Miriam rows 22 hours non-stop and sets new race record!
Race Diary as told by Alison Payne (Miriam’s Mum)
Friday 3rd March 2023
At last, I’m sitting down with my laptop putting ‘pen to paper.’ We are now back at home and turning round after a busy two weeks in Antigua. The colder weather I must admit is a shock to the system!
We got an email from Atlantic Campaigns on 2nd February saying it was time to travel and get out to Antigua. Miriam was making good progress and the end was in sight. Flights and accommodation were booked with less that a week to spare. We arrived in Antigua 3 days before Miriam rowed in. 🚣♀️
The 3 days before Miriam arrived were spent meeting up with family and friends who had travelled out to Antigua too. We all attended a ‘family and friends’ briefing given by Atlantic Campaigns telling us about the rower’s arrival and what to expect. We were also able to see The Kiwi Warrioars finish which was great. A lot of time was spent ‘glued’ to our phones following the YB race app monitoring Miriam’s progress. 📱
On the Thursday morning (9th February) it was announced on ‘Dot Watchers’ Facebook Group that Miriam was in with a chance of setting a new race record for the fastest female solo. Wow, talk about proud parents. Our social media and phones were going constantly with messages of support for Miriam and for us as a family too. Miriam rang that morning. She was exhausted and didn’t think she had enough energy left to get the record. Saying that she very determined to cross that finish line. We got a message from Miriam just after 6pm to she had seen land and was going to row till she finished. She was pulling out all the stops now. 💪
Our family members and friends all met for drinks later that evening. Miriam’s friend Jess was keeping us all posted as to ETA discussing it with the Safety Officer too. Just after midnight we all decided it was time to drink up and head up to The Fort to wait for Miriam’s arrival. Just after 1am we could see a light in the distance coming round from Hercules Pillars. It was Miriam! The media boat went out from Nelsons Dockyard to meet Miriam. Before long Ian Crouch the Safety Officer set off his flares. Miriam had done it and crossed the finish line in a blaze of glory. What a noise from us all shouting and cheering… and yes there were tears too. We all got down Nelsons Dockyard to welcome Miriam in. Now that was emotional! 🎉
New race record - Miriam Payne fastest female solo Rower
3,000 miles solo and unassisted across the Atlantic Ocean. Rowing from La Gomera in The Canary Isles setting off on December 12th 2022 to English Harbour in Antigua arriving on February 10th 2023 at 01:18 hours. Miriam Payne rower took 59 days 16 hours 36 minutes to complete the biggest adventure of her life. She had rowed for 22 hours non-stop to get to the finish line. In the process she gained the race record for the fastest female solo. 🏆 This is a huge achievement as this is said to be The World’s Toughest Row. Miriam was given a true hero’s welcome. 🦸♀️⭐
Watch Miriam’s livestream finish from 10th February 2023:
Watch the livestream finish of Miriam Payne of Seas The Day completing her 3,000 mile Atlantic Row 🚣♀️- 10th February 2023
The following days were spent sorting out Miriam’s boat for transport back to the UK. Requests for press and TV interviews were numerous. Despite all that we all enjoyed some much-needed family time. 👨👩👧👧
Miriam stayed in Antigua as we all left. 🏝️ She joined the crew of a super yacht to work, initially spending more time in the Caribbean before sailing back over the Atlantic to Spain then flying home to Yorkshire at the end of March.
We are all looking forward to having Miriam back home. 💖 She is looking forward to a belated Christmas Dinner. More so I think looking forward to seeing Bella our little terrier and her two ponies.
As we speak I think Miriam is planning her next adventure!! 🤔 Goodness knows what. To be honest I dread to think.
Watch this space…👀
Alison x