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19 October 2025

British Women Set Pacific Rowing Record After Grueling Journey

After 165 days at sea, Jess Rowe and Miriam Payne become the first all-female crew to row non-stop and unsupported from Peru to Australia, overcoming storms, equipment failures, and exhaustion to set a new world record.

When Jess Rowe and Miriam Payne finally stepped off their small vessel onto the docks of Cairns Yacht Club, the sun had long dipped below the horizon. A small crowd of friends, family, and supporters had gathered in the evening darkness to welcome them, their faces lit by the glow of anticipation and relief. The two British women—Rowe, 28, from Hampshire, and Payne, 25, from East Yorkshire—had just completed a feat that would etch their names into the annals of maritime history: the first all-female, non-stop, unsupported row across the Pacific Ocean, from Peru to Australia.

The journey, which began on May 5, 2025, after an aborted first attempt in April due to a broken rudder, spanned 8,000 nautical miles (about 15,000 km) and lasted 165 days. Their nine-meter boat, Velocity, became both sanctuary and crucible as they faced the unrelenting challenges of the world’s largest ocean. According to BBC News, the duo rowed in two-hour shifts, sleeping in snatches and surviving on a diet of freeze-dried food, fish they caught, and micro-greens grown onboard. Their arrival at 18:42 local time on October 18, 2025, was met with joy, exhaustion, and a sense of disbelief. "It doesn't feel real. It hasn't really sunk in yet. It feels like only yesterday we left Peru to set off on the Pacific Ocean, but it's amazing to be in Australia," Rowe told Sky News.

Their adventure was anything but smooth sailing. The Pacific, at times, offered up calm weather—ironically, a greater challenge than storms, as the stifling heat made rowing grueling. "We didn't really have any storms, although we had some times where there were big waves. A lot of the time we had really calm weather, which is actually a lot harder, and the rowing is harder and it's really hot. It's quite intense heat," Rowe recounted to Sky News. Equipment failures were a constant companion. Early in the trip, a burst pipe in their water-maker threatened their very survival. Payne explained to The Guardian, "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. Every time something went wrong, we just looked at each other and went, 'of course it has!' But we kept going."

Power issues plagued Velocity throughout the voyage. Their solar system, essential for navigation and basic electronics, proved unreliable, leaving them without a working beacon or navigation equipment for much of the crossing. As The Guardian reported, this effectively turned them into a "ghost ship," nearly invisible to other vessels. The two women navigated shipping lanes, skirted storms that sometimes silenced all their electronics, and endured waves up to 9 meters (30 feet) high. Yet, they pressed on, averaging 50 nautical miles a day, with one rowing alone at night while the other snatched a few hours of sleep in a cramped cabin.

It wasn’t just physical hardship that tested their resolve. The monotony of the sea, the endless horizon, and the isolation could have easily worn down their spirits. Yet, the pair found ways to keep morale high. Around "day 140-something," they encountered a "chocolate emergency"—down to their last two bars with more than 1,600km (1,000 miles) to go. They allowed themselves a rare indulgence, breaking open a bar to celebrate England’s Red Roses winning the Rugby World Cup. Payne, who had never been to sea before her record-setting solo Atlantic row in 2022, now had a second ocean under her belt.

The final hours of their journey were perhaps the most dramatic. As they neared Cairns, a gusting 20-knot headwind pushed Velocity off course and threatened to undo months of effort. "Those final few hours were brutal," Rowe told The Guardian. "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 incredible." Payne echoed the sentiment in her conversation with BBC News, explaining, "The wind was way higher than forecast, we pretty much had to row into a 20-knot headwind. We were outside the channel coming in. We thought we were going to have to run aground and swim to shore, we were like, are there crocodiles and sharks here?" Fortunately, a radio call to the marina brought reassurance of calmer water ahead, and with nothing left in reserve, they powered through to the finish.

Their accomplishment is not just a personal triumph but a record-setting achievement. According to The Guardian, Rowe and Payne are the first all-female pair and also the youngest to row the Pacific Ocean mainland to mainland, non-stop and unsupported. Their journey, which began as a test of endurance and teamwork, became a story of resilience, ingenuity, and friendship. "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," Payne reflected. Rowe added, "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."

Beyond the physical and mental feats, the pair channeled their efforts into a greater cause. Their expedition, named Seas the Day, raised over £86,000 (A$179,000) for the Outward Bound Trust, a UK charity that helps young people build confidence and resilience through outdoor adventures. The BBC reported that their original goal had been £80,000, but support surged as their story gained international attention.

Rowe and Payne’s journey stands as a testament to what can be achieved when determination meets teamwork. They faced down the vastness of the Pacific, overcame setbacks that would have turned most back, and arrived not just as record-breakers but as inspirations. Their story, marked by hardship, humor, and heart, will surely encourage others to push beyond their limits—on the ocean and beyond.

After 165 days at sea, the Pacific’s newest record-holders have shown that sometimes the greatest adventures are the ones that test not just the body, but the spirit and the bonds of friendship along the way.