🔗 Share this article

A final 24-hour stretch. Another day battling through the unforgiving ocean. One more day of blistered hands clutching relentless paddles.

But after more than 8,000 nautical miles on the water – a monumental half-year voyage across the Pacific that included near brushes with cetaceans, defective signaling devices and cocoa supply emergencies – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

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

Loved ones gathered on land as a scheduled lunchtime finish became 2pm, then 4pm, then early evening. Ultimately, at 6:42 PM, they arrived at the Cairns marina.

"Those final few hours were brutal," Rowe stated, 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 at last reach our destination, following years of planning, proves truly extraordinary."

The Extraordinary Expedition Starts

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

During 165 ocean days, they maintained 50 nautical miles daily, rowing in tandem during the day, individual night shifts while her crewmate slept a bare handful of hours in a cramped cabin.

Endurance and Obstacles

Kept alive with 400kg of mostly freeze-dried food, a seawater purification system and an onboard growing unit for micro-greens, the duo depended upon an unpredictable photovoltaic arrangement for limited energy demands.

During most of their voyage through the expansive ocean, they operated without navigation tools or location transmitters, creating a phantom vessel scenario, almost invisible to other vessels.

The women endured 30-foot swells, traversed marine highways and survived violent tempests that, on occasion, silenced all of their electronics.

Groundbreaking Success

And they've kept rowing, each pull following the last, during intensely warm periods, below stellar evening heavens.

They achieved an unprecedented feat as the first all-female pair to paddle over the South Pacific, without breaks or external assistance.

Furthermore they gathered more than £86,000 (A$179,000) for the Outward Bound Trust.

Daily Reality at Sea

The women attempted to maintain communication with civilization beyond their small boat.

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 allowed themselves the indulgence of breaking one open to celebrate England's Red Roses triumph in global rugby competition.

Personal Insights

Payne, originating from Yorkshire's non-coastal region, lacked ocean experience prior to her independent Atlantic journey in 2022 in a record time.

She now has a second ocean conquered. However there were instances, she admitted, when they feared they wouldn't make it. As early as day six, a route across the globe's vastest waters felt impossible.

"Our electrical systems were diminishing, the water-maker pipes burst, however following multiple fixes, we accomplished a workaround and barely maintained progress with reduced energy during the final expedition phase. Whenever issues arose, we merely made eye contact and went, 'typically it occurred!' Still we persevered."

"Having Jess as a partner proved invaluable. Our mutual dedication stood out, we problem-solved together, and we consistently shared identical objectives," she stated.

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

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