British Rowers Shatter Pacific Ocean record in Epic 165-Day Journey
After 165 grueling days at sea, British rowers Jess Rowe and Miriam Payne completed a record-breaking, non-stop row across the Pacific Ocean, arriving in cairns, Australia, on December 6th, 2023. The pair, aged 28 and 25 respectively, navigated over 8,000 nautical miles (15,000km) – an astounding feat of endurance that pushed them to their absolute limits.
A Harrowing Final Approach
The final stretch proved particularly challenging as strong winds threatened to push their vessel, ocity, away from land. Friends and family waited anxiously ashore as the planned midday arrival slipped to 2pm, then 4pm, and early evening. They finally came alongside at Cairns yacht club at 6:42pm local time.”Those final few hours where brutal,” Rowe said, finally standing on solid ground.”The wind was pushing us off the channel, and we honestly thought we weren’t going to make it. We ended up outside the channel and thought we might have to swim to shore. To finally be here, after talking about it for so long, just feels unbelievable.”
A Journey Fraught with Challenges
Rowe and Payne embarked on their enterprising journey from Lima, Peru, on May 5th, 2023, following a previous attempt in April that was thwarted by a rudder failure. averaging 50 nautical miles a day, the duo rowed in tandem during daylight hours, with one rower taking on solo shifts at night while the other rested in the cramped cabin. Their survival depended on a carefully rationed supply of 400kg of mostly freeze-dried food, a water desalinator, and a small onboard unit for growing micro-greens.
The journey was far from smooth sailing. The pair faced relentless challenges, including 9-meter (30ft) waves, navigating busy shipping lanes, and enduring violent storms that disabled their electronics. For extended periods, they operated as a “ghost ship,” lacking reliable navigation equipment or a functioning beacon. A particularly low point came on “day 140-something” when they reported a “chocolate emergency” – dwindling to their last two bars with over 1,600km (1,000 miles) still to cover – though they did allow themselves a small indulgence to celebrate England’s Red Roses winning the Rugby World Cup.
British duo approach Australia after rowing nearly 8,300 nautical miles from Peru – video
A Record-Breaking Achievement and Charitable Impact
Rowe and Payne have etched their names in the record books as the first all-female pair – and the youngest – to row across the Pacific Ocean, mainland to mainland, non-stop and unsupported. Their incredible accomplishment has also raised over £86,000 (A$179,000) for the Outward Bound Trust, a charitable organization dedicated to outdoor education and personal advancement.
Payne, who previously conquered the Atlantic Ocean solo in a record time in 2022, admitted there were moments when the enormity of the pacific crossing felt insurmountable. “our power was dropping, the water-maker pipes burst, but after nine repairs, we managed a bypass and just limped along with little power for the rest of the crossing,” she explained.”Every time something went wrong, we just looked at each other and went, ‘of course it has!’ But we kept going.” She emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, “It was really great to have Jess as a teammate. What was great was that we worked hard together, we problem-solved together, and we were always working towards the same goals.”
Rowe, hailing from Hampshire, has a proven track record of endurance challenges, including rowing the Atlantic, hiking England’s South West Coast Path, climbing Mount Kenya, and cycling across Spain. The Pacific crossing, however, represents a new pinnacle of achievement. “We had such a good time together, and we’re already excited to plan new adventures together as well. I wouldn’t have done it with anybody else.”
The successful completion of this extraordinary journey is a testament to the power of human resilience, determination, and the unbreakable bond of teamwork.
