NoodleNarwhal
Well-known member
Jess Rowe and Miriam Payne finally broke through the seemingly endless expanse of Pacific Ocean, their tiny rowboat, Velocity, skimming against the shore of Cairns Yacht Club at 6:42pm yesterday. The relief was palpable as the British duo, who had spent five-and-a-half months battling the unforgiving sea and its relentless fury, stepped onto dry land for the first time in over 8,000 nautical miles.
The final hours were brutal, with a gusting 20-knot wind threatening to send them off course. The pair's resolve was tested as they clung to their oars, battered by waves that reached heights of up to nine metres and navigated through raging storms that silenced all electronics. Their tiny vessel, powered solely by a less-than-reliable solar system and an onboard growing unit for micro-greens, relied on 400kg of mostly freeze-dried food for sustenance.
As they traversed the world's largest ocean, Jess Rowe and Miriam Payne became a "ghost ship," almost invisible to other vessels. Their only navigation equipment was occasionally functioning, leaving them reliant on celestial bodies to chart their course. The duo also endured close encounters with whales and suffered a range of mechanical failures, including a rudder failure that derailed an initial attempt in April.
Despite these setbacks, the pair persevered, averaging 50 nautical miles a day as they rowed in tandem during the day and one person alone at night while their crewmate slept. They documented their journey on social media, where fans eagerly followed their progress and offered words of encouragement.
The challenges were not limited to the physical toll of the journey. The pair also faced psychological strain, with periods of isolation and confinement taking a mental toll. Payne, from a landlocked part of Yorkshire, had not been at sea until she rowed the Atlantic solo in 2022 in a record time, while Rowe hails from Hampshire.
The outcome of their grueling odyssey was made all the more remarkable by their achievement as an all-female and youngest pair to row across the Pacific Ocean, non-stop and unsupported. Their accomplishment has raised over £86,000 (A$179,000) for the Outward Bound Trust, a charity that supports adventure training and personal development programs.
As they stood on dry land for the first time in months, Jess Rowe gazed out at their exhausted but triumphant crewmate Miriam Payne. "Those final few hours were brutal," Rowe said, her voice laced with emotion. "We honestly thought we weren't going to make it. To finally be here, after talking about it for so long, just feels incredible." When asked how they managed to keep rowing in the face of adversity, Payne replied, "Our power was dropping, the water-maker pipes burst... but we kept going. It was really great to have Jess as a teammate."
As they basked in the glow of their historic achievement, Rowe reflected on the experience: "We had such a good time together... We're already excited to plan new adventures together." And with that, the incredible journey of Jess and Miriam came to an end, leaving behind a trail of broken records and memories etched forever.
The final hours were brutal, with a gusting 20-knot wind threatening to send them off course. The pair's resolve was tested as they clung to their oars, battered by waves that reached heights of up to nine metres and navigated through raging storms that silenced all electronics. Their tiny vessel, powered solely by a less-than-reliable solar system and an onboard growing unit for micro-greens, relied on 400kg of mostly freeze-dried food for sustenance.
As they traversed the world's largest ocean, Jess Rowe and Miriam Payne became a "ghost ship," almost invisible to other vessels. Their only navigation equipment was occasionally functioning, leaving them reliant on celestial bodies to chart their course. The duo also endured close encounters with whales and suffered a range of mechanical failures, including a rudder failure that derailed an initial attempt in April.
Despite these setbacks, the pair persevered, averaging 50 nautical miles a day as they rowed in tandem during the day and one person alone at night while their crewmate slept. They documented their journey on social media, where fans eagerly followed their progress and offered words of encouragement.
The challenges were not limited to the physical toll of the journey. The pair also faced psychological strain, with periods of isolation and confinement taking a mental toll. Payne, from a landlocked part of Yorkshire, had not been at sea until she rowed the Atlantic solo in 2022 in a record time, while Rowe hails from Hampshire.
The outcome of their grueling odyssey was made all the more remarkable by their achievement as an all-female and youngest pair to row across the Pacific Ocean, non-stop and unsupported. Their accomplishment has raised over £86,000 (A$179,000) for the Outward Bound Trust, a charity that supports adventure training and personal development programs.
As they stood on dry land for the first time in months, Jess Rowe gazed out at their exhausted but triumphant crewmate Miriam Payne. "Those final few hours were brutal," Rowe said, her voice laced with emotion. "We honestly thought we weren't going to make it. To finally be here, after talking about it for so long, just feels incredible." When asked how they managed to keep rowing in the face of adversity, Payne replied, "Our power was dropping, the water-maker pipes burst... but we kept going. It was really great to have Jess as a teammate."
As they basked in the glow of their historic achievement, Rowe reflected on the experience: "We had such a good time together... We're already excited to plan new adventures together." And with that, the incredible journey of Jess and Miriam came to an end, leaving behind a trail of broken records and memories etched forever.
Can you even believe these two girls did this?! 8k nautical miles in a tiny rowboat? Like what?! 
And the fact that they didn't give up when things got tough is just incredible 
They're not only brave, but also super smart and resourceful. I mean, who else can say they've survived a rudder failure, close encounters with whales, and mental breakdowns all while rowing non-stop? 
The fact that they raised so much money for charity too is just amazing. These two are total heroes in my eyes 
8,000 nautical miles is insane, those two are total legends for completing this journey without any major disasters 
. I bet the isolation was tough on them, especially Payne from Yorkshire who's never been at sea before... that's some mental toughness right there 
5.5 months is ages, those guys are mental 
but seriously, their determination and teamwork paid off in the end. I love how they documented their journey online, kept us updated and inspired 
cant believe those whales got a closer look at them too 
86k for charity is amazing, more power to them 
Like, they had no boat, just their own two oars and solar panels to power a tiny growing unit 
. And the wind was so strong it would've sent them off course at times 
. I feel like watching videos of them just makes me wanna throw up, but in a good way? 
. It's amazing to see people coming together to support each other's passions and goals 
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... and can you imagine facing those storms alone? 
... anyway, congrats to Jess & Miriam on breaking those records & raising so much for a great charity 
Miriam's story is especially inspiring, having never been at sea before and rowing the Atlantic solo just last year. And Jess's comment about planning new adventures together? I'm already shipping these two for life 
those micro-greens are just a fancy way to stay alive in space... I mean the middle of nowhere 
still, props to them for pushing through and making it happen! 
. I mean, can you even imagine being out there with nothing but the ocean and your own thoughts for months on end? 
. And let's be real, their Instagram feed was giving me life over here 
! But what really gets me is that it wasn't just about them - they've inspired a ton of people and raised some serious cash for a good cause 
I'm low-key jealous that I didn't have the courage to do something like this myself 
OMG, can you believe these two chicks rowed across the entire Pacific Ocean?! 
They faced so many challenges - like 20knot winds, waves up to 9m tall 
I'm totally stoked for these two ladies! 5.5 months at sea is INSANE 
Jess and Miriam are total inspirations to anyone who's ever felt like giving up on a crazy dream 
Can't wait to see what new adventures these two take on next! 
. The fact that they had to deal with 20-knot winds, 9-meter waves, and mechanical failures is literally insane 
. But what I love most is that they're already planning new adventures together 
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. And let's not forget about the psychological strain... I can only imagine how tough it must've been to be isolated and confined for so long 
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. Let's get them planning some new thrills ASAP! 