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One more day. One more session navigating merciless swells. Another round of raw palms clutching relentless paddles.

Yet after traversing 8,000+ sea miles at sea – a monumental half-year voyage over the Pacific Ocean that included near brushes with cetaceans, malfunctioning navigation equipment and sweet treat crises – the sea had one more challenge.

Strong 20-knot breezes off Cairns continuously drove their small vessel, their boat Velocity, from the terra firma that was now frustratingly within reach.

Supporters anticipated on shore as a scheduled lunchtime finish shifted to 2pm, subsequently 4pm, then dusk. At last, at eighteen forty-two, they came alongside the Cairns sailing club.

"Those last hours tested every fiber," Rowe expressed, eventually on solid ground.

"Breezes were forcing us off course, and we truly doubted we would succeed. We found ourselves beyond the marked route and thought we might have to swim to shore. To at last reach our destination, following years of planning, proves truly extraordinary."

The Monumental Voyage Commences

The British pair – 28-year-old Rowe and 25-year-old Payne – set out from Peruvian shores on 5 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 crewmate slept minimal sleep in a confined sleeping area.

Perseverance and Difficulties

Kept alive with 400kg of mostly freeze-dried food, a saltwater conversion device and an integrated greens production unit, the duo depended upon an unpredictable photovoltaic arrangement for a fraction of the power they've needed.

For much of their journey across the vast Pacific, they lacked directional instruments or signaling devices, creating a phantom vessel scenario, hardly noticeable to maritime traffic.

The duo faced nine-meter waves, traversed marine highways and weathered furious gales that, on occasion, disabled all electrical systems.

Historic Accomplishment

And they've kept rowing, one stroke after another, through scorching daylight hours, under star-filled night skies.

They achieved an unprecedented feat as the first all-female pair to cross the southern Pacific by rowing, without breaks or external assistance.

Additionally they collected over eighty-six thousand pounds (Australian $179,000) for the Outward Bound Trust.

Life Aboard

The pair did their best to stay connected with society away from their compact craft.

On "day 140-something", they announced a "sweet treat shortage" – reduced to their final two portions with over 1,000 miles remaining – but granted themselves the pleasure of breaking one open to mark the English squad's winning the Rugby World Cup.

Personal Reflections

Payne, from a landlocked part of Yorkshire, had not been at sea before her solo Atlantic crossing during 2022 establishing a record.

Another ocean now falls to her accomplishments. However there were instances, she acknowledged, when failure seemed possible. As early as day six, a path over the planet's biggest sea appeared insurmountable.

"Our power was dropping, the water-maker pipes burst, yet after numerous mends, we accomplished a workaround and just limped along with reduced energy throughout the remaining journey. Each time problems occurred, we merely made eye contact and went, 'naturally it happened!' Still we persevered."

"Having Jess as a partner proved invaluable. What was great was that we worked hard together, we addressed challenges collectively, and we perpetually pursued common aims," she said.

Rowe hails from Hampshire. Before her Pacific triumph, she rowed the Atlantic, hiked England's South West Coast Path, climbed Mount Kenya and pedaled across Spanish terrain. Additional challenges probably remain.

"We had such a good time together, and we're enthusiastically preparing additional journeys together as well. I wouldn't have done it with anybody else."