Camila Barbosa Gouveia Sets World Record with 170 km Non-Stop V1 Outrigger Canoe Crossing
On 24–25 November 2025, Brazilian endurance paddler Camila Barbosa Gouveia completed a historic long-distance solo paddling challenge, establishing a new official world record in Hawaiian outrigger canoeing. The record recognizes her as the first woman and first person to paddle approximately 170 kilometers continuously in a V1 outrigger canoe (rudderless), without relay, without external physical assistance and without disembarkation.
The record attempt took place in the Baía de Todos os Santos, one of the largest and most demanding maritime bays in Brazil, located in the state of Bahia. The challenge began and ended at the Yacht Club of Bahia in Salvador, completing a full circumnavigation of the bay in open maritime waters. The total duration of the crossing was approximately 27 hours and 40 minutes, during which the athlete paddled continuously.
The discipline selected for this attempt was the Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe V1, a solo paddling category rooted in Polynesian tradition. The canoe used was a traditional V1 design, without any mechanical rudder or steering system, requiring all directional control to be performed manually through paddling technique, balance and body positioning. This characteristic significantly increases the technical and physical demands of long-distance navigation, particularly in open-sea conditions.
The challenge was conducted entirely in open waters, fully exposed to natural environmental forces such as ocean swells, tidal and maritime currents and wind variation. Throughout the attempt, Camila encountered a wide range of sea states. While some sections were relatively stable, extended portions of the route were marked by strong lateral winds, significant wave activity and predominantly opposing tidal currents. These conditions are typical of the region but persisted in an adverse manner for a prolonged part of the crossing, increasing both physical fatigue and navigational complexity.
Despite these challenges, the athlete maintained functional self-sufficiency for the entire duration of the attempt. Continuous paddling was preserved through careful nutritional and hydration management. Hydration was supplied through onboard hydration systems and supplements provided by the support team, while nutrition was frequently consumed while paddling in order to maintain momentum and continuity of effort. Only brief pauses alongside the support boat were taken, exclusively for hydration and nutrition, with no disembarkation and no rest outside the canoe.
A support boat, operated by experienced local mariners, accompanied the attempt throughout the route. Its role was strictly limited to safety supervision, navigation oversight and nutritional support. No physical assistance related to propulsion or steering was provided at any time, in full compliance with solo endurance record rules. The athlete used a single canoe for the entire course and relied on one primary paddle, with a reserve paddle carried onboard solely for emergency use and not deployed during the attempt.
The planned route was followed as intended, with only minimal and unavoidable adjustments made due to environmental limitations such as shallow or non-navigable areas. The course was primarily recorded using the Strava application, operated via a mobile device carried onboard the canoe. Additional electronic tracking devices were used as complementary tools but ceased operation before the conclusion of the challenge due to battery depletion. Intermittent video footage, messages and visual records were shared with an online monitoring group whenever network coverage was available, contributing to real-time documentation of the effort.
The challenge was witnessed and monitored by members of the support crew, logistics personnel both on land and at sea and individuals involved in the preparation and supervision of the project. Based on informal research and the absence of documented prior records, no evidence was found of a similar solo endurance challenge performed in a Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe V1 over a comparable distance and duration, either by women or men, particularly within the specific maritime context of the Baía de Todos os Santos.
Outrigger canoeing is an ancestral sport of Polynesian origin with broad international recognition and established practice worldwide. The discipline follows internationally recognized technical parameters, including standardized boat categories, solo and team classifications, accepted paddling techniques and endurance benchmarks commonly used in long-distance events across the globe. This record aligns with those standards while extending the known limits of solo performance in the V1 category.
The achievement has been officially recognized by OWR, which certifies Camila Barbosa Gouveia of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, for the establishment of a new official world record in the category: First woman and first person to paddle approximately 170 km continuously in a V1 outrigger canoe (rudderless).
Beyond its technical and athletic significance, this accomplishment represents an important milestone in endurance sports and female representation in ultra-distance paddling. It demonstrates the capacity of the human body and mind to sustain prolonged effort under demanding natural conditions, setting a new benchmark for future solo challenges in outrigger canoeing.