He rowed alone across the Pacific Ocean 8,990 miles but fell short of his goal by 33 miles. Peter Bird attempted to become the first man to single-handedly row from San Francisco in the United States across the Pacific. He almost succeeded, but approaching the east coast of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Bird encountered stormy weather and choppy seas. He was looking for a passage through the coral. Actually he was within one nautical mile of the reef when he had to radio for help fearing that he could not make it.