World Record Trans-Pacific Row - Tracked in SeaPeople
Community
Oct 18, 2025
Miriam & Jess on Velocity complete their trans-pacific record row.
Miriam Payne (Mims) and Jess Rowe just completed what is possibly the greatest test of human fortitude, grit, endurance, and mental strength. Rowing across the Pacific. The most vast ocean on the planet. A new record for the first female, non-stop, unassisted trans-Pac row.
Over 8,000NM of rowing
The two women set off from Lima in April of 2025 under extremely hot conditions. Miriam's first logbook entry in SeaPeople reports a blistering sun and temps so high (over 40 celsius) in the cabins during the day. Making naps impossible. But the nights were incredible and bright and they soldiered on.
The Breaking Point
It began with a rudder — or rather, the moment it wasn’t there anymore.
“We finally passed the point where our rudder broke and we had to deploy the para anchor and await a tow back to land. This is a huge mental boost for us and we’re going to celebrate tonight with a pot noodle.”
That small victory — crossing the place where everything once fell apart — became a symbol. They nicknamed it the Bermuda Triangle, half-joking, half-jinxing, but always pushing forward. When clouds blanketed the solar panels and their batteries bled dry, they hand-steered through black nights, swapping oars for compass bearings in two-hour shifts.
And still, they laughed. Because what else can you do when the ocean shrugs off your best-laid plans?
Rudder Gone, Spirits Intact
Eight days into the first leg, disaster struck.
“It’s not quite the start to this expedition we had planned…. 8 days in and we suffered a broken rudder. It was totally de-laminated and flopping around like a wet salmon.”
With their spare rudder also compromised, they tried to improvise with the daggerboard — “snapped a few drill bits and are getting no progress.”
Hundreds of miles from land, they deployed the para anchor to keep the boat from rolling. “Safe to say it’s like a washing machine simulator.”
The SeaPeople Connection
Before their first departure, Mims and Jess connected with Alec Hughes (@alechughesp) on the SeaPeople app.
He was in the middle of his own round-the-world sail, but quick to share advice and encouragement. In a sea of usernames and tracklines, the three became fast friends — boaters helping boaters, swapping notes on repairs, weather, and life at sea.
Alec helped them prep for their start, and when Velocity pushed off, he kept an eye on their track, seeing saw their rudder struggle unfold through.
When communication finally got through that Velocity needed help, he and his partner, KC, diverted their own round-the-world sail to assist.
“Feeling very grateful to top ocean man @alechughesp who we met through this app and has become a huge part of our journey! Him and @kc_a_rodriguezf have taken time out of their round-the-world sail to come and rescue us, towing us and Velocity back to land for 8 days.”
Eight days under tow.
Eight days that proved how powerful a single SeaPeople connection can be.
Repairs, Rebuild, Return
Once back ashore, they restocked, refit, and replaced the faulty rudder.
“After a crazy week, we have the repairs complete and new rudders on board… We’re so, so happy to be back on the Pacific again. Australia, here we come!”
By May, Velocity was charging west once more — the greens growing in trays, bioluminescence lighting up the hull, and spirits renewed.
“The greens are growing well on board Velocity! We hope to be able to have a nibble by the end of the week. This will be a game changer for us as you miss fresh food the most as an ocean rower!”
The Long Road to Cairns
The rest of the crossing was far from smooth:
power failures, burst pipes, sleepless nights, “para anchor prison,” and a log entry simply titled “Assaulted by Salt.”
“Quite simply we’ve been assaulted by salt… We’ve been getting air time in the cabins, launched against the walls, and have a fresh batch of salt sores.”
Still, their optimism never faded:
“Stroke by stroke, mile by mile, we’ll keep plodding on.”
And at last:
“We are through The Great Barrier Reef and on the final approach to Cairns!”
A Circle Completed
What began as a friendship in the SeaPeople app became a helping hand and a rescue.
It’s hard to imagine a clearer example of what this community stands for — real boaters, real connections, and real acts of seamanship when it matters most.
“We met through this app… and he’s become a huge part of our journey.”
Fair winds to Mims, Jess, Alec, and KC — proof that SeaPeople isn’t just where boaters share their adventures.
It’s where they look out for each other.
All photos were posted in the app and assumed to be the property of Seas the Day Rowing.
