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A final 24-hour stretch. Another day battling through merciless swells. A final stretch with aching hands holding onto unyielding oars.

However following over 15,000 kilometers at sea – an epic five-and-a-half-month journey across the Pacific that included close encounters with whales, failing beacons and chocolate shortages – the sea had one more challenge.

Powerful 20-knot gusts near Cairns kept pushing their compact craft, their rowing boat Velocity, from the terra firma that was now frustratingly within reach.

Loved ones gathered on land as a scheduled lunchtime finish shifted to 2pm, followed by 4pm, then dusk. 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 ended up outside the channel and considered swimming the remaining distance. To ultimately arrive, after extensive preparation, just feels incredible."

The Epic Journey Begins

The UK duo – 28-year-old Rowe and 25-year-old Payne – set out from Peruvian shores in early May (a first try in April was stopped by equipment malfunction).

Across nearly half a year on water, they maintained 50 nautical miles daily, working as a team through daytime hours, single rower overnight while her partner rested minimal sleep in a cramped cabin.

Perseverance and Difficulties

Kept alive with 400kg of mostly freeze-dried food, a saltwater conversion device and an integrated greens production unit, the women counted on a less-than-reliable solar system for only partial electrical requirements.

Throughout the majority of their expedition over the enormous Pacific, they lacked directional instruments or signaling devices, making them essentially invisible, nearly undetectable to passing ships.

The pair have borne 9-metre waves, crossed commercial routes and survived violent tempests that, on occasion, silenced all of their electronics.

Historic Accomplishment

Yet they continued paddling, each pull following the last, during intensely warm periods, under star-filled night skies.

They established a fresh milestone as the first all-female pair to row across the South Pacific Ocean, continuously and independently.

Additionally they collected over eighty-six thousand pounds (A$179,000) benefiting the outdoor education charity.

Existence Onboard

The pair did their best to maintain communication with civilization beyond their small boat.

On "day 140-something", they declared a "cocoa crisis" – reduced to their final two portions with still more than 1,600km to go – but permitted themselves the luxury of breaking one open to celebrate England's Red Roses victory in the World Cup.

Personal Reflections

Payne, hailing from inland Yorkshire, was unacquainted with maritime life prior to her independent Atlantic journey during 2022 establishing a record.

Another ocean now falls to her accomplishments. But there were moments, she conceded, when they feared they wouldn't make it. Starting within the first week, a route across the globe's vastest waters appeared insurmountable.

"Our power was dropping, the water-maker pipes burst, but after nine repairs, we accomplished a workaround and simply continued struggling with reduced energy for the rest of the crossing. Whenever issues arose, we just looked at each other and went, 'naturally it happened!' Yet we continued forward."

"Having Jess as a partner proved invaluable. What was great was that we worked hard together, we problem-solved together, and we consistently shared identical objectives," she said.

Rowe is from Hampshire. Prior to her Pacific success, she crossed the Atlantic by rowing, hiked England's South West Coast Path, climbed Mount Kenya and cycled across Spain. Additional challenges probably remain.

"We shared such wonderful experiences, and we're already excited to plan new adventures collectively once more. No other partner would have sufficed."