Day 34: Position: N 23° 23.44′, W 152° 56.20′ | Speed/Course: 2.7 knots / 290°
In a tiny 8-meter rowing boat somewhere deep in the Pacific Ocean, three adventurers are battling waves as tall as houses, fierce winds, and relentless fatigue. Among them, one stands out—not because she’s the loudest or the largest, but because she’s the strongest. Bela Evers, the only woman aboard Ambrosia, is in the midst of an epic, non-stop, unsupported crossing from Monterey, California to Kauai, Hawaii—a 2,800-mile journey across one of the wildest bodies of water on Earth.
And she’s doing it with the grit, poise, and power of a warrior.
Her ground manager affectionately calls her “GG”—short for Gal Gadot, the actress best known as Wonder Woman. It’s not just a cute nickname. It fits. Because like the superhero, Bela is tough as nails, built for endurance, and seemingly unfazed by adversity. She’s small in frame—slim, even—but strong as an ox, both mentally and physically. On this boat, strength isn’t about size. It’s about willpower, and Bela’s runs deeper than the ocean she’s crossing.
From the Atlantic to the Pacific: A Woman of the Ocean
Bela is no stranger to ocean rowing. Before tackling the Pacific, she rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, another brutal test of endurance and patience. It takes a certain kind of person to even want to attempt these feats—someone who doesn’t just tolerate hardship, but thrives in it. Bela has proven, time and again, that she belongs among the world’s elite ultra-endurance athletes.
But the Pacific is a different beast. This stretch—from California to Hawaii—is known for its unpredictable weather, monstrous swell, and soul-testing monotony. In the first few days of the current crossing, Bela and her teammates were hit with 40-knot winds and waves up to 35 feet—conditions that can capsize even large sailboats. For hours, all three crew members were on the oars together, fighting to keep their bow pointed into the waves. When the storm wouldn’t let up, they deployed a para-anchor and hunkered down, letting the ocean toss them through the night.
For many, that would be the breaking point. But not for Bela.
She pushes through pain and fatigue with quiet determination. She laughs, sings, rows, repairs, and rows again. She’s the kind of person who finds peace in chaos, purpose in discomfort, and joy in pushing limits most wouldn’t dare approach. In her own words, she loves being out there—in the wild, open blue, where every stroke is a victory over self-doubt and every sunrise a reward earned through grit.
Stronger Than the Storm
One of the paradoxes of ocean rowing is that the physical hardships—salt sores, sleep deprivation, cramped cabins, sore muscles—often pale in comparison to the mental battle. The Pacific doesn’t give you the dramatic milestones of mountain climbing; there are no summits to see, no ridgelines to conquer. Just ocean, all around, for weeks. It’s the kind of environment that wears down even the hardiest souls.
But for Bela, the vastness is part of the draw. The horizonless expanse, the rhythmic pull of the oars, the dance with the elements—it’s where she finds clarity and freedom. The unpredictable swells might seem like chaos, but to her, they’re challenge and beauty wrapped into one.
What makes her remarkable isn’t just strength—it’s resilience. It’s the way she keeps rowing through exhaustion, stays calm when gear fails, and smiles through salt-crusted skin and aching limbs. She shares space in a small, sweaty cabin with two teammates for over 40 days, rowing in shifts of two hours on, two hours off. There’s no escape from discomfort, and yet, she rises every time. Just like Wonder Woman.
A Beacon of Inspiration
In a sport still dominated by men, Bela is showing what’s possible. She isn’t just holding her own—she’s leading, lifting spirits, and inspiring others with every mile crossed. Her presence on Ambrosia isn’t symbolic. It’s vital. She brings strength, spirit, and a kind of fire that doesn’t fade, even when the storms come.
And this row is about more than personal achievement. Bela and her team are rowing for #Aquawareness, raising awareness about the value of clean drinking water. Ironically, surrounded by endless saltwater, they must create their own freshwater using a small desalination unit—and they restrict themselves to just 6 liters per person per day, highlighting how precious water truly is.
In a world obsessed with speed and comfort, Bela Evers is a breath of wild, salty air. She reminds us that real power isn’t loud. It’s steady. It’s brave. It keeps going when everything says stop.
So here’s to Bela Evers: ocean rower, Atlantic veteran, Pacific warrior, and Wonder Woman in every sense of the word. With every pull of the oar, she’s not just crossing a sea—she’s redefining what strength looks like.
