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A final 24-hour stretch. One more day up and down the unforgiving ocean. Another round of raw palms clutching relentless paddles.

But after more than 8,000 nautical miles across the ocean – a monumental half-year voyage across the Pacific that included intimate meetings with marine giants, failing beacons and chocolate shortages – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

A gusting 20-knot wind approaching Cairns repeatedly forced their compact craft, their rowing boat Velocity, off course from land that was now achingly close.

Friends and family waited ashore as an expected noon touchdown shifted to 2pm, then 4pm, then twilight hours. At last, at eighteen forty-two, they reached Cairns Yacht Club.

"The concluding hours proved absolutely punishing," Rowe said, at last on firm earth.

"Breezes were forcing us off course, and we truly doubted we would succeed. We drifted outside the navigational path and contemplated a final swim to land. To ultimately arrive, after extensive preparation, seems absolutely amazing."

The Monumental Voyage Commences

The English women – Rowe is 28 and Payne 25 – pushed off from Lima, Peru in early May (an earlier April effort was derailed by a rudder failure).

Over 165 days at sea, they averaged 50 nautical miles a day, paddling together in daylight, individual night shifts while her partner rested minimal sleep in a confined sleeping area.

Survival and Challenges

Nourished by 400kg of preserved provisions, a saltwater conversion device and a vessel-based sprout cultivation system, the duo depended upon an inconsistent solar power setup for limited energy demands.

For much of their journey through the expansive ocean, they've had no navigation equipment or location transmitters, making them essentially invisible, hardly noticeable to maritime traffic.

The women endured 30-foot swells, traversed marine highways and endured raging storms that, periodically, silenced all of their electronics.

Historic Accomplishment

And they've kept rowing, one stroke after another, during intensely warm periods, below stellar evening heavens.

They have set a new record as the first all-female pair to paddle over the South Pacific, continuously and independently.

Additionally they collected over eighty-six thousand pounds (179,000 Australian dollars) supporting Outward Bound.

Life Aboard

The duo made every effort to stay connected with society beyond their small boat.

Around day one-forty, they reported a "chocolate emergency" – diminished to merely two remaining pieces with still more than 1,600km to go – but granted themselves the pleasure of opening one bar to celebrate England's Red Roses victory in the World Cup.

Individual Perspectives

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

Another ocean now falls to her accomplishments. But there were moments, she acknowledged, when they doubted their success. Starting within the first week, a path over the planet's biggest sea appeared insurmountable.

"Our power was dropping, the freshwater system lines broke, however following multiple fixes, we achieved an alternative solution and barely maintained progress with reduced energy for the rest of the crossing. Each time problems occurred, we simply exchanged glances and went, 'typically it occurred!' Still we persevered."

"Having Jess as a partner proved invaluable. What was great was that we worked hard together, we problem-solved together, and we were always working towards the same goals," she stated.

Rowe hails from Hampshire. Prior to her Pacific success, she rowed the Atlantic, trekked England's coastal trail, climbed Mount Kenya and biked through Spain. There might still be more.

"We had such a good time together, and we're eagerly anticipating future expeditions as a team again. No other partner would have sufficed."