North Devon duo take on the Atlantic in bid to break world record and raise £10k for Surf Therapy
In December this year, North Devon woman Jess Smiles, and her race partner Beth Murphy, will take on the challenge of a lifetime; rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in the World’s Toughest Row.
The pair will be the only female duo to enter the World’s Toughest Row race in 2025 and are aiming to beat the current women’s pairs world record to make the crossing. Setting off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on 12 December, they’ll row unsupported for around six weeks, facing waves of up to 40ft, before reaching Antigua in early 2026.
Jess is a swimmer and surfer on the coast of North Devon, has been preparing for months on the water surrounding this stretch of coastline. Her race partner Beth, from Surrey, shares her passion for adventure and has experience in endurance sports. The two first met at Swansea University, where they both rowed competitively, captained teams, and served on the rowing club committee.
After years apart, Jess and Beth reconnected to take on their biggest challenge yet — a journey that will test their physical limits, mental strength, and teamwork.
Jess comments: “I’m looking forward to the feeling of being so far away from civilisation and completely immersed in nature. Both Beth and I are curious to see how far we can push our bodies in such a harsh environment.”
While the duo are aiming for a competitive time, they’re also rowing for a purpose: to raise £10,000 for The Wave Project, a UK charity that supports young people’s mental health through Surf Therapy.
The Wave Project helps children and teenagers build confidence, resilience and calm through evidence-backed programmes led by trained volunteers. With 1 in 5 children in the UK struggling with their mental health, the charity’s work is more vital than ever.
Jaz Bennett, North Devon Coordinator for The Wave Project, said: “Through Surf Therapy we help young people find calm, connection and healing. We’re so inspired by Jess and Beth’s determination to take on this epic journey, and proud that they’re rowing in support of The Wave Project. We’ll be cheering them on every mile and wish them all the best for a safe and successful crossing.”
The World’s Toughest Row has 44 entrants this year, including solo rowers, teams of two, three and four athletes from across the globe. Previously, the fastest women’s pair completed the event in 45 days, and Jess and Beth are aiming for a competitive attempt to rival that. However, conditions differ drastically from year to year with this event and Beth and Jess are keen to prioritise health and safety first and foremost. Even if they were to hit the target, they will be rowing over Christmas Day 20205 and into New Year 2026!
This is an unsupported event, so only Jess and Beth together can deal with the impacts of rowing on continuous shifts through the night, navigating weather fronts and battling waves of up to 40ft.
If you’d like to donate to the cause, head to the website www.atlantichighway39.com.
You can also head to the World’s Toughest Row website to see the teams lineup and track their progress throughout the event this year. For details on Jess and Beth’s progress, follow them on Tiktok and Instagram @atlantichighway