Publication date: 08/08/2024
Lena Kurbiel grew up in a world tinged with the sea and expeditions. From a father who was a champion sailor and a grandfather who was a polar explorer, she inherited a great passion for discovery, adventure and surpassing oneself. After several years of sailing, she took up rowing at the age of 13. The talented young woman joined the French team in both disciplines, winning two French championship titles, first in sailing in 2021, then in rowing in 2022.
Heading for The World’s Toughest Row
After several years of intensive practice, Lena decided to take on a new challenge. In 2024, at the age of 17, she chose to take part in The World’s Toughest Row Pacific: a transoceanic rowing race which, as its name suggests, is reputed to be the toughest in the world.
The top-level athlete details:
“The World’s Toughest Row Pacific is a highly technical rowing race held annually in the Pacific Ocean over a distance of 2800 nautical miles. It starts in Monterey, California, and finishes in Hanalei, Hawaii. Competitors race in doubles, 3s, 4s or 5s on a transoceanic rowing boat, choosing the strategic route to take.”
The decision to take part was made by Lena just a few months before the start of the race – in February 2024, when the event kicks off on June 8 in California.
4 months of intense preparation
Lena is still a student. In parallel with her final year of high school, the determined sportswoman is undertaking intensive preparation, as well as a search for sponsors willing to support her in her project. The Port Adhoc group will be delighted to support her in this new adventure.
To readers of our site, Lena explains that she concentrated what should have been 2 years of preparation into 4 months:
“I prepared myself mentally and physically, with the support of my family, alongside my studies and my usual rowing practice. At the same time, I took part in the Championnats de France Bateaux Courts 2024, where I finished 4th!”
Registered to take part in The World’s Toughest Row as a double, Lena will do most of her preparation solo:
“I met my teammate, Liz Wardley, over the Easter vacations. We trained together for two weeks in England. The rest of the preparation was done remotely, and we met up again in California just one week before departure.”
A memorable race
It’s time for Lena to set off, accompanied by Liz, her Australian partner.
The two women set off on June 8, 2024 aboard their Tic Tac boat. During the first two weeks of sailing, they were ahead of the other 8 teams. “We had chosen the best route: the one that allowed us to go the fastest, and stay ahead of our competitors!” explains Lena.
“The days varied according to the conditions we encountered. Generally, we both rowed during the day, almost all the time and without a break – especially when there was no wind! In the evening and at night, when conditions were good, we’d each stand two-hour shifts. When the going got tough, we’d do a one-hour shift together, followed by a 30-minute solo shift each, to give the other a chance to rest.”
On the transoceanic vessel, Lena and Liz packed the bare minimum: water, freeze-dried food and the obligatory safety equipment. All in all, this equipment brought Tic Tac’s weight to almost a ton, to be moved by the strength of the athletes’ arms!
Thanks to a telephone with a satellite connection, Lena was in regular contact with her parents. On land, they were in charge of relaying the team’s progress in the race, notably on social networks.
“Our choice of a southerly route did not produce the results we had hoped for. The wind and current predicted by the weather files never showed up and, from day 20 onwards, we started to be overtaken by other teams. But Liz and I are competitors and we didn’t give up: we worked hard to catch up with the competitors ahead!”
Youngest person to row across the Pacific Ocean
Lena and Liz will cross the finish line in Hawaii on July 15, 2024. In all, it will have taken them 37 days, 16 hours and 33 minutes to cover the 5,000-plus kilometer race distance.
The team came 3rd overall and 2nd among women’s crews. They also came 2nd in the double-handed crews, which means that Lena and Liz are now the second-fastest pair of rowers in the world – just 5 hours after the world record.
Thanks to her participation in this transoceanic rowing competition, Lena is the youngest person in history to row across the Pacific Ocean.
Port Adhoc, sponsor of the transoceanic adventure
By taking us with her on The World’s Toughest Row, Lena made the Port Adhoc team dream for 37 days, making us all very proud.
“I’d like to say that there were two of us on this boat, along with Liz, but this transoceanic rowing race would never have been possible without your support, ashore. I’d like to thank the Port Adhoc group for their financial support, but also for the invaluable advice the team members were able to give me. Liz and I were proud to wear the Port Adhoc colors throughout the crossing, especially when we were at the top of the leaderboard.”
The World’s Toughest Row has made a significant contribution to Lena’s career as a top-level athlete:
“Before the race, I thought I knew what it meant to go beyond my limits. After this transoceanic crossing, I realize that I had no idea!”
Finally, beyond the sporting performance, the race was an unforgettable experience that left a lasting impression on her:
“Before setting off, my father often told me that the road itself is a destination. How right he was! They say adolescence is a metamorphosis… that word takes on a whole new meaning in the middle of an ocean.”
Asked about her plans for the future, Lena confides that she’d like to row across a new ocean. And why not explore the Far North herself, following in her grandparents’ footsteps?
