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One more day. One more day up and down the unforgiving ocean. A final stretch with aching hands holding onto unyielding oars.

Yet after traversing 8,000+ sea miles on the water – an extraordinary 165-day expedition over the Pacific Ocean that included close encounters with whales, malfunctioning navigation equipment and chocolate shortages – the ocean presented a final test.

Strong 20-knot breezes off Cairns continuously drove their compact craft, their boat Velocity, from the terra firma that was now achingly close.

Supporters anticipated on shore as a scheduled lunchtime finish became 2pm, then 4pm, then dusk. Finally, at 6.42pm, they came alongside the Cairns marina.

"The concluding hours proved absolutely punishing," Rowe said, eventually on solid ground.

"The wind was pushing us off the channel, and we genuinely believed we might fail. We ended up outside the channel and thought we might have to swim to shore. To at last reach our destination, following years of planning, proves truly extraordinary."

The Epic Journey Begins

The UK duo – Rowe is 28 and Payne 25 – pushed off from Lima, Peru in early May (a first try in April was stopped by equipment malfunction).

During 165 ocean days, they averaged 50 nautical miles a day, working as a team through daytime hours, one rowing alone at night while her teammate dozed just a few hours in a tight compartment.

Survival and Challenges

Nourished by 400kg of preserved provisions, a seawater purification system and an onboard growing unit for micro-greens, the women counted on a less-than-reliable solar system for limited energy demands.

During most of their voyage through the expansive ocean, they lacked directional instruments or signaling devices, making them essentially invisible, hardly noticeable to maritime traffic.

The pair have borne 9-metre waves, crossed commercial routes and endured raging storms that, periodically, shut down every electronic device.

Historic Accomplishment

Still they maintained progress, stroke by relentless stroke, across blazing hot days, beneath celestial nightscapes.

They have set a new record as the pioneering women's team to cross the southern Pacific by rowing, non-stop and unsupported.

And they have raised in excess of £86k (179,000 Australian dollars) benefiting the outdoor education charity.

Daily Reality at Sea

The women attempted to keep in contact with the world outside their tiny vessel.

On "day 140-something", they reported a "chocolate emergency" – diminished to merely two remaining pieces with over 1,000 miles remaining – but granted themselves the pleasure of unwrapping a portion to mark the English squad's victory in the World Cup.

Individual Perspectives

Payne, hailing from inland Yorkshire, was unacquainted with maritime life prior to her independent Atlantic journey during 2022 establishing a record.

She has now mastered another ocean. However there were instances, she conceded, when they doubted their success. As early as day six, a route across the globe's vastest waters seemed unachievable.

"Our power was dropping, the freshwater system lines broke, yet after numerous mends, we accomplished a workaround and simply continued struggling with little power throughout the remaining journey. Every time something went wrong, we merely made eye contact and went, 'naturally it happened!' But we kept going."

"It was really great to have Jess as a teammate. Our mutual dedication stood out, we problem-solved together, and we were always working towards the same goals," she said.

Rowe is from Hampshire. Prior to her Pacific success, she rowed the Atlantic, walked the southwestern English coastline, climbed Mount Kenya and cycled across Spain. There might still be more.

"We shared such wonderful experiences, and we're already excited to plan new adventures collectively once more. No other partner would have sufficed."