Seas The Day's Pacific Ocean Adventure Begins
Updated 9th May 2025
There's something truly special about watching someone prepare to do what many might believe to be impossible. For the past two years, we've had the privilege of following Miriam Payne and Jess Rowe as they trained, planned, and dreamed of rowing 8,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean. Unsupported. Just two women, one boat, and the world's largest ocean.
And then on April 8th 2025, it finally happened. After countless hours of preparation, they pushed off from the dock at Yacht Club Peruano in Peru to begin their epic journey to Australia.
THE GRAND DEPARTURE
The morning of Tuesday, April 8th arrived with a mix of excitement, nerves, and perhaps even a touch of disbelief that the day was finally here. After years of work and preparation it was time for Miriam and Jess to leave the dock and begin their journey across the Pacific.
Jess & Miriam:
"After two years of relentless training, planning, and dreaming... it's finally happening!! From Peru to Australia. Completely unsupported. Just us, the boat, and the open ocean."
As they pushed off from shore at 09.45 Peru time (14.45 UK time), they carried with them not just their physical supplies, but the support and well-wishes of thousands who've followed their journey. Their challenge has already brought incredible people into their lives, and they expressed being "beyond grateful for the support that's carried us to this starting line."
Their boat, aptly named "Velocity," proudly displayed the logos of sponsors who've made their journey possible, supporters like The Outward Bound Trust UK, BetterYou, Howdens, Secerna LLP, and many others who've believed in their mission from the beginning.
LIFE ON THE PACIFIC OCEAN
The early days on the water were a whirlwind of adjustments. The girls received a wonderful send off from the Peruano Yacht Club, with a flotilla of small boats and the band from the Peruvian Navy and began settling into their new 9 metre floating home.
By day three, they were starting to find their rhythm, though it wasn't without challenges. "The wind died off completely overnight and so it's been a bit like rowing through treacle," they reported. Despite the tough conditions, their spirits remained high as they worked out their rowing schedule, rowing together for most of the day, then switching to two hours on, two hours off overnight.
Between the physical demands of rowing, they found moments of pure magic: "The sunset last night was amazing, and we got some peeks of the stars before last night's fog descended in. We even saw some sea lions in the early hours of the morning!"
Life on board Velocity quickly established its own unique routine. Mornings might begin with curry for breakfast (yes, really!), followed by hours of rowing under the vast Pacific sky. With a daily calorie target of 5,000, nutrition becomes a central focus, not just fuel but a highlight of the day.
Their ‘boat essentials’ reveal the careful planning behind this epic journey:
Personalised BetterYou oral vitamin sprays (specially formulated for their nutritional needs)
Naturalmat mattresses (a full circle moment, as Jess's dad used the same brand during his Atlantic row in 2005)
Towels from Dock & Bay
Weather-ready clothing from Parajumpers and Zhik
Protective eyewear from SunGod
Essential electrolytes from SaltStick
And plenty of food supplies from Monarchs Snacks, Luchos, Raging Bull, HUEL and TentMeals
Each item carefully selected to support them through six months at sea. Six months of rowing up to 15 hours daily. Six months of sleeping in short shifts. Six months of facing whatever the Pacific throws their way!
WHEN THE PACIFIC OCEAN HAS OTHER PLANS
You cannot ‘conquer’ an ocean, rather, if you respect her and have a bit of luck, she might let you pass. Six days and over 300 nautical miles into their incredible journey, the Pacific decided to test them early. Following ‘beam on’ conditions and an equipment failure, Velocity's rudder sustained unrepairable damage.
Despite having a spare rudder on board, Jess and Miriam, supported by their safety team, faced a difficult decision. With more than 7,500 miles still ahead and while still being relatively close to their starting point, they made the tough but smart choice to turn back for repairs while still within the safe weather window.
"It is absolutely disappointing to have to turn around," Jess shared. "That said, with so far to go and still so close to our start point, it is the smart, though hard decision to make."
The rudder damage meant they needed to deploy their para-anchor and wait for assistance. Their good friend Alec Hughes, remarkably, paused his own sail around the world to come to their aid and tow them back to shore.
While waiting on their para-anchor, Miriam reflected with characteristic optimism: "I was saying to Jess the other day, it's like the ocean knows we're tougher and more resilient than when we took on the Atlantic. At least this will make eventually arriving in Australia more rewarding. We're even more determined to come back stronger than ever!!"
She added with a smile, "If we ever write a book one day, the beginning will certainly be very interesting!"
“Our sea trials are over!”
THE TRUE MEASURE OF ANY ADVENTURER
It's often said that the true measure of adventurers isn't found in their successes but in how they handle setbacks. By that standard, Jess and Miriam have already proven themselves to be extraordinary.
Rather than seeing this early return as a failure, they've embraced it as part of their story. They've maintained positive spirits and focused on the opportunity to make their boat even stronger for the journey ahead.
As they've been towed back toward land for repairs, their determination has only grown. They're itching to reset, repair and restart their epic journey across the Pacific.
This momentary pause doesn't diminish their challenge, if anything it highlights the raw, unfiltered reality of what ocean rowing truly entails. The unpredictability. The problem-solving. The mental fortitude required when things don't go according to plan.
And through it all, they haven't lost sight of why they're doing this: to raise money for The Outward Bound Trust UK and to inspire others to believe they too can achieve anything they put their minds to.
In many ways, their message has become even more powerful. Because while starting an adventure takes courage, restarting one after a setback takes something even rarer: unshakeable resolve.
Riding The Waves Of Resilience - THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
Now, as repairs to Velocity's rudder are being completed, Jess and Miriam prepare for their second departure. The Pacific still waits, all 8,000 miles of it, and these two remarkable women are more determined than ever to cross it.
Their adventure isn't ending, it's merely taking an unexpected chapter break before the story continues. And what a story it promises to be!
As Miriam so perfectly put it: "When the going gets tough, Seas the Day get going."
Back on the Water – Take Two!
After an emotional return to land following their rudder failure just 10 days in, Miriam and Jess are officially back at sea! With help from an amazing community (and a Norfolk boatyard that built two brand new rudders in record time), the girls relaunched Velocity on the 5th May and have resumed their epic row across the Pacific.
There’s been flying fish on deck, a few bruises, and some very sore bums but spirits are high and they’re settling back into life on the oars. As they put it, "Row, eat, sleep, repeat (and repeat and repeat…)." The dream is alive, and they’re back chasing it with everything they’ve got.
They’ve got a long way to go over 7,000 miles of open ocean still ahead but they’re taking it one shift at a time, soaking up the sunsets, sharing laughs, and holding tight to the reason they set out in the first place.
If you want to follow their journey (and cheer them on with every oar stroke), make sure to check out their Instagram /Facebook / TikTok for updates from the boat, behind-the-scenes moments, and plenty of salty snacks.
