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One more day. Another day battling through the pitiless slide. Another round of raw palms 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 intimate meetings with marine giants, malfunctioning navigation equipment and cocoa supply emergencies – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

Strong 20-knot breezes approaching Cairns continuously drove their tiny rowboat, their rowing boat Velocity, away from solid ground that was now achingly close.

Supporters anticipated on shore as a planned midday arrival became 2pm, then 4pm, then twilight hours. At last, at eighteen forty-two, they arrived at the Cairns marina.

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

"The wind was pushing us off the channel, and we truly doubted we would succeed. We ended up outside the channel and contemplated a final swim to land. To at last reach our destination, after extensive preparation, proves truly extraordinary."

The Extraordinary Expedition Starts

The British pair – 28-year-old Rowe and 25-year-old Payne – pushed off from Lima, Peru on May fifth (a first try in April was stopped by equipment malfunction).

During 165 ocean days, they averaged 50 nautical miles a day, paddling together in daylight, individual night shifts while her crewmate slept a bare handful of hours in a confined sleeping area.

Survival and Challenges

Sustained by 400 kilograms of dehydrated meals, a saltwater conversion device and an integrated greens production unit, the duo depended upon a less-than-reliable solar system for only partial electrical requirements.

Throughout the majority of their expedition over the enormous Pacific, they've had no navigation equipment or location transmitters, making them essentially invisible, almost invisible to other vessels.

The pair have borne 9-metre waves, crossed commercial routes and weathered furious gales that, at times, disabled all electrical systems.

Groundbreaking Success

Yet they continued paddling, one stroke after another, across blazing hot days, below stellar evening heavens.

They have set a new record as the initial female duo to paddle over the South Pacific, non-stop and unsupported.

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

Existence Onboard

The pair did their best to keep in contact with the world beyond their small boat.

During the 140s of their journey, they declared a "cocoa crisis" – diminished to merely two remaining pieces 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 Reflections

Payne, originating from Yorkshire's non-coastal region, lacked ocean experience prior to her independent Atlantic journey in 2022 in a record time.

She now has a second ocean conquered. However there were instances, she admitted, when they feared they wouldn't make it. As early as day six, a path over the planet's biggest sea felt impossible.

"Our energy was failing, the desalination tubes ruptured, but after nine repairs, we achieved an alternative solution and just limped along with reduced energy during the final expedition phase. Every time something went wrong, 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 problem-solved together, and we consistently shared identical objectives," she stated.

Rowe hails from Hampshire. Before her Pacific triumph, she crossed the Atlantic by rowing, walked the southwestern English coastline, scaled the Kenyan peak and pedaled across Spanish terrain. Additional challenges probably remain.

"We shared such wonderful experiences, and we're already excited to plan new adventures as a team again. Another teammate wouldn't have worked."