Janice (Jan) Meek - personal motto - 'not why - why not' .. (maiden name Janice Cooper, first married name Janice Byles) FRGS (British, born 1944) is a Guinness World Record holding adventurer, ocean rower, international motivational speaker polar racer and explorer.. In 1997 she took part in the first ever Atlantic Rowing Race, the Port St Charles Barbados Atlantic Rowing Race, successfully crossing the Atlantic Ocean unsupported in 23 feet wooden rowing boat in 101 days with her son Daniel Byles.