How the grooms crossed the Pacific Ocean. Russian traveler fedor konyukhov crossed the pacific ocean in a rowboat

It started in December 2013, and at the end of May 2014. the next expedition of the explorer-traveler Fyodor Konyukhov has come to the end. On a rowing boat "K9 Turgoyak", alone, he went to conquer the largest ocean in the world, which he finally managed to do. The 62-year-old sailor crossed the Pacific Ocean from South America to Australia (more than 9000 miles, 17 thousand km) autonomously, without calling any islands, in 160 days. He became the first person who managed to paddle the Pacific "from continent to continent", and even in record time. In accordance with the assignment of the SGA, the constant partner of Fedor Konyukhov in expedition projects, experiments were carried out on the route to study the psychophysical capabilities of a person and train neuroplasticity in extreme conditions.
The expedition was supported by the Russian Geographical Society. Informational sponsor of the project - the TV channel "First educational

September 25, 2013

Recently traveler-explorer Fyodor Konyukhov returned from Southampton (England), where a 9-meter rowing boat of original design was presented at the international exhibition of the Boat Show. Built according to a special project, this boat is designed for long-term active stay in the extreme ocean environment in the typical conditions of the world's greatest ocean - the Pacific. It does not look like the traditional boat or yala we are used to. Most likely, its distant prototype is a kayak, but not with one, but with two oars inserted into the oarlocks. With two inflated pressurized compartments, fore and aft, sort of like tiny cabins, this boat is theoretically unsinkable. In the event of a coup, thanks to the float cabins, it must independently return to its normal position. Without much exaggeration, it can perhaps be compared with spaceship, and the entire expedition - with a flight into space. The goal is to paddle across the vast ocean in a completely autonomous mode, akin to a flight to Mars. And it is unclear who will find it easier - an astronaut in a distant orbit or Fedor in the endless ocean.

Previous 11-year-old boat crossing Atlantic Ocean brought Fedor not only the glory of a record holder - no one faster than him, until this year, crossed the Atlantic Ocean on oars - but also the inner confidence in the possibility of more for himself. Despite the fact that he always understood and now understands that all the not so many attempts of daredevils to conquer the Pacific Ocean in this way ended in vain, sometimes - tragically. Fedor's trump cards are experience, knowledge of the Ocean, exceptional ability to survive in incredible conditions and emergency situations, concentration and dedication.

That is why he developed the technical task for the boat himself, and the construction, based on the latest technologies, entrusted to recognized craftsmen and experienced shipbuilding partners from England. There is nothing superfluous on it, a spartan way of life awaits the rower. Paddles, navigation devices, a satellite phone, a computer, video cameras, a portable salt water distiller, a six-month supply of freeze-dried products, a fishing rod, a shark-driving lance — that's all his farm.

After the demonstration of the boat at the exhibition - the only exhibit from Russia - it was again transported to the shipyard for the final adjustment and installation of equipment. On board it is placed the logo of the TV company SSU TV (TV channel "First educational") - the information partner of the project.

17.10.2013

The preparatory stage of Fyodor Konyukhov's expedition project "On a boat across the Pacific Ocean" has been completed. At Mike Wood's shipyard in the village of Benem-on-Crouch, which is a hundred kilometers from London, construction and installation work on the original boat of the formula K9 ("Konyukhov - 9 m") has been completed. Now she will be loaded into a container and sent by motor ship to the launch site - in the South American city of Valparaiso (Chile) on the east coast of the Pacific Ocean.

The main contractor for the implementation of Fyodor Konyukhov's design idea is energetic Charlie Pitcher. Charlie is the record holder among rowers in crossing the Atlantic with oars, who improved the record result (46 days) of Konyukhov earlier this year by one and a half weeks, which he showed earlier on the Uralaz boat. At the same time, he is an experienced shipbuilder who has built more than one boat for the ocean extreme using the latest technologies. That is why Fedor entrusted him with the creation of the rowing car of his dreams. The nine-meter carbon fiber K9 with Kevlar bottom protection weighs only 250 kg and can withstand not only the impact of ocean waves, but also collisions with reefs. The carrying capacity of the boat is 1 ton: these are products, and equipment, and equipment, and the weight of the rower himself. Despite the impressive size and only one pair of working oars (there is no sail or engine on it for fundamental reasons), the boat can reach a speed of several knots, that is, move at the speed of a bicycle. The number of strokes that a Russian sailor must make on the route is expressed in seven figures.

