🔗 Share this article

One more day. One more day up and down the pitiless slide. A final stretch with aching hands holding onto unyielding oars.

But after more than 8,000 nautical miles at sea – an epic five-and-a-half-month journey over the Pacific Ocean that included near brushes with cetaceans, malfunctioning navigation equipment and sweet treat crises – the waters delivered a last obstacle.

Strong 20-knot breezes off Cairns kept pushing their tiny rowboat, their boat Velocity, away from solid ground that was now frustratingly within reach.

Friends and family waited ashore as a planned midday arrival shifted to 2pm, subsequently 4pm, then early evening. Finally, at 6.42pm, they came alongside the Cairns sailing club.

"Those last hours tested every fiber," Rowe expressed, finally standing on land.

"The wind was pushing us off the channel, and we genuinely believed we might fail. We ended up outside the channel and considered swimming the remaining distance. To ultimately arrive, after talking about it for so long, just feels incredible."

The Epic Journey Begins

The English women – 28-year-old Rowe and 25-year-old Payne – pushed off from Lima, Peru in early May (an initial attempt in April was halted by steering issues).

Over 165 days at sea, they covered approximately 50 sea miles each day, working as a team through daytime hours, single rower overnight while her crewmate slept a bare handful of hours in a confined sleeping area.

Perseverance and Difficulties

Sustained by 400 kilograms of dehydrated meals, a saltwater conversion device and a vessel-based sprout cultivation system, the women counted on an inconsistent solar power setup for a fraction of the power they've needed.

Throughout the majority of their expedition through the expansive ocean, they've had no navigation equipment or beacon, creating a phantom vessel scenario, nearly undetectable to passing ships.

The pair have borne 9-metre waves, crossed commercial routes and survived violent tempests that, on occasion, shut down every electronic device.

Record-Breaking Achievement

Yet they continued paddling, one stroke after another, during intensely warm periods, under star-filled night skies.

They established a fresh milestone as the pioneering women's team to cross the southern Pacific by rowing, non-stop and unsupported.

Furthermore they gathered over eighty-six thousand pounds (Australian $179,000) supporting Outward Bound.

Existence Onboard

The women attempted to keep in contact with the world beyond their small boat.

On "day 140-something", they reported a "chocolate emergency" – down to their last two bars with another 1,600 kilometers ahead – but allowed themselves the indulgence of opening one bar to honor England's rugby team victory in the World Cup.

Personal Reflections

Payne, hailing from inland Yorkshire, lacked ocean experience until she rowed the Atlantic solo in 2022 in a record time.

She has now mastered another ocean. However there were instances, she admitted, when failure seemed possible. Starting within the first week, a way across the world's largest ocean seemed unachievable.

"Our electrical systems were diminishing, the water-maker pipes burst, however following multiple fixes, we managed a bypass and barely maintained progress with reduced energy during the final expedition phase. Each time problems occurred, we merely made eye contact and went, 'naturally it happened!' But we kept going."

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

Rowe hails from Hampshire. Preceding her ocean conquest, she paddled the Atlantic, walked the southwestern English coastline, climbed Mount Kenya and biked through Spain. Additional challenges probably remain.

"Our collaboration proved incredibly rewarding, and we're eagerly anticipating future expeditions together as well. No other partner would have sufficed."