Miriam Payne, 25, and Jess Rowe, 28, are just about to experience the adventure of a lifetime. To complete this challenge, they will row unassisted across the Pacific Ocean! This ambitious trip is an epic 8,000 miles! That’s three times the average length of most Pacific crossings, which average about 2,800 miles from Hawaii. If they can do it, Payne and Rowe will be the first-ever all-female pair to accomplish such a feat.
Their first try went horribly wrong. Her team’s rudder on their nine-meter boat, Velocity, broke 350-plus miles off the coast of Peru. Forced to abort their mission, the duo was ultimately rescued and brought home safely by their friend Alec Hughes, a Peruvian round-the-world sailor. Hughes ended up taking two days to get there to their assistance. Then, over the span of a week, he towed each one back to port for repairs.
Overcoming Setbacks
That wasn’t enough to stop Payne and Rowe from achieving their dream busting setback. They received support from Norfolk-based Southgates Boat Yard, which crafted replacement rudders that arrived in Lima just before the critical May 8 deadline to avoid the Pacific cyclone season.
Payne expressed the emotional weight of their situation, noting, “We were pretty much outside of international waters. So the rules are we can get rescued, but the boat doesn’t. Without Alec we would have had to abandon the boat at sea which would have been absolutely heartbreaking.”
Rowe further emphasized the urgent timeline and commitment of the all-star crew on-site at the boatyard. “The guys at the boatyard have literally been working through the night to get these new rudders made,” she said. Retrofitted for success, with their tech back in working order, they’re all set to get on the road together.
Preparing for the Journey
Payne and Rowe as they prepare for their upcoming crossing. They’ll either adopt the tactic of rowing at the same time or alternating two-hour shifts overnight. Their boat will carry essential equipment including solar panels, a water desalinator, and enough dehydrated food to sustain them with a daily intake of 5,000 calories.
Rowe commented on the physical demands of the expedition, stating, “It’ll be interesting to see the differences between our Atlantic rows and how our bodies hold up for that longer period of time.” She further noted that they expect to run into surprises as they move along their path. “I’m sure we will find a lot of unexpected issues that we haven’t thought about.”
A shore-based meteorologist will be taking them through the stormy Atlantic, with direction. This assistance helps them to continue to safely weave through our increasingly extreme weather patterns.
Inspiring Others
Payne and Rowe’s ambition is to create nothing short of a revolution. They hope to raise £50,000 ($66,355) for the Outward Bound Trust, which develops young people’s confidence and resilience through learning and adventure in the outdoors. Rowe conveyed her wish that their journey would encourage other explorers to step out of their comfort zones.
“I feel like everybody would enjoy it if they tried it, but people don’t try it,” Rowe remarked. She stressed their wish to inspire more people, particularly youths, to get outside and push themselves through more adventurous experiences. So hopefully we can get more people and more kids to go outside more, go outside of their comfort zone, go outside and be curious.
Miriam Payne and Jess Rowe are ready to embark on their journey across the Pacific Ocean, fueled by determination and the spirit of adventure.
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