“According to our calculations, the boat should pass at least thirty miles a day,” says Fyodor Konyukhov, “that is, you need to do 50 km to meet the planned deadline ... Every day you will need to work on oars for 11 hours.”

At the end of November, Fedor will go to Valparaiso to meet the container. The start is scheduled for the first decade of December, at which time summer begins in the Southern Hemisphere.

07.11.2013

On November 5 in Chelyabinsk, and on November 6 in neighboring Miass, press conferences were held by Fedor Konyukhov and his Ural partners in the project "On a rowing boat - across the Pacific Ocean", at which the press and the public were reported on the results of the preparatory stage of the new expedition.

Not far from Miass, on Lake Turgoyak, the legendary Uralaz boat is kept - the prototype of the new K-9, on which the explorer-traveler intends to cross the Pacific Ocean. During his short visit to the popular recreation center "Golden Beach", the trademark of Turgoyak, Fedor met with the guys from the "School of Travelers" he created here, where he held a master class with future trackers and sailors. Young travelers specially for this meeting composed and sang a song dedicated to the famous Russian with a guitar.

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Both the project itself and all its participants moved to Chile.

The first person who managed to cross the Pacific Ocean on a fragile boat was Fernand Magellan. He was not Chilean, but on the shores of a distant strait named after him, in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas, there is a monument to this brave sailor.

More than one century has passed, and now the Ocean is being challenged. And again, not Chilean, but from the Chilean shores. It is symbolic that the program of training and preparation for the start on a rowboat across the Pacific Ocean, the Russian Fedor Konyukhov decided to start precisely from the area of ​​Tierra del Fuego, once discovered by Magellan.

20.11.2013

A team of project participants led by Fyodor Konyukhov, who covered a distance of 15,000 km in two days - similar to that of an ocean boat - and did not forget to bow to the legendary Magellan in Punta Arenas, jumped on a tiny Twinwater across the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego and landed in the southernmost town of the Earth - Puerto Williams. Chilean military base... There is nowhere else to fly - if only to Antarctica. From here to the southern tip of America, the famous Cape Horn, one and a half hundred kilometers.

It is to this cape that Fedor, who has started training, intends to go on a yacht in the coming days to test himself again and gain spiritual energy from the Orthodox cross with the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, which he installed there, at the junction of the oceans, three years ago. In the upcoming rowing supermarathon, it is not so much the physical condition of the rower that is important as the strength of the spirit, the willful attitude. A week's hike around Cape Horn may help. The yacht will be provided by a local skipper.

Interesting and useful is the experience of the Yagan Indians who have lived from time immemorial on the islands of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and walked along the ocean straits and fjords on rowboats made of thick juniper bark. In the town of Lakutaya, which means "Black Bird Bay", Fedor got acquainted with the subjects of marine activities and the life of the yagan.

Despite the coming summer and blooming daisies and dandelions, snow is falling from the sky several times a day after the sun, a cold Antarctic wind is blowing, the mountains are hiding in clouds. Hopefully, the changeable weather will not disrupt the plans of Fedor and his comrades - very soon it will be necessary to meet the boat K9 in the port of Valparaiso.

November 27, 2013

If in the old days the Yagana Indians, sea nomads and the southernmost tribe of the planet walked between the islands of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago on fragile wooden boats, now the services of the local population and visiting guests who want to row are quite modern and comfortable plastic kayaks and canoes. Fedor Konyukhov, who appreciated the advantages of different models of training boats, did not fail to take advantage of this circumstance.

And on the 21st, the yacht "Pelagic Australus" with a dozen people on board, including Fedor, departed from Beagle Strait to the very tip of the South American continent - Cape Horn on the island of the same name. The transition lasted for several days. As a result, it was possible not only to bypass the treacherous cape from the west, but also to go ashore, visit the stele with the symbolic albatross, climb the lighthouse, and also install the Orthodox cross with the icon of Nicholas the Benefactor in the small chapel there. The icon of the patron saint of travelers and sailors Nicholas the Wonderworker Mysgornovsky with a sailing yacht in his hand was written by Fr. Fedor.

