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A final 24-hour stretch. Another day battling through merciless swells. A final stretch with aching hands gripping unforgiving oars.

But after more than 8,000 nautical miles on the water – a monumental half-year voyage through Pacific waters that included close encounters with whales, malfunctioning navigation equipment and chocolate shortages – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

Strong 20-knot breezes off Cairns repeatedly forced their compact craft, their rowing boat Velocity, off course from land that was now painfully near.

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

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

"The wind was pushing us off the channel, 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 finally be here, after extensive preparation, proves truly extraordinary."

The Epic Journey Begins

The English women – Rowe is 28 and Payne 25 – set out from Peruvian shores in early May (an initial attempt in April was derailed by a rudder failure).

During 165 ocean days, they maintained 50 nautical miles daily, paddling together in daylight, one rowing alone at night while her teammate dozed a bare handful of hours in a tight compartment.

Perseverance and Difficulties

Sustained by 400 kilograms of dehydrated meals, a seawater purification system and an onboard growing unit for micro-greens, the women counted on a less-than-reliable solar system for a fraction of the power they've needed.

During most of their voyage across the vast Pacific, they operated without navigation tools or location transmitters, turning them into a "ghost ship", almost invisible to other vessels.

The pair have borne 9-metre waves, crossed commercial routes and endured raging storms that, on occasion, silenced all of their electronics.

Record-Breaking Achievement

And they've kept rowing, each pull following the last, across blazing hot days, under star-filled night skies.

They established a fresh milestone as the pioneering women's team to row across the South Pacific Ocean, non-stop and unsupported.

Furthermore they gathered in excess of £86k (Australian $179,000) supporting Outward Bound.

Existence Onboard

The women attempted to keep in contact with the world outside their tiny vessel.

On "day 140-something", they reported a "chocolate emergency" – diminished to merely two remaining pieces with still more than 1,600km to go – but allowed themselves the indulgence of breaking one open to mark the English squad's winning the Rugby World Cup.

Personal Reflections

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

She has now mastered another ocean. Yet there were periods, she acknowledged, when they doubted their success. Starting within the first week, a path over the planet's biggest sea seemed unachievable.

"Our power was dropping, the desalination tubes ruptured, but after nine repairs, we accomplished a workaround and barely maintained progress with reduced energy for the rest of the crossing. Every time something went wrong, we just looked at each other and went, 'of course it has!' Still we persevered."

"Jess made an exceptional crewmate. Our mutual dedication stood out, we problem-solved together, and we were always working towards the same goals," she said.

Rowe originates from Hampshire. Before her Pacific triumph, she rowed the Atlantic, trekked England's coastal trail, scaled the Kenyan peak and pedaled across Spanish terrain. Further adventures likely await.

"We had such a good time together, and we're enthusiastically preparing additional journeys collectively once more. Another teammate wouldn't have worked."