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A final 24-hour stretch. One more day up and down the unforgiving ocean. One more day of blistered hands clutching relentless paddles.

However following over 15,000 kilometers at sea – an epic five-and-a-half-month journey over the Pacific Ocean that included near brushes with cetaceans, failing beacons and chocolate shortages – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

Powerful 20-knot gusts near Cairns repeatedly forced their small vessel, the Velocity, from the terra firma that was now frustratingly within reach.

Friends and family waited ashore as a scheduled lunchtime finish became 2pm, then 4pm, then dusk. Finally, at 6.42pm, they reached the Cairns sailing club.

"Those final few hours were brutal," Rowe stated, finally standing on land.

"Gusts were driving us from the passage, and we genuinely believed we might fail. We found ourselves beyond the marked route and thought we might have to swim to shore. To at last reach our destination, after talking about it for so long, proves truly extraordinary."

The Monumental Voyage Commences

The UK duo – 28-year-old Rowe and 25-year-old Payne – set out from Peruvian shores on 5 May (a first try 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.

Survival and Challenges

Sustained by 400 kilograms of dehydrated meals, a saltwater conversion device and a vessel-based sprout cultivation system, the duo depended upon a less-than-reliable solar system for limited energy demands.

Throughout the majority of their expedition through the expansive ocean, they've had no navigation equipment or location transmitters, turning them into a "ghost ship", nearly undetectable to passing ships.

The duo faced nine-meter waves, navigated shipping lanes and endured raging storms that, periodically, shut down every electronic device.

Record-Breaking Achievement

And they've kept rowing, one stroke after another, across blazing hot days, under star-filled night skies.

They have set a new record as the initial female duo to cross the southern Pacific by rowing, without breaks or external assistance.

Furthermore they gathered more than £86,000 (179,000 Australian dollars) supporting Outward Bound.

Daily Reality at Sea

The women attempted to maintain communication with civilization outside their tiny vessel.

During the 140s of their journey, they declared a "cocoa crisis" – reduced to their final two portions with another 1,600 kilometers ahead – but permitted themselves the luxury of unwrapping a portion to celebrate England's Red Roses winning the Rugby World Cup.

Personal Reflections

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

She now has a second ocean conquered. But there were moments, she admitted, when failure seemed possible. As early as day six, a route across the globe's vastest waters felt impossible.

"Our electrical systems were diminishing, the freshwater system lines broke, yet after numerous mends, we managed a bypass and just limped along with minimal electricity during the final expedition phase. 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 addressed challenges collectively, and we were always working towards the same goals," she stated.

Rowe is from Hampshire. Before her Pacific triumph, she paddled the Atlantic, hiked England's South West Coast Path, scaled the Kenyan peak and cycled across Spain. Further adventures likely await.

"We had such a good time together, and we're already excited to plan new adventures collectively once more. I wouldn't have done it with anybody else."