Detective Joe Konlechner is eager to embark on a challenging journey of rowing across the Pacific Ocean. Joe, a Child Protection worker in Taranaki, is part of a four-member emergency services team called the Moana Dogs. The team also includes firefighters Andrew Drum, Nick Graham, and Hamish Clapp.
The team is getting ready to participate in the World’s Toughest Row Pacific Challenge. This challenge involves rowing from Monterey, California, to Hanalei, Hawaii, covering a distance of 4500km across the open ocean. The team aims to raise money and awareness for the Child Cancer Foundation through this challenge, which is scheduled for June 2025.
Joe explains that they anticipate rowing non-stop for approximately six weeks, alternating between two-hour shifts. The journey will be entirely unsupported, making food and reliable water makers crucial. The team is excited but also recognizes the reality of the challenge.
Joe and his teammates are undergoing intense training and fundraising for the challenge. They have hired a specialist ocean rowing trainer from a UK-based company. The team has been doing strength and endurance baseline tests, which involve extensive use of rowing machines provided by a sponsor. The trainer will then develop their training programs for the upcoming year.
In September, the team will attend a ‘survival at sea course’ in Auckland, a requirement for the race. In October, they will travel to the UK for 150 hours of certification training with their boat, which they have already purchased. This training includes offshore rowing for up to 48 hours at a time. After the training, they will prepare all the necessary food and equipment and ship the boat to California for the race in June 2025.
Joe expresses gratitude for the sponsorship support they have received so far. He hopes that this adventure will raise significant awareness and donations for their cause. For more information about the team and the World’s Toughest Row Pacific Challenge, visit the Moana Dogs’ website.
