Conversations Best of 2025: The young boat builder who rowed across the Pacific
Dec 17, 2025
Tom Robinson, a young boat builder and adventurer, shares his incredible journey of rowing solo across the Pacific Ocean. At just 14, he vowed to become the youngest person to achieve this feat and meticulously crafted his own boat. Tom discusses navigating by the stars, his encounters with storms and marine life, and the emotional challenges faced at sea. He recounts his gripping rescue after his boat capsized and reflects on the profound experiences of isolation and community on remote islands, ultimately finding closure in his journey.
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When A Dream Feels Real
- The first 75 days brought fulfilment: Tom experienced the exact wonder he'd read about as a child.
- Recreating Kon-Tiki moments made the voyage feel like a lived dream, not just a challenge.
Forced Change: Aiming For Pedron
- Strong southeasterly winds pushed Tom north and away from the Marquesas, forcing him to rethink landfall plans.
- He found a tiny dot on charts, Pedron, and aimed for it as a viable inhabited island to survive cyclone season.
Landfall And A New Name
- Day 160 brought landfall at Pedron after five months; villagers towed Tom through a dangerous pass into a lagoon.
- He was given the Polynesian name Mahuta Hoi Hoi Asanga, the warrior that has paddled from afar.