Man paddleboards from San Francisco to Hawaii in 76 days

WPVI logo
Monday, August 26, 2019
Man successfully paddleboards from San Francisco to Hawaii
Man successfully paddleboards from San Francisco to HawaiiRECORD BREAKER! Endurance athlete becomes first person to cross Pacific on a paddleboard.

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- An endurance athlete has conquered the Pacific Ocean. Now he's become the first person to cross the Pacific Ocean as a standup paddleboarder.

Antonio de la Rosa's journey started in San Francisco on June 9. It ended Sunday when de la Rosa arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii. The 50-year-old covered 2,500 miles of the open ocean using his arms, wind and the ocean's currents.

RELATED: Feeding whale greets woman paddleboarding in Half Moon Bay

De la Rosa used the "Ocean Defender" - a combo paddleboard and small boat with a sleeping cabin, storage bins, and solar panels for power.

De la Rosa says he lost about ten pounds. He never got sick despite very little sleep.

Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.