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A final 24-hour stretch. Another day battling through the pitiless slide. One more day of blistered hands clutching relentless paddles.

Yet after traversing 8,000+ sea miles across the ocean – an epic five-and-a-half-month journey through Pacific waters that included close encounters with whales, failing beacons and chocolate shortages – the ocean presented a final test.

A gusting 20-knot wind near Cairns continuously drove their small vessel, their boat Velocity, from the terra firma that was now frustratingly within reach.

Loved ones gathered on land as a planned midday arrival became 2pm, subsequently 4pm, then early evening. Ultimately, at 6:42 PM, they arrived at the Cairns marina.

"Those final few hours were brutal," Rowe expressed, eventually on solid ground.

"The wind was pushing us off the channel, and we genuinely believed we might fail. We found ourselves beyond the marked route and contemplated a final swim to land. To finally be here, after extensive preparation, just feels incredible."

The Extraordinary Expedition Starts

The British pair – Rowe is 28 and Payne 25 – departed from Lima, Peru on 5 May (an initial attempt in April was derailed by a rudder failure).

Over 165 days at sea, they covered approximately 50 sea miles each day, paddling together in daylight, one rowing alone at night while her crewmate slept a bare handful of hours in a confined sleeping area.

Perseverance and Difficulties

Kept alive with 400kg of mostly freeze-dried food, a saltwater conversion device and a vessel-based sprout cultivation system, the women counted on an inconsistent solar power setup for limited energy demands.

During most of their voyage over the enormous Pacific, they've had no navigation equipment or signaling devices, creating a phantom vessel scenario, nearly undetectable to passing ships.

The duo faced nine-meter waves, crossed commercial routes and weathered furious gales that, periodically, disabled all electrical systems.

Groundbreaking Success

Still they maintained progress, each pull following the last, across blazing hot days, under star-filled night skies.

They achieved an unprecedented feat as the pioneering women's team to row across the South Pacific Ocean, non-stop and unsupported.

Additionally they collected over eighty-six thousand pounds (179,000 Australian dollars) for the Outward Bound Trust.

Daily Reality at Sea

The pair did their best to maintain communication with civilization outside their tiny vessel.

On "day 140-something", they reported a "chocolate emergency" – down to their last two bars with still more than 1,600km to go – but permitted themselves the luxury of breaking one open to mark the English squad's winning the Rugby World Cup.

Personal Insights

Payne, from a landlocked part of Yorkshire, had not been at sea until she rowed the Atlantic solo during 2022 establishing a record.

Another ocean now falls to her accomplishments. However there were instances, she acknowledged, when they feared they wouldn't make it. As early as day six, a way across the world's largest ocean seemed unachievable.

"Our electrical systems were diminishing, the freshwater system lines broke, however following multiple fixes, we accomplished a workaround and just limped along with reduced energy throughout the remaining journey. Whenever issues arose, we merely made eye contact and went, 'typically it occurred!' Still we persevered."

"It was really great to have Jess as a teammate. What was great was that we worked hard together, we problem-solved together, and we consistently shared identical objectives," she stated.

Rowe hails from Hampshire. Prior to her Pacific success, she crossed the Atlantic by rowing, walked the southwestern English coastline, ascended Mount Kenya and pedaled across Spanish terrain. Further adventures likely await.

"We shared such wonderful experiences, and we're eagerly anticipating future expeditions together as well. I wouldn't have done it with anybody else."