Jess Rowe and Miriam Payne have made history by becoming the first all-female pair to row non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean, from mainland to mainland. The British duo arrived in Cairns, Australia, on Tuesday evening after a gruelling five-and-a-half-month journey covering more than 8,000 nautical miles (15,000km).
The pair set off from Lima, Peru, on 5 May, following an earlier attempt aborted due to a rudder failure. Over 165 days at sea, they averaged 50 nautical miles a day, rowing in tandem during daylight and taking turns alone at night while the other slept in a cramped cabin. They survived on 400kg of freeze-dried food, a water desalinator, and an onboard micro-green growing unit, relying on a temperamental solar system for power.
Their journey was fraught with challenges, including 9-metre waves, raging storms, and equipment failures. For much of the crossing, they had no navigation equipment or beacon, rendering them a 'ghost ship' to other vessels. They also faced a chocolate shortage, down to their last two bars with over 1,600km to go, but broke one open to celebrate England's Red Roses winning the Rugby World Cup.
Despite the hardships, the pair remained determined. 'Those final few hours were brutal,' Rowe said after landing. 'The wind was pushing us off the channel, and we honestly thought we weren’t going to make it.' Payne, from Yorkshire, had previously rowed the Atlantic solo in 2022. Rowe, from Hampshire, has also rowed the Atlantic, hiked the South West Coast Path, climbed Mount Kenya, and cycled across Spain.
The duo have raised more than £86,000 (A$179,000) for the Outward Bound Trust. Reflecting on their achievement, Rowe said, 'We had such a good time together, and we’re already excited to plan new adventures together.'
