They Did It!!! The 71 Percent Completes Epic Pacific Crossing Aboard Selene 49
Selene Yachts is proud to celebrate an extraordinary achievement. Nathan and Lindsey of the popular YouTube channel The 71 Percent have successfully completed their ambitious west-to-east Pacific Ocean crossing aboard the Selene 49 Classic Explorer, Ruth Pearl II.
What began as a dream of traveling the world by sea has culminated in one of the most demanding long-range explorer yacht voyages in recent years — roughly 10,000 nautical miles from Australia to the Pacific Northwest of North America, largely against the prevailing trade winds and currents.
An Ambitious Route Against the Odds
Nathan and Lindsey’s route took them from Australia’s Gold Coast across the Coral Sea to Fiji, then on a long offshore passage to French Polynesia (including Tahiti and the remote Tuamotu Archipelago), northward to Hawaii, and finally the longest leg of all — from Hawaii to British Columbia, Canada.
Crossing the Pacific from west to east is significantly more challenging than the traditional east-to-west route. It means pushing into trade winds, dealing with head seas, managing fuel carefully, and maintaining the vessel for weeks at a time far from support. The couple faced everything from calm, glassy days to multi-day stretches of 12-foot seas, mechanical maintenance underway, and the mental demands of continuous watch-standing on a small crew.
Through it all, their Selene 49 proved itself a capable and reliable ocean-going companion.
A True Test of a Selene Ocean Trawler
Ruth Pearl II is a Selene 49 Classic Explorer — launched in 2024, a full-displacement, long-range trawler designed for exactly this kind of bluewater passagemaking. Over the course of the voyage, the yacht logged thousands of engine hours while carrying Nathan and Lindsey safely through some of the most remote waters on the planet.
The couple has openly shared both the joys and the realities of the journey on their YouTube channel, giving viewers an honest look at life aboard a modern ocean trawler: provisioning for weeks at sea, managing systems far from shore, performing maintenance in the engine room mid-passage, and soaking up the beauty of the South Pacific when conditions allowed.
Their content has inspired a growing community of cruisers and dreamers who follow every update.
Strong Ties with the Selene Family
Nathan and Lindsey visited the Selene shipyard in Zhuhai during the grand opening of the expanded facility. There they met with Selene shipyard and Selene Yachts Americas team members, including Founder Howard Chen, and Technical Director Dylan Hildebrand, who provided valuable systems knowledge and support as the couple prepared Ruth Pearl II for the long voyage ahead.
Selene Americas has continued to follow and support their adventure, and a special celebration is planned in Ladysmith, British Columbia, to welcome them home.
More Than Miles
Beyond the impressive distance and challenging conditions, Nathan and Lindsey’s journey represents something deeper. They left behind conventional careers and the “rat race” to pursue a life defined by experience, relationship, and time on the water — what they call living the “71 Percent” (the portion of the Earth covered by ocean).
Their successful arrival after months at sea is a powerful testament not only to their skill and determination, but also to the capability of a well-built Selene yacht to take owners wherever their dreams may lead.
Congratulations, Nathan and Lindsey. Fair winds and following seas as you begin the next chapter of your adventure in the Pacific Northwest. The entire Selene community is proud to have been part of your remarkable story.
Follow their journey on YouTube at The 71 Percent and on social media for the latest updates from Ruth Pearl II.
