, solo, from Monterey to Honolulu, Hawaii.

If that accomplishment was not enough, Pfendler is now also the World Record holder by shattering both the men's and women's speed record for the same journey.  

She set sale towards the end of May and arrived as America celebrated its 250th Independence. 

On Friday, July 10, 2026, Kelsey shared her initial thoughts and emotions on North Country News after first coming ashore. Be sure to listen here:

Row Kelsey image.