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One more day. Another day battling through merciless swells. Another round of raw palms gripping unforgiving oars.

However following over 15,000 kilometers across the ocean – an extraordinary 165-day expedition across the Pacific that included near brushes with cetaceans, malfunctioning navigation equipment and sweet treat crises – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

Powerful 20-knot gusts off Cairns continuously drove their tiny rowboat, their boat Velocity, off course from land that was now frustratingly within reach.

Friends and family waited ashore as a planned midday arrival evolved into afternoon, followed by 4pm, then early evening. Finally, at 6.42pm, they came alongside the Cairns marina.

"Those last hours tested every fiber," Rowe said, eventually on solid ground.

"Breezes were forcing us off course, and we honestly thought we weren't going to make it. We drifted outside the navigational path and contemplated a final swim to land. To at last reach our destination, after talking about it for so long, proves truly extraordinary."

The Monumental Voyage Commences

The British pair – aged 28 and 25 respectively – departed from Lima, Peru on May fifth (an initial attempt in April was stopped by equipment malfunction).

Over 165 days at sea, they maintained 50 nautical miles daily, paddling together in daylight, one rowing alone at night while her partner rested a bare handful of hours in a tight compartment.

Endurance and Obstacles

Nourished by 400kg of preserved provisions, a water desalinator and an integrated greens production unit, the duo depended upon an inconsistent solar power setup for limited energy demands.

During most of their voyage through the expansive ocean, they operated without navigation tools or location transmitters, turning them into a "ghost ship", hardly noticeable to maritime traffic.

The pair have borne 9-metre waves, navigated shipping lanes and survived violent tempests that, at times, silenced all of their electronics.

Record-Breaking Achievement

Still they maintained progress, stroke by relentless stroke, through scorching daylight hours, under star-filled night skies.

They have set a new record as the first all-female pair to row across the South Pacific Ocean, non-stop and unsupported.

And they have raised over eighty-six thousand pounds (Australian $179,000) benefiting the outdoor education charity.

Existence Onboard

The pair did their best to keep in contact with the world away from their compact craft.

On "day 140-something", they announced a "sweet treat shortage" – diminished to merely two remaining pieces with still more than 1,600km to go – but granted themselves the pleasure of breaking one open to honor England's rugby team winning the Rugby World Cup.

Personal Insights

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

Another ocean now falls to her accomplishments. Yet there were periods, she conceded, when they feared they wouldn't make it. Beginning on the sixth day, a path over the planet's biggest sea seemed unachievable.

"Our power was dropping, the desalination tubes ruptured, yet after numerous mends, we achieved an alternative solution and just limped along with little power 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."

"It was really great to have Jess as a teammate. 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 stated.

Rowe hails from Hampshire. Preceding her ocean conquest, she rowed the Atlantic, walked the southwestern English coastline, climbed Mount Kenya and cycled across Spain. Further adventures likely await.

"We shared such wonderful experiences, and we're eagerly anticipating future expeditions together as well. No other partner would have sufficed."