We did not have time to change the course to the opposite, as the weather began to deteriorate, a strong wind blew out. Nevertheless, the main thing was done, and it was perceived by everyone as a good sign.
On November 26, Fedor Konyukhov said goodbye to the hospitable Puerto Williams and went to Valparaiso to meet his long-awaited boat.

01.12.2013

During the long transportation from England to Chile, the boat received minor damage. It took almost a week to eliminate them in the yacht club of the town of Konkon near Valparaiso. The bottom was painted in several layers to prevent the active growth of mollusks on its surface, which increases the resistance of the water and, accordingly, slows down the boat.

On December 1, the first launch of the boat took place. On a sunny, moderately windy day, in a bay that opens out into the ocean, Fyodor Konyukhov and the technical manager, the famous ocean rower Simon Chok, for the first time plunged oars into the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

It took several hours to check the stability of the boat, its driving performance, calibrating the compass and electronic navigation equipment. The tests were successful, the original design of the boat did not disappoint the expectations of its creators. A speed of more than 3 knots was reached - about 6 km / h. But it became clear how difficult it would be to break alone through the headwinds, waves and currents characteristic of this area of ​​the coastal waters of Chile.

The immediate task, in addition to loading products, equipment, installing and debugging equipment, is to study the direction of local currents and the wind rose to select the optimal start time. While the wind is blowing more from the ocean, and the reefs at the entrance to the bay create powerful circulating underwater currents, which it is better not to get into.

The day before, the meeting of Chilean yacht captains with Fyodor Konyukhov took place in the wardroom campaign of the yacht club. The meeting was lively and interested, the Russian sailor surprised everyone with his large-scale plans and track record. During the presentation, a film was shown about the dog sledding expedition from the documentary cycle "Arctic-2013" of the "First Educational" TV channel.

And a day earlier, here, in the yacht club, Fedor met with the President of Chile, to whom the explorer showed his boat, told about the upcoming transoceanic passage and invited him to the start. One of the fundamental tasks that was solved with the assistance of representatives of the Russian diplomatic corps is obtaining permission from the military authorities to launch a boat from the Chilean coast. Weather permitting, the start will take place on 12 December from the Konkona Yacht Club Marina.

07.12.2013

Chile shows an unusually keen interest in Fyodor Konyukhov's project. People constantly crowd around the boat in the yacht club - yachtsmen, journalists, television broadcasters. A video report about Fedor and the upcoming passage was shown on the central Chilean channel "13", other channels, materials about the Russian traveler are published on the front pages of local newspapers.

In Santiago, at our embassy, ​​Fedor met with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Chile Mikhail Orlovets. We agreed to prepare a photo exposition based on the project materials for placing it in the Russian cultural center and also about the wide screening of films about the explorer Fyodor Konyukhov to the Chilean public.

A memorable evening was held at the Rossotrudnichestvo Cultural Center, where representatives of the Russian diaspora and local residents gathered. Fedor Konyukhov introduced his team members, shared plans, answered numerous questions. Then they donated to the Russian community an icon of the Mother of God for installation in the chapel at the Russian Cultural Center, which was to be consecrated the next day. Nobody here expected such a gift, and it was perceived as God's providence.

Meanwhile, in Konkon, the daily painstaking work is going on to prepare the boat for the start. The yacht club is protected from direct ocean waves by a stone breakwater, but as soon as you go beyond it, you begin to feel the breath of the ocean. From here to the Australian Brisbane - 7,500 nautical miles, or about 14,000 km. Fedor prepares for the first step - the first miles will be especially difficult, as he will have to break away from the coast and walk past the reefs at the entrance to the bay. Every day he sits down at the oars and makes his way through the water area of ​​the bay to the turning cape and back. The rower and the boat are gradually adjusting, getting used to each other - without harmony and mutual understanding, one cannot go into the ocean. Local fishermen and pelicans are watching with amazement the unusual boat slowly sailing past the lighthouse before their eyes.

12.12.2013

Having carefully analyzed the weather forecasts, Fedor Konyukhov decided to start on December 14. By this day, the excitement caused by the cyclone raging in the ocean on the supposed path of the boat should have subsided somewhat. Further, within a few days, the weather is expected to improve, which should contribute to the rower's separation from the treacherous coast with powerful currents and numerous reefs.

