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One last sunrise to sunset. One more session navigating merciless swells. One more day of blistered hands holding onto unyielding oars.

However following over 15,000 kilometers at sea – a monumental half-year voyage over the Pacific Ocean that included intimate meetings with marine giants, malfunctioning navigation equipment and chocolate shortages – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

A gusting 20-knot wind off Cairns continuously drove their compact craft, their rowing boat Velocity, away from solid ground that was now painfully near.

Supporters anticipated on shore as an expected noon touchdown became 2pm, followed by 4pm, then twilight hours. Finally, at 6.42pm, they came alongside the Cairns marina.

"The concluding hours proved absolutely punishing," Rowe said, finally standing on land.

"Gusts were driving us from the passage, and we truly doubted we would succeed. We found ourselves beyond the marked route and contemplated a final swim to land. To at last reach our destination, after extensive preparation, just feels incredible."

The Extraordinary Expedition Starts

The UK duo – aged 28 and 25 respectively – pushed off from Lima, Peru on 5 May (an initial attempt in April was derailed by a rudder failure).

Across nearly half a year on water, they covered approximately 50 sea miles each day, working as a team through daytime hours, single rower overnight while her partner rested just a few hours in a cramped cabin.

Endurance and Obstacles

Kept alive with 400kg of mostly freeze-dried food, a water desalinator and an integrated greens production unit, the pair have relied on an inconsistent solar power setup for a fraction of the power they've needed.

During most of their voyage across the vast Pacific, they operated without navigation tools or beacon, making them essentially invisible, nearly undetectable to passing ships.

The pair have borne 9-metre waves, traversed marine highways and weathered furious gales that, at times, 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 paddle over the South Pacific, without breaks or external assistance.

Furthermore they gathered in excess of £86k (Australian $179,000) benefiting the outdoor education charity.

Existence Onboard

The women attempted to maintain communication with civilization beyond their small boat.

On "day 140-something", they reported a "chocolate emergency" – diminished to merely two remaining pieces with another 1,600 kilometers ahead – but allowed themselves the indulgence of breaking one open to mark the English squad's triumph in global rugby competition.

Individual Perspectives

Payne, hailing from inland Yorkshire, had not been at sea prior to her independent Atlantic journey during 2022 establishing a record.

She now has a second ocean conquered. However there were instances, she admitted, when they doubted their success. As early as day six, a way across the world's largest ocean seemed unachievable.

"Our power was dropping, the water-maker pipes burst, but after nine repairs, we accomplished a workaround and just limped along with reduced energy throughout the remaining journey. Every time something went wrong, we simply exchanged glances and went, 'of course it has!' But we kept going."

"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 were always working towards the same goals," she stated.

Rowe is from Hampshire. Preceding her ocean conquest, she rowed the Atlantic, trekked England's coastal trail, scaled the Kenyan peak and pedaled across Spanish terrain. There might still be more.

"Our collaboration proved incredibly rewarding, and we're enthusiastically preparing additional journeys as a team again. I wouldn't have done it with anybody else."