> global exploratory voyages were first accomplished by men...

This assumption seems strange. How do you think polynesians spread without both men and women?

If you're referring to the european age of exploration, they weren't rowing much at that point, rendering sex mostly irrelevant.

Ok I'll add the word solo which I interpreted based on prior comment but was context lost. But my question stands.

once they get there they go back and return with women would be a reasonable guess. All a guess though as AFAIK we have no idea why they left or who was on the initial trips, only that eventually they made it

> once they get there they go back and return with women would be a reasonable guess.

Off-hand this seems like it'd require twice the time, resources, and risk. Without some strong theory as to why an all-male boat would be particularly useful (but not necessary on the return trip), occam's razor suggests to me that this is a much less likely theory.

FWIW, the oral history does indicate both men and women were part of at least the initial settling of new zealand by polynesians: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kupe. Even if this is entirely mythical, it does speak to the cultural understanding of settling.

The all male boat sounds like 'young men' going on an adventure (possibly solo, possibly as a right of passage). They were not settlers, just exploring because it is fun. When they for whatever reason decide to leave with family they know where to go and what is needed.

we of course wouldn't have exidence if that happened as cultures change. Whatever caused a desire to settle would change culture.