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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 on the water – an epic five-and-a-half-month journey over the Pacific Ocean that included intimate meetings with marine giants, failing beacons and cocoa supply emergencies – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

Powerful 20-knot gusts approaching Cairns continuously drove their compact craft, the Velocity, from the terra firma that was now painfully near.

Friends and family waited ashore as a scheduled lunchtime finish evolved into afternoon, followed by 4pm, then twilight hours. Finally, at 6.42pm, they came alongside Cairns Yacht Club.

"Those final few hours were brutal," Rowe stated, at last on firm earth.

"Breezes were forcing us off course, and we truly doubted we would succeed. We drifted outside the navigational path and contemplated a final swim to land. To ultimately arrive, following years of planning, proves truly extraordinary."

The Epic Journey Begins

The English women – aged 28 and 25 respectively – departed from Lima, Peru on May fifth (an initial attempt in April was halted by steering issues).

Over 165 days at sea, they maintained 50 nautical miles daily, rowing in tandem during the day, single rower overnight while her crewmate slept minimal sleep in a confined sleeping area.

Endurance and Obstacles

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

During most of their voyage across the vast Pacific, they lacked directional instruments or beacon, making them essentially invisible, almost invisible to other vessels.

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

Historic Accomplishment

And they've kept rowing, one stroke after another, through scorching daylight hours, below stellar evening heavens.

They achieved an unprecedented feat as the first all-female pair to row across the South Pacific Ocean, continuously and independently.

Furthermore they gathered more than £86,000 (179,000 Australian dollars) supporting Outward Bound.

Daily Reality at Sea

The women attempted to stay connected with society outside their tiny vessel.

During the 140s of their journey, they announced a "sweet treat shortage" – diminished to merely two remaining pieces with another 1,600 kilometers ahead – but permitted themselves the luxury of breaking one open to celebrate England's Red Roses triumph in global rugby competition.

Personal Insights

Payne, from a landlocked part of Yorkshire, was unacquainted with maritime life before her solo Atlantic crossing in 2022 in a record time.

She now has a second ocean conquered. Yet there were periods, she admitted, when failure seemed possible. Beginning on the sixth day, a route across the globe's vastest waters appeared insurmountable.

"Our power was dropping, the desalination tubes ruptured, yet after numerous mends, we achieved an alternative solution and just limped along with reduced energy for the rest of the crossing. Every time something went wrong, we just looked at each other and went, 'naturally it happened!' Still we persevered."

"Jess made an exceptional crewmate. Our mutual dedication stood out, we addressed challenges collectively, and we were always working towards the same goals," she remarked.

Rowe is from Hampshire. Before her Pacific triumph, she crossed the Atlantic by rowing, hiked England's South West Coast Path, ascended Mount Kenya and biked through Spain. There might still be more.

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