Pembrokeshire women hit half way mark in gruelling 3,200 mile Atlantic row

Published

9 months ago

March 4, 2025

For the past 31 days, four Pembrokeshire women have been experiencing some of the most challenging living conditions imaginable.

Their home is a 10-metre rowing boat currently positioned 1,690 nautical miles out in the Atlantic Ocean. Five kilometres below them lies the seabed.

Their tiny vessel is having to combat waves reaching up to 4.5 metres in height while their diet consists solely of air-dried meals. Current sea conditions, however, are making their consumption virtually impossible. Their toilet is a bucket, and their sleep is broken by the discomfort of their foul weather gear and the constant slamming of the waves. Simple things, such as brushing their hair and teeth, are near impossible to accomplish.

Welcome aboard the Cruising Free Atlantic Row.

“This is undoubtedly the most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever experienced. And I mean it,” said Miyah Periam, 24, who is the youngest rower to take part in the 3,200 mile row that will take them from Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands, to Antigua.

“Sitting on deck is painful, our mattresses are hard and last night there was some really rough water, so we decided that we didn’t want to row in the dark. It felt like I was sleeping in a coffin. “My core and my back are in such discomfort and despite having been out here now for four weeks, I’m still feeling seasick. And the food we’re eating is truly disgusting.”

Miyah, along with Sophie Pierce, 32, Polly Zipperlen, 50, and Janine Williams, 70, began their Atlantic Challenge on February 1, following three years of intricate planning.

The 3,200 nautical mile crossing equates to approximately 1.5 million oar strokes. But despite their rigorous training, the ocean began taking its toll within just 24 hours of their departure as the women became bruised from the waves’ interaction with their boat – The Spirit of Bluestone – and as they began to suffer seasickness.

“Rowing in these conditions is completely different to river or coastal rowing, which is obviously what we’re used to,” explained Janine, who has more than three decades of tough rowing experience behind her.

”But we continue to laugh, despite the discomfort and physical toil that this is having on our bodies.

“When conditions are choppy, everything becomes a bit one-sided, so it’s more about reading the waves. But regardless of what’s going on out there, we know that every stroke is taking us one step close to Antigua.”

Soon after leaving Lanzarote, the women were subjected to extreme heat and significantly calmer seas, but once again this made rowing conditions difficult.

“When the water is calm, rowing feels as if we’re stirring treacle as we’re getting no assistance from the waves,” explained Polly. “We’re also having to battle with the heat throughout the day as there’s no shade cover, and the cabins are baking hot with sweat, dampness and constantly being thrown around by the waves.”

At the end of last week, the Cruising Free team encountered rough seas, which made rowing particularly hard, after the boat entered a patch of two contrasting wave directions, resulting in very choppy waters.

“It was really hard to row and there was quite a lot of water coming onto the boat,” said Sophie. “And in situations like this, it’s really difficult to do anything except wait for calmer weather. But we know that Antigua is getting closer every day.”
The women have also expressed disappointment at the lack of wildlife that they’ve seen, however on Saturday, their shallow depth alarm sounded, suggesting that a whale could have been hovering beneath them.

“But considering that the ocean is about 5 km deep, there’s never any risk of shallow water,” added Janine.

Once their crossing is complete, the Cruising Free Atlantic Row will have set two new world records, with Sophie being the first woman with cystic fibrosis to row the Atlantic, and Janine being the oldest woman. Their row is also raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, the Paul Sartori Foundation and Emily’s Entourage.

“Yes, there are times when this feels like a real nightmare,” said Miyah. “Even the simple, everyday things like brushing our teeth is desperately difficult and our toilet is just a bucket.

“We’re completely at the mercy of Mother Nature and we know that we’re really vulnerable. Everything is completely unpredictable.

Miyah samples one of the many flying fish that lands on deck, in a bid to spice up her mundane diet.

“Yes, we can row, but this can only be done in certain directions and we can’t really control our speed.

“The main thing is acceptance and humility. And I know that these are things that I can take forward with me into the rest of my life.”

Cruising Free Atlantic Row can be followed on Facebook where they share regular posts via Starlink. Donations can also be made via a link on the Facebook page.

Entertainment

Gavin & Stacey stars reunite for Christmas advert

Published

29 seconds ago

December 4, 2025

Luke Sinclair

Gavin & Stacey favourites Joanna Page and Mathew Horne have reunited on screen for a Christmas special – though not the one fans might have hoped for. Instead of returning to Barry or Billericay, the duo appear together in a new festive advert for Waitrose, sharing a turkey pie while responding to a fan’s heartfelt letter about expressing love through food.

The short film marks their appearance in How to Say It With Food, a six-part series in which Page and Horne tackle some of the nation’s most common Christmas food dilemmas. The clip opens with Page teasingly nodding to their iconic sitcom: “Oh, you didn’t think we’d let Christmas roll around without showing up again, did you?”

Horne quickly follows with his own playful line: “Us? Miss Christmas? Not a chance. But this time we’re here to help you say it with food.”

The pair are then handed an envelope “from Santa”, containing a letter from a viewer asking how he can show his “leading lady” he loves her through food. Mathew quips: “First time saying it, you want a statement. Sixteenth time, you want a statement that doesn’t involve socks.”

He then introduces Waitrose’s new Christmas advert starring Keira Knightley and Joe Wilkinson. The main campaign follows an unlikely festive romance sparked by Sussex Charmer cheese and culminating in Wilkinson presenting Knightley with a turkey pie decorated with the words “I love you”. Watching the moment unfold, Page smiles at Horne and mirrors another classic Gavin & Stacey reference: “Oh, that’s so romantic.”