Throughout this day, the Russian sailor received congratulations on his birthday. On December 12, he turned 62 years old - an unusual age for travelers embarking on expedition projects like this one. Friends, captains from the yacht club, Russians living in Chile and ordinary Chileans congratulated - everyone here knows about Fedor and his project thanks to the press and television.

Many calls came from Russia, but, perhaps, the main congratulation was voiced by the Russian Ambassador to Chile Mikhail Orlovets, who specially came to Konkon for this purpose. He read out a welcome letter to Fyodor Konyukhov from the President of the Russian Federation and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian geographic society Vladimir Putin. Fedor also invited the ambassador and, through him, the President of the Russian Federation to Australia - to meet him at the end of the transition.

12/14/2013

The last day before the start was the same as all the previous ones, in business and worries. The operation of the navigation and signaling equipment was checked, some products and previously unaccounted for trifles were purchased additionally. Fyodor spent almost all the time in the boat, he did not go out into the bay - it was restless there. Towards evening, Chilean customs officers appeared, then border guards (or rather, border guards), who made the necessary marks in Fyodor's documents and passport.

There was a crowd at the pier all the time, mostly compatriots. They thanked Fedor for the fact that he is and instills in them a sense of confidence, pride for distant Russia. Congratulations on your past birthday, presented with gifts.

The team spent the evening together with Pyotr Mikhailovich Karpenko, who flew in from Moscow, the President of the SSU TV company, an old friend and partner of Fyodor Konyukhov in various projects.

Early in the morning of December 14, when it was just getting light, the Russian explorer set off from the floating pier of the hospitable Konkona Yacht Club. Despite the early hour and cloudy weather, there were surprisingly many people seeing off. The go-ahead to the start at 6 hours 52 minutes was given by the consul who arrived from Santiago Russian Federation... The first careful strokes, the first turn in the range of the marina, and now - the exit beyond the pier. Behind are the lighthouse, the forest of yacht masts and the anthill of the Konkon houses piling up on top of each other. Ahead is the ocean hidden in the morning fog, on the surface of which, as a reminder of the recent cyclone, a dead ripple of one and a half meters in height is majestically and uniformly.

Confident paddling, and soon the boat's beacons disappear into the deep blue haze. No escort, except for the ship of the Chilean Armada (Navy). And only an hour later, as agreed, the yacht and two boats with the project participants, as well as the most persistent admirers, followed the rower to wish him good luck on the traverse of Valparaiso. Pelicans and seagulls on the coastal cliffs, worried, calmed down.

The text of the telegram of the President of the Russian Federation:

« Dear Fedor Filippovich!

Happy birthday and the start of a new page in your eventful biography - an expedition to the shores of Australia on a rowboat across the Pacific Ocean.

This unique project, supported by the Russian Geographical Society, your fellow travelers, famous researchers, caring and enthusiastic people, has no analogues in history. And, without a doubt, it will attract the attention of the public, specialists, experts in nautical affairs.

You have more than once conquered the most difficult, inaccessible routes - the water element, mountain peaks, the North and South Poles. I am sure that the current campaign will be successful, and will serve the honor and glory of Russia - a country that has written many bright pages in the chronicle of geographical discoveries.

I wish you good luck and all the best.

Good luck!

On the first day, Fedor rowed all day and all night, not closing his eyes, fighting the wind and currents. They managed to move 18 miles from the coast to the west, and 8 miles to the north.

12/18/2013

A boat with a shallow landing is easily vulnerable to side winds and headwinds. To somehow resist this, you need to constantly row and use the specially provided front keel rudder and an inserted aft centerboard. Control can be either automatic (autopilot) or manual.

The first day Fedor practically did not sleep, only rowed. The fog and drizzle did not pass, the night was very cold, only the work with the oars warmed us. There was no time for food - only coffee and hot chocolate from a thermos. A strong current at the exit of the bay dragged the boat northward,

It was possible to sleep in fits and starts only on the second day, when the wind changed direction and became more or less favorable. The echo-responder was buzzing all the time - here lies the main route of sea-going ships entering Valparaiso, for which a nine-meter boat is like a chip. Only a locator can be seen when a special AIS device is turned on on it.

Due to the constant dense fog, the solar panels did not function. The main battery, which provided, first of all, the operation of the autopilot and signal lights, sat down on the second day. I had to limit power consumption and switch to backup power in the hope that the sun was about to appear.

