Former Wyke student Miriam Payne, from Market Weighton, has made history as one half of the fastest female pair ever to row the full Pacific Ocean.
Miriam, who previously rowed solo across the Atlantic in 2022 — despite never having been to sea before that — joined forces with Jess Rowe from Hampshire for this latest challenge. Together, they rowed an extraordinary 8,213 nautical miles from Peru to Cairns, Australia, completing the feat in just 165 days.
Their 9-metre boat, Velocity, crossed the finish line off Cairns Yacht Club at 6.42 pm (local time) to a hero’s welcome of flares, cheers, and emotional embraces from friends, family, and supporters who had followed their six-month journey online.
The duo undertook the challenge in support of The Outward Bound Trust, raising funds to help inspire young people to believe they can achieve more than they ever thought possible. Their original fundraising target of £50,000 quickly grew to £75,000 — and ultimately surpassed £100,000.
For Miriam, the spirit of adventure began at Wyke, where she first discovered her passion for the outdoors after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. With a degree in Physics with Astrophysics, she realised academia wasn’t her calling — adventure was. Growing up on her family’s farm in East Yorkshire, she was always most at home in the open air.
Reflecting on their incredible journey, Miriam said that while the Pacific tested every ounce of determination, it also showed what’s possible when passion meets perseverance.
Donations remain open — support The Outward Bound Trust and Miriam and Jess’s record-breaking cause here: https://givestar.io/donate/ags4zmk
