current Expedition

Rannoch R20 2014

MMSI registrant, USCG Unclassified Vessel

Originally from the Vancouver Maritime Museum, like her owner, had midlife body issues.  Born in 2014, she sat at the maritime museum with a hole in the stern hull.  After the kind at Tri-Parish Fiberglass helped Aaron restore her, the training began.

Fittings and Rowing began in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  Aaron rowed her to Horn Island, camping and building his relationship with ‘Smiles’.  The training took place for the first 10 months of 2021

Embarked Oct 9h, 2021 from San Diego, CA.  Aaron began to row ’Smiles’ to what the expedition believes is the circumnavigational point, the Panama Canal.  13 months, 3600 NM, 252 days, and over 6000 hours at Sea, Aaron reached Panama.  Nov 2022.  ‘Smiles’ became the first Rowboat to row from California to Panama.    Visiting 7 Countries down the Pacific Coast 

Looking back, the first 12 months rowing in the Ocean for the first time, had its fair share of learning curves.  Despite all the trials and errors, humanity prevailed.    

The official starting line of the circumnavigation, is the  Panama Canal.  Departing Feb 6th, 2023, the first of 3 Ocean crossings, started.  

Smiles and Aaron became the first solo rowboat to reach the Galapagos, marking its 8th country to date.  Aaron rowed roughly 1300 miles, including 500 nm backwards to repair the watermaker.  The row took an estimated 21 days

The journey then took global headlines, when Smiles lost solar power, and Aaron went dark for 33 days.  Rowing in the blind without navigation for an estimated 40 days to reach the French Marquises, Aaron surfaced in a life raft 480 miles east, after a capsize.  He was rescued June 15th, 2023.  They made it 480 Miles east of the French Marquises.  Smiles wasn’t not found, considered sunk.  Aaron rowed roughly 2700 NM 87 days.

Like her owner, Smiles is clearly a survivor.  1 year later to the date of Aaron’s rescue, she was found.  The kind of Matuku island, roughly 3,000 NM, SW, still alive.  Clearly on her own journey as well, with stories we may never hear.   She was spotted near Tonga on June 15th ,2024 and then found on July 15th, 2024 

With the help of Marc McElrath and many kind others in Fiji, Aaron was able to do a full restore, and row on.  Departing Fiji Sept 30, 2024, the expedition was adventuring on...

With Smiles 2.0 ready, Aaron set out to complete the row across the Pacific Ocean, roughly 2400 NM.

Aaron stopped in his 10 country, Vanuatu for 7 days.  Here was one of the many updates on his social.  A total of 87 days and 1920 hours at SEA.

87 days later, a stop in Vanuatu, Smiles and Aaron successfully reached Papau New Guinea.  Smiles has now travelled over 16,000 NM and reached 11 countries with Aaron, possibly a few more on her own.  Aaron has now spent 440 days rowing and 9,240 estimated hours at SEA

Completing the first Ocean Rowboat crossing from Panama, Smiles went thru the Torres Strait, in effort to reach the Indian Ocean, while avoiding the salt water Crocks.  The passage came with two capsizes that self righted and a rescue 10 miles offshore.  Smiles was towed 78 NM to Thursday Island, where he was able to refit the vessel and reach Lombok, Indonesia.

Update, as of Oct 14th, 2025, Aaron successfully made it to Lombok.  It is here, he will now plan his toughest crossing yet.  With an expected departure in April of 2026, it will be another worlds first attempt near Bali, to Madagascar.  The Indian Ocean, will mark Aaron as the first American to solo across.  The routing is currently under review, based on the arrival from the Torres Strait.  This segment is expected for the spring of 2026..  Cyclone season and possible routing to Indo and India are being considered.  

The inside coast of Madagascar will be used as far south as Aaron can go.  The route is still under review, but the goal will be to make the crossing to the East Coast of Africa, utilizing a few small islands.   

In order to circumnavigate ‘Smiles’ must get around the bottom of South Africa or thru the Suez Canal.  Another Rowboat first, but timed right, the currents will favor.   

Smiles third and final Ocean is expected to take place in 2027.  This will complete the world‘s first Ocean Rowboat circumnavigation, but the personal quest for Aaron, will continue.  Aaron may just look to redeem his first Pacific passage, calling Fiji, his official human powered finish line.