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One more day. One more session navigating the pitiless slide. A final stretch with aching hands gripping unforgiving oars.

Yet after traversing 8,000+ sea miles at sea – an extraordinary 165-day expedition through Pacific waters that included close encounters with whales, malfunctioning navigation equipment and chocolate shortages – the ocean presented a final test.

A gusting 20-knot wind off Cairns continuously drove their compact craft, the Velocity, from the terra firma that was now frustratingly within reach.

Friends and family waited ashore as a planned midday arrival became 2pm, then 4pm, then twilight hours. Finally, at 6.42pm, they came alongside Cairns Yacht Club.

"Those final few hours were brutal," Rowe said, finally standing on land.

"The wind was pushing us off the channel, and we honestly thought we weren't going to make it. We ended up outside the channel and considered swimming the remaining distance. To finally be here, following years of planning, just feels incredible."

The Extraordinary Expedition Starts

The English women – 28-year-old Rowe and 25-year-old Payne – pushed off from Lima, Peru in early May (an initial attempt in April was stopped by equipment malfunction).

Over 165 days at sea, they averaged 50 nautical miles a day, rowing in tandem during the day, single rower overnight while her partner rested minimal sleep in a confined sleeping area.

Survival and Challenges

Sustained by 400 kilograms of dehydrated meals, a seawater purification system and an onboard growing unit for micro-greens, the duo depended upon a less-than-reliable solar system for limited energy demands.

Throughout the majority of their expedition across the vast Pacific, they operated without navigation tools or beacon, creating a phantom vessel scenario, nearly undetectable to passing ships.

The duo faced nine-meter waves, navigated shipping lanes and endured raging storms that, at times, silenced all of their electronics.

Groundbreaking Success

And they've kept rowing, one stroke after another, across blazing hot days, under star-filled night skies.

They achieved an unprecedented feat as the initial female duo to row across the South Pacific Ocean, non-stop and unsupported.

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

Daily Reality at Sea

The women attempted to stay connected with society away from their compact craft.

During the 140s of their journey, they announced a "sweet treat shortage" – reduced to their final two portions with still more than 1,600km to go – but permitted themselves the luxury of opening one bar to honor England's rugby team triumph in global rugby competition.

Individual Perspectives

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

She has now mastered another ocean. But there were moments, she conceded, when they doubted their success. Starting within the first week, a path over the planet's biggest sea seemed unachievable.

"Our energy was failing, the desalination tubes ruptured, yet after numerous mends, we managed a bypass and simply continued struggling with minimal electricity for the rest of the crossing. Each time problems occurred, we merely made eye contact and went, 'naturally it happened!' Still we persevered."

"Having Jess as a partner proved invaluable. The remarkable aspect was our collaborative effort, we addressed challenges collectively, and we were always working towards the same goals," she remarked.

Rowe originates from Hampshire. Prior to her Pacific success, she rowed the Atlantic, hiked England's South West Coast Path, climbed Mount Kenya and biked through Spain. Additional challenges probably remain.

"Our collaboration proved incredibly rewarding, and we're already excited to plan new adventures together as well. Another teammate wouldn't have worked."