‘Those final few hours were brutal’: British duo end epic journey in Australia after rowing across Pacific Ocean

‘We honestly thought we weren’t going to make it’: British rowers Jess Rowe and Miriam Payne arrive at Cairns Yacht Club. Photograph: Frontrow Foto

One more day. One more day up and down the pitiless slide. One more day of blistered hands gripping unforgiving oars.

But after more than 8,000 nautical miles (15,000km) at sea – an epic five-and-a-half-month journey across the Pacific that included close encounters with whales, failing beacons and chocolate shortages – the sea had one more challenge.