Jessica Oliver and Charlotte Harris, two women from England, recently made headlines by breaking the world record for the fastest row across the Pacific Ocean. The pair set out for the World’s Toughest Row Pacific Challenge, rowing 2,800 miles from Monterey, California, to Kauai, Hawaii. They completed the journey in 37 days, 11 hours, and 43 minutes, shattering the previous record by nine days. Oliver and Harris were the first team in the competition to successfully row both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Oliver and Harris, who met in school and became best friends, decided to take on the challenge after rowing the Atlantic Ocean together a few years earlier. They signed up for the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge with no previous rowing experience, ultimately breaking the world record for the fastest female row across the Atlantic. The success of this endeavor motivated them to tackle the Pacific Ocean, signing up for the World’s Toughest Row Pacific Challenge and training rigorously for two years leading up to the race.
Rowing the Pacific Ocean proved to be a much more challenging experience than the pair had anticipated. The first 500 miles off the coast of America were particularly rough, with their boat losing automatic steering within the first week of the journey. The intense weather conditions and high waves tested the pair’s mental and physical strength. They had planned to row in shifts, but due to the unpredictable nature of the ocean and the tight competition with another team, they found themselves rowing for up to 20 hours a day.
Despite facing various obstacles, including a scary encounter with an oil tanker, Oliver and Harris managed to maintain a competitive pace throughout the race. They were neck and neck with another female team, pushing themselves to row longer hours to keep up. After 37 days of grueling rowing, they finally crossed the finish line in Hawaii, feeling a mix of relief and accomplishment. The pair not only won the female class but also came in second overall, just 24 hours behind a team of four military men.
Looking ahead, Oliver and Harris are contemplating their next challenge, considering something less intense than rowing across oceans. Their incredible feat of breaking world records and pushing their limits has surely inspired others to pursue their own adventurous goals. With an average crossing time of 62 days for all crew sizes across the Pacific Ocean, Oliver and Harris’ accomplishment stands as a testament to their determination, teamwork, and spirit of adventure.
