Father-son duo rows into Hilo Bay complete historic journey across the Pacific

It took 47 days, 14 hours and 53 minutes for the first father-son duo to row across the Pacific Ocean. They started in San Francisco on June 3 and finished on Sunday in Hilo.

Tim Crockett, 53, and his 18-year-old son, Harrison, followed the Mid-Pacific route from California to Hawaiʻi in a 24-foot rowboat named “The Kraken.”

While breaking a record was one part of the journey, the ultimate goal for Tim and Harrison Crockett was to raise awareness and fundraise for veterans struggling with mental health issues, disabilities and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Tim Crockett, originally from the United Kingdom, joined the Special Forces after graduating from school. Nearly 30 years after leaving the service, Crockett reconnected with an old friend from the military. Six weeks later, he learned his friend took his own life.

Crockett felt the need to do something drastic to raise awareness for veterans’ mental health and decided to get in the water and start ocean rowing with his son.

“The Kraken” was named for the creature in Norse mythology that was feared for its immense size and power. It is usually depicted as an aggressive cephalopod-like creature capable of destroying entire ships and dragging sailors to their doom.

“We see the Kraken differently,” Tim Crockett said. “It is a symbol of inner strength and the struggle that many veterans experience when dealing with mental health issues and PTSD. It’s something that must be conquered.”

Tim and Harrison Crockett conquered their own Kraken, landing in Hilo after rowing 2,247.1 nautical miles. They were greeted with hugs from their family, applause from supportive strangers, and warm food from the Grand Naniloa Hotel.

To make it across the Pacific Ocean, The Kraken was stocked with military rations, anti-inflammatory foods, and a cabin to sleep in for two hours at a time. They had to row for at least 12 hours a day.

In 2018, Tim Crockett rowed The Kraken across the Atlantic Ocean solo; but this row proved to be much more difficult physically and mentally for the experienced ocean rower.

“If you ask any ocean rower, every crossing is different. This Pacific row was much tougher even though it was 20 days shorter,” Tim Crockett said. “It was tougher physically and mentally, maybe because my son is on board. There was no variety — relentless gray skies, rain, and cold, and then it became overcast and hot with no real wildlife to speak of.”

Despite a year of training, and Tim’s experience with rowing and his military career, the crossing put the duo in dark places mentally, physically and psychologically. But they never gave up on their mission and leaned on each other for camaraderie and support every day.

Tim Crockett would update the Tame the Kraken instagram page as he and his son rowed across the ocean together, often sharing glimpses into their mindset along the way.

“The ocean reminds us; control what you can. Your breath. Your attitude. Your next stroke. The rest, you can just ride out,” Tim Crockett said in a video.

During the expedition, the Crocketts were fundraising to set up a new initiative — Row To Recovery, which will be a recreational therapy rowing program aimed at supporting veterans with disabilities or mental health struggles in Atlanta.

“The physical act of rowing has tangible effects on the body, such as lowering blood pressure, boosting cardiovascular health, and strengthening the whole body and immune system,” Tim Crockett said. “But also that repetitive process of pulling on the oars allows the rower to be absolutely focused on the present and not thinking about anything else.”

According to Tim Crockett, the program will combine the powerful effects of meditation with low-impact exercise that stimulates every muscle in the body to alleviate muscle tension, reduce inflammation, and lower the risk of chronic illnesses.

When not in an ocean rowing a boat, Tim Crockett lives in Atlanta with his wife and daughter, where he volunteers with Atlanta Rowing Club to support veterans with disabilities through adaptive rowing.

This fall, Harrison Crockett will be returning to the University of North Georgia to start his sophomore year. If verified, he will become the youngest person to row the Mid-Pacific route.

The Ocean Rowing Society is expected to confirm the official crossing time.

To learn more about Tim and Harrison Crockett, or to donate to “Row to Recovery,” visit the website at tamethekraken.us.

To look back on their journey across the Pacific Ocean, visit the Tame the Kraken instagram.