Her circle of loyal followers refer to her as “legend, hero and pioneer among women” among a long list of attributes. This is just the kind of person world-renowned rower and sailor Liz Wardley is.

On Sunday this week at exactly 5pm, Liz and her Mighty Tic Tac row boat were towed into the Majuro lagoon after navigating the open ocean solo for 41 days. She had to cut her original adventure short due to safety reasons with about 1,529 miles to go to her final destination in Papua New Guinea. She would have made a personal and world record as the first female solo rower to make it from Hawaii to PNG. Her arrival to Marshall Islands all the way from her starting point in Hanalei Bay in Hawaii is a staggering 2,183 miles – that in itself is a miracle and an accomplishment acknowledged by her fans and circle of family and friends.

The decision to change course to the Marshall Islands was not one Liz and her army of supporters took lightly, according to her website. Liz reached out to her older sister for assistance. The older sister and her boyfriend flew to Majuro and initiated a rescue mission.

The rescue boat departed Majuro waters 10:30am Sunday and made initial contact with Liz near Arno 25 miles south of Majuro one hour later. 

Liz lit up a bright smile at the sight of the private rescue boat, which was Captained by Spencer Hiram with her sister and boyfriend in onboard.

The tow to Majuro was slow but worth it in the end. Liz was welcomed at the Majuro Shoreline at Robert Reimers Enterprises and was treated with hot pizza and cold Coke.

The Mighty Tic Tac boat is worth over $60,000. The Tic Tac boat was destined for another adventure with a different owner in Scotland in the United Kingdom.

Liz’s claim to fame as an open ocean explorer began in 1997. She has been winning international races since then. Her latest claim to fame is her crossing the Atlantic.

For more on Liz’s international adventures, follow her on her Facebook page Liz Wardley’s Rowing and Sailing Adventures.