Coxless Crew: British female rowing team complete record-breaking journey across Pacific

The expedition has set two world records with the women becoming the first all-female team and the first team of four to row the Pacific

A team of female rowers have arrived in Australia after spending more than nine months at sea, rowing more than 9,200 miles across the Pacific Ocean.

The Coxless Crew began their journey at San Francisco in April last year, when they set sail under the Golden Gate Bridge towards Australia in a pink 29ft boat named Doris.

After 257 days at sea, during which time the group battled tropical storms, huge waves and El Nino conditions, the team finished their journey, arriving into the Marlin Marina at Cairns shortly before 1 am on Monday.

Crowds gathered to welcome four of the rowers, Laura Penhaul, Natalia Cohen, Emma Mitchell and Meg Dyos, who hugged each other just before joining hands to take their first steps on land for more than three months.

The Coxless Crew finish their journey in Australia Facebook (Coxless Crew/ Facebook)

Arrival 25 Jan 2016 - courtesy of Losing Sight of Shore

WE HAVE ARRIVED! More than 9 months after Doris set off from San Francisco, we have made land in Cairns, Australia. 257 days at sea, nearly 6200 hours of rowing, 1020+ dehydrated meals consumed, 7700+ litres of water drunk, 12 giant tubs of sudocrem, sea creatures, passing ships, sunsets, sunrises, torrential rain, black nights, starry nights, huge swells, flat calm, sea sickness, salt sores, storms, swimming, "showering", "bucketing", birthdays, Christmas, New Years, tears, hugs, laugher and unbreakable bonds formed between the 6 of us. We crossed our Pacific! Thank you all so much for supporting us and sharing our journey. We are hugely proud to have rowed in support of Breast Cancer Care and Walking With The Wounded. Help us reach our fundraising target and donate here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=coxlesscrew&pageUrl=2

Posted by Coxless Crew on Sunday, 24 January 2016

The women described their expedition as an “overwhelming experience”.

During the final days of their journey the team negotiated the Great Barrier Reef and were faced with dwindling supplies in the last few miles.

Writing on their blog on Sunday they said: “It has been an exhausting and emotional few days as we make our approach to land.”

“It’s fair to say that with physical exhaustion, sleep deprivation and a lack of savoury food we are being tested to our limits.

“However, this is where we draw on our spirit, row hard, row strong, row together.”

Despite taking three months longer than planned the expedition has set two world records, with the women becoming the first all-female team and the first team of four to row the Pacific.

The journey – split into three legs - was completed in its entirety by three of the crew – Ms Penhaul, 31, Ms Cohen, 40, both from London and Ms Mitchell, 30, from Marlow in Buckinghamshire.

Isabel Burnham, 31, from Saffron Walden near Cambridge, completed the first leg; Lizanne van Vuuren, 27, a South African who grew up in Newbury, took over the second stage; and Meg Dyos, from London, completed the final section.

Members of the Coxless Crew during their record-breaking journey Facebook (Coxless Crew/ Facebook)

Members of team in their boat - dubbed Doris Facebook (Coxless Crew/ Facebook)

They rowed continuously as pairs in two-hour shifts, sleeping 90 minutes at a time. Each consumed 5,000 calories a day, eating freeze-dried meals and protein bars.

Drenched in rain and seawater they endured painful sores and also faced fiercely hot temperatures.

Their expedition – filmed for a documentary Losing Sight of Shore – raised funds for two charities, Walking with the Wounded and Breast Cancer Care.

Additional reporting by Press Association