Kiwi’s history-making row across Atlantic

Isaac Giesen has become the first New Zealander to row the Atlantic solo.

At age 26, he also becomes the youngest person to have completed that feat. He is also the first person from the Southern Hemisphere to row the Atlantic twice in a year, having completed it last year as part of a team.

Giesen took 71 days to row the 4815 kilometres from the Canary Islands to Antigua as an entrant in the Atlantic Challenge race, finishing his journey about midnight Thursday (NZ time).

Eleven kilograms lighter at 91kg, Giesen immediately set about replacing some of the lost weight with a big feed of chicken wings.

From Christchurch, ‘‘The Blue Rower’’ – as Giesen labelled his entry into the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge race – said his motivation was raise money and awareness for depression.

‘‘My motivation for the race and for raising money and awareness for depression is for my aunty who passed when I was 12 years old to suicide, as well as another two friends from the same cause when I was 19.

‘‘I want to do it for these people above who had no voice to speak out and to create awareness and more understanding about mental health. I want to help educate people about the pain it creates and to get people to start listening,’’ said Giesen, who has a degree in viticulture and winemaking.