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A final 24-hour stretch. One more day up and down merciless swells. Another round of raw palms gripping unforgiving oars.

But after more than 8,000 nautical miles across the ocean – an extraordinary 165-day expedition across the Pacific that included close encounters with whales, malfunctioning navigation equipment and sweet treat crises – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

Strong 20-knot breezes off Cairns repeatedly forced their small vessel, their rowing boat Velocity, from the terra firma that was now frustratingly within reach.

Supporters anticipated on shore as a planned midday arrival evolved into afternoon, followed by 4pm, then early evening. Ultimately, at 6:42 PM, they came alongside Cairns Yacht Club.

"The concluding hours proved absolutely punishing," Rowe said, at last on firm earth.

"The wind was pushing us off the channel, and we truly doubted we would succeed. We found ourselves beyond the marked route and contemplated a final swim to land. To at last reach our destination, after extensive preparation, just feels incredible."

The Epic Journey Begins

The English women – 28-year-old Rowe and 25-year-old Payne – set out from Peruvian shores on May fifth (a first try in April was derailed by a rudder failure).

Over 165 days at sea, they maintained 50 nautical miles daily, paddling together in daylight, single rower overnight while her teammate dozed a bare handful of hours in a cramped cabin.

Survival and Challenges

Kept alive with 400kg of mostly freeze-dried food, a seawater purification system and a vessel-based sprout cultivation system, the pair have relied on an inconsistent solar power setup for only partial electrical requirements.

For much of their journey through the expansive ocean, they've had no navigation equipment or beacon, creating a phantom vessel scenario, hardly noticeable to maritime traffic.

The women endured 30-foot swells, traversed marine highways and weathered furious gales that, on occasion, silenced all of their electronics.

Groundbreaking Success

Yet they continued paddling, each pull following the last, through scorching daylight hours, beneath celestial nightscapes.

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

Additionally they collected in excess of £86k (Australian $179,000) benefiting the outdoor education charity.

Existence Onboard

The duo made every effort to stay connected with society beyond their small boat.

On "day 140-something", they reported a "chocolate emergency" – reduced to their final two portions with still more than 1,600km to go – but allowed themselves the indulgence of unwrapping a portion to honor England's rugby team triumph in global rugby competition.

Personal Insights

Payne, from a landlocked part of Yorkshire, had not been at sea until she rowed the Atlantic solo during 2022 establishing a record.

She now has a second ocean conquered. But there were moments, she conceded, when failure seemed possible. Starting within the first week, a path over the planet's biggest sea felt impossible.

"Our energy was failing, the water-maker pipes burst, but after nine repairs, we achieved an alternative solution and simply continued struggling with minimal electricity during the final expedition phase. Each time problems occurred, we just looked at each other and went, 'of course it has!' But we kept going."

"Jess made an exceptional crewmate. 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 originates from Hampshire. Before her Pacific triumph, she paddled 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 eagerly anticipating future expeditions collectively once more. Another teammate wouldn't have worked."