Ben Taylor's face told the story with 250 metres left on the Bosbaan. Part grimace, part grin, it was the look of a man who knew the job was nearly done.
He and Oli Welch had led the Men's Pair final from the first stroke, and they weren't about to let it slip. The Kiwi crew crossed the line to defend the world title they won in Shanghai last year, backing it up on rowing's most storied course.
Taylor took a while to climb out of the boat once they'd docked. Welch, already on his feet, fielded the first questions.
"Just stoked to get it done, another world title, it's pretty awesome…all this hard work's paid off for the year so it's really satisfying," he said.
New Zealand controlled the race from start to finish, stopping the clock at 6:16.62. Australia (6:18.50) and Italy (6:19.68) never gave up the chase.
"There's definitely a lot more competition this year," Welch said. "It was a lot tighter race, and the other crews really pushed us all the way to the line. There was no point where I thought we can back off."
Nine world titles now sit against New Zealand's name in the Men's Pair, more than any other nation since the championships began in 1974. Hamish Bond and Eric Murray own six of them. Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater added one in 2005.
There's no time to dwell on it. Taylor and Welch line up again in heat three of the Men's Eight, just before 2am tomorrow New Zealand time.
The day had opened with plenty of hype around the Women's Single Sculls, where Kathryn Glen drew Olympic champion Karolien Florijn and Great Britain's Lauren Henry in her quarter-final.
"I didn't feel too nervous about it," Glen said. "I knew that it was them for the top two spots and then myself, Brazil, and the Czech going for that third position into the semis."
Florijn, back from a two-year break since Paris, led by nearly two lengths at the 500m mark before Henry reeled her in. Managing a back injury, Florijn tapped out with 400m to go. Henry won in 7:14.82, with Florijn safely through in second, 7:29.79.
Glen, who had pulled out of the Women's Quad in May with a stress reaction in her rib, finished fifth in 7:43.65.
She wants more bravery through the middle of the race next time out. "I definitely felt like I was being brave…I tried to attack from the very start…I couldn't have given it much more, I guess everyone out there is just a bit faster."
Glen races the C Final at 8.15pm tonight New Zealand time.
Katie Lush, at her first senior world championships, finished third in the B Final of the Women's Pair alongside Juliette Lequeux, ninth overall in 7:07.51, behind Germany (7:02.87) and Australia (7:06.34).
"I love being out there racing. I love the thrill of it. I love the training…the grind," Lush said. With LA 2028 in her sights, she's targeting the gap to the leading crews. "I want to close that gap between where America and Romania are. So that's a good challenge for the next 12 months."
Ben Mason and Finn Hamill finished fourth in the B Final of the Men's Double Sculls, 10th overall in 6:13.22, behind Croatia's Sinkovic brothers (6:08.67), Portugal (6:11.44) and Germany (6:11.82).
It's been an up-and-down campaign for the pair.
"I'm definitely the strongest I've ever been. I'm arguably the fittest I've ever been. But the rowing part of it just isn't there," Hamill said. "It felt better today, but again just not quite there. But we are still in that Olympic qualifying zone so that's a positive."
