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Howdens colleague Miriam Payne, a Solid Surface Worktops Processor, and Jess Rowe, have completed an unsupported 8,000-plus-mile (15,200 km) Pacific Ocean crossing from Lima, Peru to Cairns, Australia.
In addition to their record-breaking achievement, the pair , who together form the Seas the Day Ocean Rowing Team, have been rowing to support The Outward Bound Trust, a UK-based charity that helps young people develop resilience and life skills through adventure. So far the team has raised more than £86,000.
Launching for a second time in May 2025, after a previous rudder failure, their boat Velocity, was laden with safety and communications equipment, 200+ days of food including specially formulated Better You vitamin sprays for each of them to help recovery between rows, and other specialised equipment.
Alison Fisher, HR director operations for Howdens, said; “We have followed Miriam and Jess’s journey with awe and admiration and Howdens is proud to be a lead partner. Miriam is a brilliant colleague, and we couldn’t be prouder of the team’s record-breaking journey.”
The pair’s journey places them among the world’s elite ocean rowers. They were not only the first female team, and the first pair to row the Pacific mainland to mainland non-stop and unsupported, but also the youngest team to do it.
The two launched from Lima in May 2025 after an initial attempt in April was cut short by rudder failure just 300 nautical miles into the journey. Since relaunching, they have rowed in gruelling two-hour shifts around the clock, up to 16 hours a day, averaging 50 nautical miles a day (with an incredible 84 nautical miles in one day accomplished in their final weeks).
They have battled storms, water-maker failures, ‘ghost ship’ electronics shutdowns, and the relentless toll of sleep deprivation, countered by moments of wonder rowing beneath star-filled skies, encounters with dolphins, sea lions and even a sperm whale – improvised with limited gear, celebrated fresh catches after months of freeze-dried meals, and shared their journey with a global following now topping 110,000 Instagram supporters (as well as over 135,000 on Facebook and 135,000 on TikTok, and their videos since restarting have been watched over 75 million times.
Their boat Velocity, was laden with safety and communications equipment, 200+ days of food including specially formulated Better You vitamin sprays for each of them to help recovery between rows.
The team also carried other unique technologies on board to help them both recover and eat better. They are using Nurosym’s system, which utilises targeted electrical impulses via the Vagus Nerve for neuromodulation to help them maintain calmness and consistent energy, enabling peak biological performance throughout.
Additionally, the British company Home Harvest developed a special on-board growing unit, enabling a sustainable and reliable supply of nutritious leaves and microgreens throughout the row. This has helped them to supplement their freeze-dried food with fresh produce and has given the team an emotional and physical lift throughout.
The team would like to thank all their partners, who include: Howdens, BetterYou, AVA, LOST iN, Branding Science, Coastin Media, Dock & Bay, Evotix, Home Harvest, Lordington Park, Indigo Marine, Nurosym, Parajumpers, SaltStick, Secerna, Sovereign Cargo Ltd, SunGod, Trailfinders, YPI Crew and Zhik, as well as all the supporters listed on their website who have helped enable their success.
