Rescued rowers in second attempt to cross Pacific

Miriam Payne (left) and Jess Rowe are hoping to row from Peru to Australia

Two women are due to launch a second attempt to row across the Pacific Ocean later, weeks after having to turn back when their boat broke.

Miriam Payne, 25, from Market Weighton in East Yorkshire, and Jess Rowe, 28, from Hampshire, initially set off from Peru on Tuesday 8 April.

But they had to be rescued about 350 miles from the coast of Lima, after a wave caused "catastrophic damage" to their rudder.

The pair, who call their team "Seas the Day", said they now faced a "race against time" to resume the 8,000-mile (12,875km) journey to Australia before the start of cyclone season.

Miss Payne said: "We're just absolutely determined to make it happen. We just want to get back out there again."

Following the breakdown, it took eight days for a Peruvian sailor, Alec Hughes, to tow the rowing boat back to Lima.

A set of specialist replacement rudders were crafted by a boat yard in Norfolk and flown out to the team.

This time, they will take four spare rudders with them on the boat.

Miss Rowe said they had been "totally blown away" by the help they had received.

"Seas the Day" were towed back to shore by Peruvian sailor Alec Hughes (centre)

The non-stop, unsupported voyage is expected to take six months.

"Who knew you'd miss rowing, two hours on, two hours off," Miss Payne said.

"We are so lucky that we do have the opportunity to have a second try," Miss Rowe added.

The rowers are taking on the challenge to raise money for the Outward Bound Trust, a UK charity that aims to teach children lifelong skills through adventure.

The pair previously told the BBC that they met in Antigua at the finish line of the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, in February 2023.

On that occasion, Miss Payne set a record time in her solo row, while Miss Rowe completed the challenge in a team of four.

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