Charlotte Harris and Jessica Oliver Of Team Wild Waves: They Told Us It Was Impossible And We Did It Anyway
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
…Having fun has always been the key to our success. Together, we laugh through tears and we always know the light is just around the corner. If you don’t enjoy it — what’s the point?!..
As a part of our series about “dreamers who ignored the naysayers and did what others said was impossible”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Charlotte Harris and Jessica Oliver.
After setting the previous women’s pairs record for rowing the Atlantic Ocean in 2022, best friends Charlotte Harris and Jessica Oliver shattered another World Record on the mid-Pacific on July 15. They’re now the fastest overall pairs team (male or female) to row the Pacific.
Thank you so much for joining us! Our readers would love to ‘get to know you’ a bit better. Can you tell us your ‘backstory’?
We are Jessica Oliver and Charlotte Harris, best friends for over 12 years since meeting at Cardiff University!
We became Team Wild Waves in early 2020 when we signed up for the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge — a 3000-mile rowing competition to cross the Atlantic from La Gomera to Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour, in Antigua. The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge had the potential to be the biggest, most rewarding, life-changing experience and wow, did it deliver. We completed our Atlantic Row on January 26th 2022 after 45 Days, 7 Hours and 25 minutes at sea to become the fastest female pair to ever row the Atlantic Ocean.
These challenges are not just about adventure for us. We are committed to raising vital funds for charity. During the Atlantic Challenge, we raised over £100,000 for Shelter and Women’s Aid. A feat that was as rewarding as the row itself, especially when seeing first-hand the people that money has helped.
Inevitably, after a gazillion ‘What’s next?’ conversations, we just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try and conquer another Ocean!
On June 8, 2024, we set out for the Pacific record! We departed Monterey, CA on a 2800-mile adventure to Hanalei, Kaua’i alongside eight competing teams. Throughout the 37-day journey, we navigated extreme weather, strong currents, and physical strain. Only 31 teams have successfully completed the challenge and the average crossing time for all crew sizes is 62 days.
After an intense 37 days, 11 hours, 43 minutes, and estimated 1.5 million oar strokes — we beat the current world record for female pairs (and male pairs!)
Are you working on any new or exciting projects now? How do you think that will help people?
We look forward to sharing our story through speaking engagements. Everyone has an ambition of some sort in them — and if two everyday women like us can achieve something like this — we know others can do the same!
Raising funds for charity is also important to us. It feels good to do good, and it roots us in our “why” when we’re fatigued or frustrated out on the ocean.
In your opinion, what do you think makes your team stand out?
We’re so proud to show others that teamwork, grit, communication and the power of female friendship is our winning formula.
We know each other better than anyone and we know how to communicate. When there’s only two of us against the ocean, 24/7, you can only imagine the emotions we’re experiencing separately and collectively.
We remember that we have a common goal, and we don’t take things personally. We try to have fun and rely on our humor to get us by.
Ok, thank you for that. I’d like to jump to the main focus of this interview. Has there ever been a time that someone told you something was impossible, but you did it anyway? Can you share the story with us? What was your idea? What was the reaction of the naysayers? And how did you overcome that?
We’re perceived as the party girls — and that’s ok with us.
Prior to our race on the Atlantic, the Race Director pulled us aside for showing up buzzed to the pre-event. We’re good time-girls and we’re not afraid to own it.
And then we won. When you put us in our boat, we know how to turn it on.
Fast forward to the race on the Pacific. We got kicked out of a bar in Monterey just before the race. Then smashed three more World Records.
Fastest Female Pairs to cross the Mid-Pacific
Fastest Pairs (m/f) to cross the Mid-Pacific
Fastest Pairs (m/f) to collectively cross the Atlantic and Mid-Pacific
You can be serious about a goal, and not take life too seriously.
In the end, how were all the naysayers proven wrong? :-)
They underestimated us. Never a good idea!
And while we took the title in our class, we’re so proud to have raced against some of the most experienced rowers of our generation. They challenged us and made us better.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
While there’s only the two of us on the ocean (no motors, no chaser boats, no food drops, no anchors) ocean rowing truly takes a village.
We both met our partners during the Atlantic race. Having a partner that backs your ambitions, understands your struggles and selflessly supports the lifestyle as a whole means everything. Our families are also heavily involved, and we couldn’t do it without them.
Our coach, Gus has been instrumental in our preparation for the race. Ocean rowing is just as mental (if not more) than it is physical. Having someone who believed in us when others didn’t made all the difference in the world.
Our partners and sponsors, including Ryde: USA. The new wellbeing shot brand has been an involved supporter, equipping us with their wellbeing shots of Energize, Focus, and Relax to help us manage every moment throughout the journey. It’s so cool that we were able to deliver Ryde: shots to the island by hand for the very first time! We weren’t just branded rowers — we were a true extension of their family and that meant a lot to us!
It must not have been easy to ignore all the naysayers. Did you have any experiences growing up that have contributed to building your resiliency? Can you share the story with us?
Honestly, we just thrive under pressure! We’re two women in our early 30s. We were up against teams of four men and pairs who have broken world-records.
If you tell us it can’t be done — we’ll attempt it.
Based on your experience, can you share 5 strategies that people can use to harness the sense of tenacity and do what naysayers think is impossible?
Have Fun!
Having fun has always been the key to our success. Together, we laugh through tears and we always know the light is just around the corner. If you don’t enjoy it — what’s the point?!
Do good.
Giving back will always be a part of our endeavors. We’re the protagonists of a much larger narrative, and if we can deliver a message bigger than our own, then we’ve done our part. Our goal is to raise money for Shelter, which defends the right to a safe home and the devastating impact the housing emergency has on people and communities.
Prove yourself wrong.
They say, “acts of esteem build esteem.” Every time we shut down the voice in our head that tells us we can’t do something, we become that much stronger — individually and collectively. When we kick our own limiting beliefs to the curb, it sets the tone for the naysayers.
Find your people.
When you dedicate this kind of time and energy toward a goal, people are inevitably going to stick with you, or slowly slip out of the picture. Your people will understand the dedication your big ambitions require. The right people will not only reactively support you — but they’ll proactively lend a hand, whether that’s with fundraising, words of encouragement or otherwise.
Celebrate the small wins.
When you’re rowing an ocean, it’s hard to see past the endless water, crashing waves, freezing temps, boat malfunctions and unforgiving conditions. We’ve never experienced anything more difficult in our lives. On the Pacific, we made efforts to celebrate all the little moments and small wins that are part of our journey (a push of wind against our backs, glowing colors of the coral beneath us, or a friendly radio call from a complete stranger). At the end of the day, big achievements like this are made of lots of tiny decisions.
What is your favorite quote or personal philosophy that relates to the concept of resilience?
“Head in the boat” is one of our mantras. There will always be outside noise whether that’s another team pulling ahead of us or drifting thoughts about other areas of our lives. When we’re on the water — it’s Jessica, Charlotte and the boat. That mentality transcends all areas of our lives. It keeps things simple and focused.
You are people of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
Just go for it — whatever “it” is.
You don’t have to be the best to be your best. And every day, your best is going to look a little bit different. Some days it’s just getting out of bed. Other days, it’s choosing to meet your water intake goal.
One day those small acts will ladder into something big. That’s where the magic happens.
Can our readers follow you on social media?
Absolutely! Give us a follow on IG at @teamwildwaves
And check out our amazing friends at @ryde_usa @worlds.toughest.row
Thank you for these great stories. We wish you only continued success!
