The Current Statistics:
Thru 15 Countries
5 Continents
18,318 NM
604 Day At Sea
Over the recent years of expeditions, Aaron likes to say he is breaking (not taking) the records; he’s not interested in beating someone else, he wants to demonstrate to others what they might be capable of, too.
While this expedition happens to be one full of many ‘Worlds Firsts',’ some records (like the first to circumnavigate in an ocean rowboat), have yet to be officially recognized or set. So in effort to start that process, Aaron is logging all trip details. With the idea that this expedition is simply the bar for the next adventurer to come take, Aaron has set up the following rules for his journey:
The World’s first human-powered circumnavigation by Sea
The rules:
1
Any assistance (be it food drops, restock, tows, etc.) are all recorded and made public for future consideration.
2
Aaron will determine the total number of nautical miles travelled around the world for his circumnavigation and consider 5 percent of the total manned travel, as an allotment for assistance forward. This includes Torres Strait, Suez Canal, Panama Canal, and other stretches that are not safely rowable.
The ‘SEE Level’ Expedition, First 5 Year Timeline
The ‘SEE Level’ Expedition is a mission to understand the world in a more positive way, with hopes of connecting it, from Sea Level. Using only what one person can control—their own action steps. A personal quest for Aaron not always seeking God, but looking to SEE him clearer. A journey that helps anyone in need, through random acts of kindness. Highlighting the idea that we are all connected. Rowing for Humanity, that always wins.
December 2020
Aaron acquired his boat (a 23’ 2014 Rannoch R20 ocean rower) from the Vancouver Maritime Museum during covid December of 2020. Formerly known as the Honeybadger, she was abandoned and left to the museum after a failed ocean rowing attempt by her previous owners. Together the two midlife candidates, Aaron and Smiles (as he renamed her), embarked on preparations for a world record-breaking expedition, and See Level was born.
January—September 2021
Over the next nine months, training for See Level began. Rowing began in Ocean Springs, Mississippi; Aaron then rowed her to Horn Island, camping and building his relationship with Smiles along the way.
October 2021—November 2022
Launch Day. Aaron departed from Shelter Island, San Diego, California on October 10th, 2021. The planned destination was the official “starting line",” or the circumnavigational point: the Panama Canal. 13 months, 3600 NM, 252 days, and over 6000 hours at Sea, Aaron reached Panama in November, 2022. ‘Smiles’ became the first Rowboat to row from California to Panama, visiting 7 countries along the way.
Why does Aaron row?
“I'm an everyday human, turned adventurer and while some say I am the first to go for it, I just wanted to see how far I could go. After 18 years of adventures, this one requires lots of reasons, but my main three are the personal, the philanthropy, and the spiritual. It’s all part of my quest to live a more purposed life and see God clearer.”
February—June 2023
When the correct weather window arrived, Aaron and Smiles officially set off on the world’s first Pacific Ocean rowboat crossing from the Panama Canal, with the aim to reach the Galapagos.
Over the first 3 weeks, Aaron rowed roughly 1300 miles, including 500 nm backwards to repair the watermaker. Then, Smiles lost solar power and Aaron went dark for 33 days. Rowing in the blind (without navigation), Aaron continued on, making way towards French Polynesia. Then, Smiles capsized. Aaron surfaced in a life raft 480 miles east of the islands, and was rescued June 15th, 2023. Smiles wasn’t not found, considered sunk. Aaron rowed roughly 3130 NM over a total of 87 days.
July—September 2024
Like her owner, Smiles is clearly a survivor. One year to the date of Aaron’s rescue, she was found. First spotted near Tonga, she eventually washed ashore on July 15th, 2024 on Matuku Island, Fiji.
With the help of many, Aaron went all in again. After 60 days of repairs Smiles 2.0 was back in the water.
October—December 2024
On September 30th, 2024, Aaron set out to complete the row across the remainder of the Pacific Ocean, roughly 2400 NM.
After 87 days, he reached Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, where he begin his plan to be the first to row thru the Torres Strait and attempt to continue his effort to the Indian Ocean.
May—June 2025
On May 14th, 2025, the NW monsoon winds had receded, and the weather window had arrived. Aaron and Smiles were off to attempt crossing the Torres Strait, headed to Australia.
On arrival to the strait, Aaron found himself in breakers caused by wind against tide. He capsized again twice, but successfully self-righted both times.
Unfortunately, the situation got worse with loss of comms and steering. Approaching croc-infested waters at the river inlet and the areas of known political unrest if left to drift, Aaron was advised to evacuate. A team towed him and Smiles to Thursday Island, Australia.
July—October 2025
After another 45 day salvage and repair, Aaron and Smiles were off again on August 6th, 2025. They departed from Thursday Island, Australia, bound for the Indian Ocean. The voyage across the gulf of Capricorn near ‘the bite’ of Australia pushed them north, and they made landfall in Saumlaki, Indonesia in September.
A few weeks later, Aaron and Smiles set out again and rowed 30 days to Bali, arriving in October to Medana Bay Marina on the island of Lombok (near Bali). It was here he would wait for the winds to turn favorable.
What’s Next?
The next route, departs in October of 2026 when the winds turn. Aaron will attempt to be the first to row from the Seychelles down to Madagascar, then across to South Africa.
Aaron will then aim to complete his 3rd Ocean crossing (the Atlantic) in 2027, making Smiles the first ocean rowboat to go around the world.
That may only be Lap 1.
March—July 2026
Aaron departed from Lombok on March 29th, 2026. He spent 97 days rowing non-stop before reaching the boundary waters of the Seychelles, arriving on July 4th, 2026.
It became the first crossing ever from Asia to Africa, and included 10 days of uncooked rice and dried sardines, after the inverter aboard Smiles broke. Two separate boats came by to offer Aaron food drops and on arrival Aaron was able to commission a support tow to Mahe island, Port Victoria where he will now look to continue onward in effort to reach the Atlantic Ocean, by way of Madagascar and South Africa.
See Level FAQs
Where are Aaron and Smiles now?
1
Bookmark the official tracker to see current position and track history.
When will the Expedition be complete?
2
The estimated completion date is mid-2028*.
*Longer if Aaron decides to redeem his unmanned voyage of 3,000 miles back to Fiji.