The duo are soon given their own turkey pie to try. Horne eagerly tucks in before cutting Page a slice, prompting laughter from his co-star. The advert ends with the pair wishing viewers a Merry Christmas as Knightley and Wilkinson share a warm festive kiss on screen.

The reunion comes almost a year after audiences tuned in to the BBC sitcom’s much-anticipated finale, which drew an impressive 12.3 million viewers on Christmas Day. The episode wrapped up storylines including Gwen’s blossoming romance with Dave Coaches, Smithy’s near-wedding to Sonia, and the moment fans had long debated – Smithy and Nessa tying the knot.

Reflecting on the new project, Page said: “You thought you’d seen the last of us! Well, we’re back and what fun we had.” She added: “It was such a treat working with Mat… food is what brings people together over the festive season.”

Horne described the experience as “brilliant”, calling their on-screen reunion “a Christmas tradition”.

Health

Government orders clinical review amid sharp rise in mental health diagnoses

Published

19 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

4.4 million working-age people now claiming sickness or incapacity benefit, up by 1.2 million since 2019, many because of a mental health condition

A CLINICAL review into how mental health conditions are diagnosed across the UK is expected to begin this week, following concerns within government over rapidly rising sickness-benefit claims linked to conditions such as autism, ADHD and anxiety.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has commissioned leading clinical experts to examine whether ordinary emotional distress is being “over-pathologised” and to assess why the number of people receiving sickness and incapacity benefits has grown to 4.4 million – an increase of 1.2 million since 2019.

According to reports in The Times, ministers are particularly alarmed by the surge in the number of 16- to 34-year-olds now out of work because of long-term mental health conditions.

Streeting said he recognised “from personal experience how devastating it can be for people who face poor mental health, have ADHD or autism and can’t get a diagnosis or the right support,” but added that he had also heard from clinicians who say diagnoses are “sharply rising”.

“We must look at this through a strictly clinical lens to get an evidence-based understanding of what we know, what we don’t know, and what these patterns tell us about our mental health system, autism and ADHD services,” he told the newspaper. “That’s the only way we can ensure everyone gets timely access to accurate diagnosis and effective support.”

The review is expected to be chaired by Prof Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist at University College London specialising in child mental health, with Sir Simon Wessely, former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, acting as vice-chair.

Prof Fonagy said the panel would “examine the evidence with care – from research, from people with lived experience and from clinicians working at the frontline of mental health, autism and ADHD services – to understand, in a grounded way, what is driving rising demand.”

The move comes as the UK Government faces mounting pressure over the rising welfare bill. Ministers earlier this year pulled back from proposed changes to disability benefits, including those affecting people with mental health conditions, after opposition from Labour backbenchers.

Speaking on Monday, the Prime Minister said a fresh round of welfare reform was needed.

Keir Starmer said: “We’ve got to transform it; we also have to confront the reality that our welfare state is trapping people, not just in poverty, but out of work.”

Business

Welsh Govt shifts stance on business rates after pressure from S4C and Herald

Published

13 hours ago

December 3, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Ministers release unexpected statement 48 hours after widespread concern highlighted in Welsh media

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has announced a new package of tapered business rates relief for 2026-27, in a move that follows sustained pressure from Welsh media — including S4C Newyddion and The Pembrokeshire Herald — over the impact of revaluation on small businesses.

In Milford Haven, the hard-pressed pub sector is already feeling the impact: the annual bill for The Lord Kitchener is rising from £5,000 to £15,000, while rates at the Kimberley Public House have nearly doubled from £10,500 to £19,500. The Imperial Hall’s rates are increasing from £5,800 to £9,200, prompting director Lee Bridges to question why businesses “are being asked to pay more when we use less services”. In Haverfordwest, the annual rates bill for Eddie’s Nightclub is increasing from £57,000 to £61,500.

A written statement, issued suddenly on Wednesday afternoon, confirms that ministers will introduce a transitional “tapering mechanism” to soften steep increases for tourism, hospitality and small independent operators. Full details will be published with the draft Budget later this month.

The announcement comes less than two days after The Herald’s in-depth reporting brought forward direct concerns from Pembrokeshire business owners and councillors, highlighting the uncertainty facing one of Wales’ most important local industries.

Herald reporting credited by senior councillor

Pembrokeshire County Council Independent Group Leader Cllr Huw Carnhuan Murphy publicly thanked The Herald for pushing the issue into the spotlight.

In a statement shared on Wednesday, Cllr Murphy said: “Welcome news from Welsh Government. Thanks to Tom Sinclair for running this important item in the Herald in relation to the revaluation of businesses and the consequences it will have for many.

He added: “Newyddion S4C hefyd am redeg y stori pwysig yma ynghylch trethi busnes.,” which in English is “and thanks to S4C Newyddion as well for running this important story about business taxes.”

He added that the Independent Group “will always campaign to support our tourism and agriculture industry, on which so many residents rely within Pembrokeshire”.

Media spotlight increased pressure on Cardiff Bay

On Monday, ministers said business rates plans would be outlined “within the next two weeks”.
By Wednesday afternoon — following prominent coverage on S4C and continued pressure from The Herald — Welsh Government released an early written statement outlining new support.

Industry sources told The Herald they believed the level of public concern, amplified by the media, “forced the issue up the agenda much faster than expected”.

A cautious welcome for ‘better than nothing’

Cllr Murphy welcomed the partial support, though he stressed it fell short of what many businesses had hoped for.

“This isn’t the level of support many were hoping for,” he said, “but it is certainly much better than nothing.”

Draft Budget expected soon

The full tapered support scheme will be detailed in the Welsh Government draft Budget, expected within a fortnight.

Tourism and hospitality representatives have reserved final judgment until the figures are published, but many have expressed relief that some support will continue, following weeks of uncertainty.