🔗 Share this article

One last sunrise to sunset. One more session navigating the unforgiving ocean. A final stretch with aching hands clutching relentless paddles.

But after more than 8,000 nautical miles across the ocean – an epic five-and-a-half-month journey through Pacific waters that included near brushes with cetaceans, failing beacons and sweet treat crises – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

Strong 20-knot breezes off Cairns kept pushing their small vessel, their rowing boat Velocity, from the terra firma that was now achingly close.

Supporters anticipated on shore as an expected noon touchdown shifted to 2pm, subsequently 4pm, then twilight hours. Finally, at 6.42pm, they arrived at the Cairns sailing club.

"Those final few hours were brutal," Rowe said, 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 found ourselves beyond the marked route and considered swimming the remaining distance. To ultimately arrive, after talking about it for so long, just feels incredible."

The Monumental Voyage Commences

The English women – aged 28 and 25 respectively – departed from Lima, Peru in early May (an initial attempt in April was stopped by equipment malfunction).

During 165 ocean days, they maintained 50 nautical miles daily, rowing in tandem during the day, individual night shifts while her partner rested minimal sleep in a cramped cabin.

Survival and Challenges

Nourished by 400kg of preserved provisions, a saltwater conversion device and an integrated greens production unit, the pair have relied on a less-than-reliable solar system for only partial electrical requirements.

During most of their voyage through the expansive ocean, they've had no navigation equipment or signaling devices, making them essentially invisible, hardly noticeable to maritime traffic.

The duo faced nine-meter waves, crossed commercial routes and survived violent tempests that, at times, silenced all of their electronics.

Groundbreaking Success

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

They achieved an unprecedented feat as the initial female duo to row across the South Pacific Ocean, without breaks or external assistance.

And they have raised in excess of £86k (179,000 Australian dollars) benefiting the outdoor education charity.

Existence Onboard

The duo made every effort to keep in contact with the world beyond their small boat.

During the 140s of their journey, they reported a "chocolate emergency" – reduced to their final two portions with another 1,600 kilometers ahead – but granted themselves the pleasure of breaking one open to honor England's rugby team victory in the World Cup.

Personal Reflections

Payne, hailing from inland Yorkshire, was unacquainted with maritime life before her solo Atlantic crossing in 2022 achieving record pace.

Another ocean now falls to her accomplishments. Yet there were periods, she conceded, when they doubted their success. Starting within the first week, a route across the globe's vastest waters felt impossible.

"Our energy was failing, the desalination tubes ruptured, however following multiple fixes, we accomplished a workaround and simply continued struggling with minimal electricity for the rest of the crossing. Each time problems occurred, we just looked at each other and went, 'typically it occurred!' But we kept going."

"Having Jess as a partner proved invaluable. The remarkable aspect was our collaborative effort, we addressed challenges collectively, and we were always working towards the same goals," she said.

Rowe hails from Hampshire. Before her Pacific triumph, she rowed the Atlantic, trekked England's coastal trail, ascended Mount Kenya and biked through Spain. Additional challenges probably remain.

"We had such a good time together, and we're enthusiastically preparing additional journeys together as well. I wouldn't have done it with anybody else."