Couple will travel from Monterey to Hawaii by rowboat

A newlywed couple from South Africa plans to travel 2,500 miles from Monterey to Hawaii in a row boat. It’s a honeymoon like none other.

“Listen, relationships get tested in the best of times and we’re going to go through the worst of times,” said Riaan Manser.

Riaan and Vasti Manser were married two months ago and they want to be able to share this story with their grandchildren someday.

“I think we wanted to something different for our honeymoon, something more adventurous, and with him being an explorer, I’m in for the ride!” said Vasti.

The couple is used to taking on challenges. Two years ago, the couple rowed nearly 7,000 miles from Africa to New York. They said they’re more nervous about their Pacific Ocean voyage because they know how tough this trek will be.

“Oh, you can’t fight the ocean because the ocean never gets tired,” added Vasti. “When we reach Hawaii we will say she let us cross it.”

According to the couple, these types of challenges are more about the mind than the body.

“There’s no opportunity for us to give up or to give in,” said Riaan.

Both expect to find some fun in this adventure because, after all, it is their honeymoon.

“As long as we go with the motion of the ocean and not try and fight it, we’ll be okay,” added Riaan. “The boat’s name is Honeymoon, for goodness sake. We’re going to try and have a little bit of a honeymoon before Hawaii.”

The two plan to depart the Monterey Harbor Wednesday July 13th at 9:00 a.m., hoping to reach Hawaii in less than 60 days.