Coast Guard Escorts Oliver Widger And Cat Phoenix To Shore In Hawaii After Voyage From Oregon

Oliver Widger and his cat Phoenix arrived in Hawaii with a Coast Guard escort on Saturday following a 24-day journey from Oregon.

Widger, 29, amassed nearly 2 million followers on Instagram as he documented his transpacific voyage with Phoenix, aboard a sailing vessel also named Phoenix. After receiving a medical diagnosis four years ago that carried a risk of paralysis, Widger began to rethink his life working a corporate job. He decided to quit, and cashed in his 401k to buy a boat.

Widger spent a year planning the journey, and ultimately set sail from the Warrenton Marina in Oregon on April 30.

On Saturday, a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu met the Phoenix about two miles off the northeastern tip of the Island of Oahu and escorted the vessel to the Waikiki Yacht Club in Honolulu.

“Olivers journey highlights the critical importance of having properly functioning safety equipment onboard any vessel undertaking a long voyage,” said Chief Petty Officer Justin Starks, officer in charge, Station Honolulu. “The presence of a functional satellite communication device, emergency position-indicating radio beacon, and adequate supplies significantly mitigated the risks associated with sailing solo across the Pacific.”

A warm welcome was arranged at the Waikiki Yacht Club, with live music, hula, and a gift table full of snacks for Phoenix, gifts for Widger, and cards for both. Posting to his Instagram stories after the event, Widger thanked all his supporters.

“Hello everybody. Today was wild, but look where we are,” he said, gesturing to the Hawaii coastline.

“Holy moly. I made it,” he said. “Ive gotta process everything that just happened, it was absolutely insane. But for those of you that came, thank you. For those of you I couldnt talk to, Im sorry. There were so many people there, and thank you to the staff at the marina. Thank you.”