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One last sunrise to sunset. One more day up and down the pitiless slide. Another round of raw palms holding onto unyielding oars.

However following over 15,000 kilometers on the water – an epic five-and-a-half-month journey through Pacific waters that included near brushes with cetaceans, failing beacons and cocoa supply emergencies – the sea had one more challenge.

Strong 20-knot breezes off Cairns kept pushing their small vessel, their rowing boat Velocity, away from solid ground that was now frustratingly within reach.

Friends and family waited ashore as an expected noon touchdown became 2pm, then 4pm, then twilight hours. Ultimately, at 6:42 PM, they came alongside Cairns Yacht Club.

"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 drifted outside the navigational path and contemplated a final swim to land. To at last reach our destination, after talking about it for so long, seems absolutely amazing."

The Epic Journey Begins

The British pair – aged 28 and 25 respectively – pushed off from Lima, Peru in early May (a first try in April was stopped by equipment malfunction).

Across nearly half a year on water, they averaged 50 nautical miles a day, working as a team through daytime hours, one rowing alone at night while her crewmate slept a bare handful of hours in a cramped cabin.

Endurance and Obstacles

Sustained by 400 kilograms of dehydrated meals, a saltwater conversion device and an onboard growing unit for micro-greens, the women counted on a less-than-reliable solar system for only partial electrical requirements.

Throughout the majority of their expedition across the vast Pacific, they operated without navigation tools or location transmitters, creating a phantom vessel scenario, hardly noticeable to maritime traffic.

The pair have borne 9-metre waves, navigated shipping lanes and endured raging storms that, periodically, shut down every electronic device.

Record-Breaking Achievement

And they've kept rowing, each pull following the last, across blazing hot days, under star-filled night skies.

They have set a new record as the pioneering women's team to paddle over the South Pacific, without breaks or external assistance.

Furthermore they gathered in excess of £86k (A$179,000) supporting Outward Bound.

Daily Reality at Sea

The duo made every effort to maintain communication with civilization away from their compact craft.

During the 140s of their journey, they announced a "sweet treat shortage" – diminished to merely two remaining pieces with over 1,000 miles remaining – but permitted themselves the luxury of unwrapping a portion to mark the English squad's winning the Rugby World Cup.

Personal Reflections

Payne, originating from Yorkshire's non-coastal region, had not been at sea until she rowed the Atlantic solo in 2022 achieving record pace.

Another ocean now falls to her accomplishments. But there were moments, she conceded, when failure seemed possible. As early as day six, a way across the world's largest ocean appeared insurmountable.

"Our energy was failing, the freshwater system lines broke, yet after numerous mends, we achieved an alternative solution and just limped along with little power throughout the remaining journey. Every time something went wrong, 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 addressed challenges collectively, and we consistently shared identical objectives," she stated.

Rowe originates from Hampshire. Before her Pacific triumph, she crossed the Atlantic by rowing, trekked England's coastal trail, scaled the Kenyan peak and cycled across Spain. Further adventures likely await.

"Our collaboration proved incredibly rewarding, and we're eagerly anticipating future expeditions as a team again. Another teammate wouldn't have worked."