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One more day. Another day battling through the pitiless slide. A final stretch with aching hands gripping unforgiving oars.

However following over 15,000 kilometers on the water – an epic five-and-a-half-month journey across the Pacific that included close encounters with whales, failing beacons and sweet treat crises – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

A gusting 20-knot wind off Cairns kept pushing their compact craft, their rowing boat Velocity, away from solid ground that was now painfully near.

Loved ones gathered on land as a planned midday arrival shifted to 2pm, then 4pm, then early evening. At last, at eighteen forty-two, they arrived at the Cairns sailing club.

"Those final few hours were brutal," Rowe expressed, finally standing on land.

"The wind was pushing us off the channel, and we genuinely believed we might fail. We found ourselves beyond the marked route and thought we might have to swim to shore. To ultimately arrive, following years of planning, proves truly extraordinary."

The Epic Journey Begins

The UK duo – 28-year-old Rowe and 25-year-old Payne – pushed off from Lima, Peru on May fifth (an earlier April effort was derailed by a rudder failure).

During 165 ocean days, they covered approximately 50 sea miles each day, working as a team through daytime hours, individual night shifts while her crewmate slept minimal sleep in a tight compartment.

Endurance and Obstacles

Kept alive with 400kg of mostly freeze-dried food, a saltwater conversion device and an onboard growing unit for micro-greens, the pair have relied on an inconsistent solar power setup for limited energy demands.

During most of their voyage across the vast Pacific, they lacked directional instruments or signaling devices, creating a phantom vessel scenario, nearly undetectable to passing ships.

The duo faced nine-meter waves, traversed marine highways and endured raging storms that, at times, disabled all electrical systems.

Historic Accomplishment

Still they maintained progress, each pull following the last, through scorching daylight hours, below stellar evening heavens.

They have set a new record as the pioneering women's team to paddle over the South Pacific, continuously and independently.

And they have raised more than £86,000 (A$179,000) supporting Outward Bound.

Existence Onboard

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

On "day 140-something", they declared a "cocoa crisis" – down to their last two bars with over 1,000 miles remaining – but allowed themselves the indulgence of opening one bar to celebrate England's Red Roses winning the Rugby World Cup.

Individual Perspectives

Payne, hailing from inland Yorkshire, lacked ocean experience prior to her independent Atlantic journey during 2022 establishing a record.

Another ocean now falls to her accomplishments. But there were moments, she acknowledged, when they doubted their success. As early as day six, a route across the globe's vastest waters seemed unachievable.

"Our power was dropping, the water-maker pipes burst, yet after numerous mends, we managed a bypass and just limped along with reduced energy for the rest of the crossing. Each time problems occurred, we simply exchanged glances and went, 'naturally it happened!' Still we persevered."

"Jess made an exceptional crewmate. The remarkable aspect was our collaborative effort, we addressed challenges collectively, and we perpetually pursued common aims," she said.

Rowe hails from Hampshire. Preceding her ocean conquest, she paddled the Atlantic, walked the southwestern English coastline, ascended Mount Kenya and pedaled across Spanish terrain. Additional challenges probably remain.

"We had such a good time together, and we're eagerly anticipating future expeditions collectively once more. Another teammate wouldn't have worked."