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One last sunrise to sunset. One more day up and down the pitiless slide. Another round of raw palms gripping unforgiving oars.

But after more than 8,000 nautical miles at sea – an epic five-and-a-half-month journey over the Pacific Ocean that included intimate meetings with marine giants, defective signaling devices and cocoa supply emergencies – the sea had one more challenge.

Powerful 20-knot gusts approaching Cairns repeatedly forced their compact craft, their rowing boat Velocity, off course from land that was now frustratingly within reach.

Friends and family waited ashore as an expected noon touchdown became 2pm, subsequently 4pm, then early evening. At last, at eighteen forty-two, they arrived at the Cairns sailing club.

"Those final few hours were brutal," Rowe said, eventually on solid ground.

"The wind was pushing us off the channel, and we truly doubted we would succeed. We drifted outside the navigational path and considered swimming the remaining distance. To finally be here, after extensive preparation, seems absolutely amazing."

The Extraordinary Expedition Starts

The English women – aged 28 and 25 respectively – 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 covered approximately 50 sea miles each day, working as a team through daytime hours, one rowing alone at night while her partner rested just a few hours in a confined sleeping area.

Perseverance and Difficulties

Sustained by 400 kilograms of dehydrated meals, a water desalinator 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 over the enormous Pacific, they've had no navigation equipment or location transmitters, turning them into a "ghost ship", hardly noticeable to maritime traffic.

The duo faced nine-meter waves, traversed marine highways and weathered furious gales that, periodically, shut down every electronic device.

Groundbreaking Success

Still they maintained progress, one stroke after another, through scorching daylight hours, under star-filled night skies.

They have set a new record as the initial female duo to cross the southern Pacific by rowing, continuously and independently.

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

Daily Reality at Sea

The duo made every effort to maintain communication with civilization outside their tiny vessel.

On "day 140-something", they announced a "sweet treat shortage" – reduced to their final two portions with still more than 1,600km to go – but allowed themselves the indulgence of opening one bar to honor England's rugby team winning the Rugby World Cup.

Individual Perspectives

Payne, hailing from inland Yorkshire, lacked ocean experience before her solo Atlantic crossing in 2022 achieving record pace.

She now has a second ocean conquered. Yet there were periods, she admitted, when failure seemed possible. Beginning on the sixth day, a way across the world's largest ocean seemed unachievable.

"Our power was dropping, the water-maker pipes burst, however following multiple fixes, we managed a bypass and just limped along with reduced energy during the final expedition phase. Whenever issues arose, we simply exchanged glances and went, 'typically it occurred!' Yet we continued forward."

"Having Jess as a partner proved invaluable. Our mutual dedication stood out, we resolved issues as a team, and we perpetually pursued common aims," she stated.

Rowe is from Hampshire. Before her Pacific triumph, she rowed the Atlantic, walked the southwestern English coastline, scaled the Kenyan peak and pedaled across Spanish terrain. There might still be more.

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