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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.

Yet after traversing 8,000+ sea miles across the ocean – an epic five-and-a-half-month journey through Pacific waters that included near brushes with cetaceans, failing beacons and cocoa supply emergencies – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

Powerful 20-knot gusts near Cairns repeatedly forced their small vessel, their rowing boat Velocity, from the terra firma that was now painfully near.

Supporters anticipated on shore as an expected noon touchdown shifted to 2pm, then 4pm, then early evening. Finally, at 6.42pm, they arrived at Cairns Yacht Club.

"Those last hours tested every fiber," Rowe said, at last on firm earth.

"The wind was pushing us off the channel, and we genuinely believed we might fail. We found ourselves beyond the marked route and contemplated a final swim to land. To ultimately arrive, following years of planning, proves truly extraordinary."

The Monumental Voyage Commences

The British pair – Rowe is 28 and Payne 25 – pushed off from Lima, Peru on May fifth (an initial attempt 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 tight compartment.

Perseverance and Difficulties

Nourished by 400kg of preserved provisions, a water desalinator and a vessel-based sprout cultivation system, the pair have relied on an unpredictable photovoltaic arrangement for only partial electrical requirements.

During most of their voyage over the enormous Pacific, they operated without navigation tools or beacon, turning them into a "ghost ship", hardly noticeable to maritime traffic.

The women endured 30-foot swells, traversed marine highways and survived violent tempests that, periodically, shut down every electronic device.

Historic Accomplishment

And they've kept rowing, one stroke after another, during intensely warm periods, beneath celestial nightscapes.

They have set a new record as the first all-female pair to cross the southern Pacific by rowing, without breaks or external assistance.

And they have raised over eighty-six thousand pounds (179,000 Australian dollars) supporting Outward Bound.

Existence Onboard

The women attempted to maintain communication with civilization away from their compact craft.

On "day 140-something", they declared a "cocoa crisis" – reduced to their final two portions with over 1,000 miles remaining – but allowed themselves the indulgence of breaking one open to celebrate England's Red Roses winning the Rugby World Cup.

Personal Insights

Payne, from a landlocked part of Yorkshire, lacked ocean experience prior to her independent Atlantic journey during 2022 establishing a record.

Another ocean now falls to her accomplishments. However there were instances, she admitted, when they feared they wouldn't make it. Beginning on the sixth day, a route across the globe's vastest waters felt impossible.

"Our energy was failing, the freshwater system lines broke, yet after numerous mends, we accomplished a workaround and just limped along with minimal electricity throughout the remaining journey. Every time something went wrong, we just looked at each other and went, 'of course it has!' Still we persevered."

"Having Jess as a partner proved invaluable. What was great was that we worked hard together, we resolved issues as a team, and we were always working towards the same goals," she said.

Rowe originates from Hampshire. Prior to her Pacific success, she crossed the Atlantic by rowing, walked the southwestern English coastline, ascended Mount Kenya and cycled across Spain. Additional challenges probably remain.

"We shared such wonderful experiences, and we're already excited to plan new adventures collectively once more. Another teammate wouldn't have worked."