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One more day. One more session navigating the unforgiving ocean. Another round of raw palms gripping unforgiving oars.

However following over 15,000 kilometers at sea – a monumental half-year voyage through Pacific waters that included near brushes with cetaceans, malfunctioning navigation equipment and chocolate shortages – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

A gusting 20-knot wind near Cairns kept pushing their small vessel, the Velocity, from the terra firma that was now achingly close.

Loved ones gathered on land as a planned midday arrival evolved into afternoon, then 4pm, then early evening. At last, at eighteen forty-two, they came alongside the Cairns marina.

"Those last hours tested every fiber," Rowe stated, finally standing on land.

"The wind was pushing us off the channel, and we honestly thought we weren't going to make it. We drifted outside the navigational path and considered swimming the remaining distance. To ultimately arrive, after extensive preparation, seems absolutely amazing."

The Extraordinary Expedition Starts

The British pair – 28-year-old Rowe and 25-year-old Payne – pushed off from Lima, Peru on May fifth (a first try in April was derailed by a rudder failure).

During 165 ocean days, they averaged 50 nautical miles a day, rowing in tandem during the day, one rowing alone at night while her crewmate slept a bare handful of hours in a tight compartment.

Survival and Challenges

Kept alive with 400kg of mostly freeze-dried food, a water desalinator and an integrated greens production unit, the pair have relied on a less-than-reliable solar system for limited energy demands.

For much of their journey over the enormous Pacific, they lacked directional instruments or beacon, turning them into a "ghost ship", almost invisible to other vessels.

The duo faced nine-meter waves, traversed marine highways and survived violent tempests that, at times, disabled all electrical systems.

Groundbreaking Success

Yet they continued paddling, one stroke after another, during intensely warm periods, beneath celestial nightscapes.

They achieved an unprecedented feat as the initial female duo to cross the southern Pacific by rowing, non-stop and unsupported.

Furthermore they gathered more than £86,000 (A$179,000) for the Outward Bound Trust.

Existence Onboard

The women attempted to stay connected with society outside their tiny vessel.

During the 140s of their journey, they declared a "cocoa crisis" – down to their last two bars with still more than 1,600km to go – but allowed themselves the indulgence of breaking one open to honor England's rugby team triumph in global rugby competition.

Individual Perspectives

Payne, originating from Yorkshire's non-coastal region, had not been at sea before her solo Atlantic crossing in 2022 achieving record pace.

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

"Our energy was failing, the desalination tubes ruptured, yet after numerous mends, we accomplished a workaround and simply continued struggling with little power throughout the remaining journey. Each time problems occurred, we simply exchanged glances 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 resolved issues as a team, and we were always working towards the same goals," she remarked.

Rowe is from Hampshire. Before her Pacific triumph, she paddled the Atlantic, walked the southwestern English coastline, scaled the Kenyan peak and pedaled across Spanish terrain. Additional challenges probably remain.

"We had such a good time together, and we're eagerly anticipating future expeditions together as well. I wouldn't have done it with anybody else."