Maclean brothers sign book deal for story of record-breaking Pacific Ocean row

Now the story of the Edinburgh-based Maclean Brothers is to be published in a first-hand account of the Scottish trio’s 139 day journey across the Pacific.

Three Brothers in a Boat, which will be published this autumn, has been snapped up by publisher Canongate.

The book, details Lachlan’s near-fatal fall overboard, 30-foot waves, dwindling food supplies and the claustrophobia of four and a half months at sea.

The Edinburgh brothers, Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan, first made global headlines in 2020 when they became the fastest trio — and the youngest, and the first brothers — to row across the Atlantic Ocean.

During their Pacific crossing last year, the trio launched The Ship’s Log, a daily email sent from the boat, which has since grown into a newsletter with more than 4,000 subscribers.

Ewan, the eldest brother, said: “There’s so much more than meets the eye on a journey like this. What people see online is really just the tip of the iceberg.

“Writing this book has been a privilege. It has allowed us to explore everything beneath the surface: the years of preparation, the emotional reality of rowing together as brothers, and the deeper impact of an experience that changed our lives.”

Youngest brother Lachlan, who turned 27 while at sea, added: “If you’d told us in April, before we left Peru, that we’d come back as world-record breakers, published authors and Celtic Connections headliners, we’d have laughed.

“We live in a world obsessed with rushing on to the next thing before we’ve properly arrived. This book has given us the chance to stop, take stock and properly reflect on what got us through the Pacific, what we miss about life at sea, and what we missed about life at home, as well as what we learned along the way.”

The Pacific row captured the public’s imagination, with more than £1 million donated to provide clean water for life to 40,000 people in Madagascar through the brothers’ family charity, the Maclean Foundation.

It also attracted an unlikely cast of celebrity supporters, who joined the brothers for a virtual “Dinner with the Macleans” while they were at sea.

Guests included TV host Lorraine Kelly, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, adventurer Ben Fogle, comedian Greg Hemphill and actors Sam Heughan, Ewan McGregor and Mark Wahlberg, who all shared freeze-dried meals cooked prior to departure by middle brother Jamie. Wahlberg, who said that he wanted to play all three brothers in a film, remains in discussion with them about a potential future screen project.

The crossing also saw them livestreaming with Comic Con audiences and playing the bagpipes with The All-American Rejects, to the mild-mannered brothers’ most heated onboard argument: who had eaten the most peanut butter.

Jamie Maclean said: “It still feels like a dream. Four and a half months at sea with only my two brothers for company. We witnessed 139 unforgettable sunrises and sunsets, dodged cyclones, weaved through South Pacific islands and sang under starlit skies.

“This book gave us the space to reflect on a truly life-changing experience — including our fears, doubts and vulnerabilities — and to be honest about the highs and the many lows of crossing the world’s largest ocean.”

Helena Gonda, editorial director at Canongate Books, said: “The Maclean brothers are modern-day adventurers, and their record-breaking story is deeply inspiring.

“I’m excited to share with readers the lessons they’ve drawn from reflecting on this extraordinary experience, and to show what’s possible through teamwork, shared belief and determination. We couldn’t be prouder to welcome them to Canongate.”