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Intrepid British Rowers Conquer the South Pacific in Daring Voyage
17 Oct
Summary
- Jess Rowe, 28, and Miriam Payne, 25, rowed 8,300 nautical miles from South America to Australia
- Faced 30-foot waves, shipping lanes, and storms that disabled their electronics
- Will set a new record as the first all-female pair to row across the South Pacific non-stop and unsupported
In a remarkable feat of endurance and determination, British rowers Jess Rowe, 28, and Miriam Payne, 25, are set to arrive in Cairns, Queensland, after completing an arduous 8,300-nautical-mile journey across the South Pacific Ocean. The pair, who set off from Lima, Peru, in May, have spent the past six months battling the elements in their nine-meter vessel, Velocity.
Despite facing 30-foot waves, navigating treacherous shipping lanes, and weathering storms that silenced their electronics, Rowe and Payne have persevered with "stubborn determination." They have rowed around the clock, averaging 50 nautical miles per day, and will soon set a new record as the first all-female pair to row the South Pacific non-stop and unsupported.
The journey has not been without its challenges, as the rowers have had to contend with blisters, salt sores, and a critical battery failure that forced them to switch off most of their electronics, including their navigation system. However, they have remained resilient, harvesting micro-greens and occasionally catching fish to supplement their 400kg of freeze-dried food.
As they approach the finish line, Rowe and Payne are eager to share their "tales of the high seas" and invite local children to visit them at the Cairns Marlin Marina, where they will face the next challenge of regaining their "land legs" after six months at sea.