The boat made a detour and, gradually moving away from the coast, went in a southwest direction. In three days of rowing and maneuvers, about a hundred very difficult miles were covered, and they managed to break away from the mainland for fifty miles. Well, the moment of the start was well chosen - with minimal excitement, in a pause between cyclones constantly walking along the roaring forties and frantic fifties.

Communication with outside world provided via the Iridium satellite phone provided to Fedor by the Modern Humanitarian Academy. The coordinates are recorded and automatically transmitted to interactive map via the Yellowbrick satellite tracking buoy.

All the project participants who were present at the launch of the boat, except for the main project coordinator Oskar Konyukhov, left Concon and returned from Chile to their homeland.

19.12.2013

On board the boat K9 ("Turgoyak") an abnormal situation arose - the power supply system failed. The primary and backup solar-charged batteries are out of order. Fedor Konyukhov did not manage to fix the problems on his own.

After telephone consultations with the coastal headquarters and the British designers, it was decided to tow the boat until Fedor went far into the ocean, back to Konkon to find out the reasons for the failure and restore the equipment to work.

23.12.2013

Here's what happened. British designers installed the most modern lithium batteries on the boat, which have a large capacity and relatively low weight. But these batteries, charged by solar batteries, have some specific features in comparison with traditional helium batteries - they cannot be completely discharged. When a discharge level of 10% of the nominal capacity is reached, they must be recharged, otherwise a very powerful impulse will be required for recovery, which no onboard power supplies can provide.

Fedor took off in cloudy weather and walked for three days in fog, fighting with the wind, with the Humboldt current and crossing the busy route of ocean ships calling at the port of Valparaiso. Moving along the curve of the trajectory, he was forced to constantly use the autopilot, to keep the navigation and radar equipment on, and the parking lights lit. All the time the echo responder was buzzing - huge ships passed by, in the night and fog, for which a 9-meter boat was like a chip.

With an increased level of power consumption, the main batteries were discharged on the second day, then the backup one, but there was still no sun. The voltage control system malfunctioned, at some point the charge level of the batteries crossed the critical level, and everything went out. It was not possible to restore the efficiency of the power supply system and, therefore, it became meaningless to continue driving. After discussing the situation by satellite phone with the coastal headquarters, it was decided to return to Konkon. Fortunately, it was not possible to go far yet - only fifty miles to the coast (although about 80 were covered).

The yacht came to the rescue and towed the boat to the Konkona Yacht Club. All this happened on the day of Nicholas the Pleasant - it seems that it was he who prompted the sailor, at the very beginning of the journey, the correct way out of this situation.

The analysis of the cause of the failures of the power supply system and the replacement of equipment took only three days. Instead of exotic batteries, they installed traditional ones. They are heavier, but, as experts believe, more reliable, and Fedor is familiar.

On the morning of December 22, Fedor Konyukhov again took up the oars and, crossing himself, rushed towards new, endless tests, directing his boat straight to the west. On this day, the Pacific Ocean, as if justifying its name, decided to present the rower with a gift - almost complete calm was established in the Valparaiso Bay.

May 30, 2014

After 159 days of almost continuous rowing, having covered a distance of 9350 nautical miles (15560 km) on a rowing boat "Turgoyak" across the entire Pacific Ocean from Chile to Australia, Fedor Konyukhov reached a point with coordinates 26 degrees. south latitude and 153 gr. v.d. Ahead - a sleepless exciting night and the remaining 35 miles (60 km) to the coveted coast, in the sandy Moolulaba Bay, north of Brisbane. It is here, at the latitude of the Chilean Concon, from where this record-breaking autonomous transition began, that it must end. The local yacht club, the city authorities, the headquarters of the expeditionary project, the welcoming team, representatives of the media (including the First Educational) have been in anxious anticipation of the finishing spurt of the rower-sailor for many days, impatiently awaiting it.

The previous evening, a helicopter took off towards Fedor. Moving among the waves, a white boat was found without much difficulty 72 miles from the coast. The visual contact did not last long, about ten minutes, but the joy of those in the helicopter and those in the boat was endless.

Fyodor Konyukhov will spend this night, as usual, on the oars, in order to enter the 5-mile coastal zone by morning and start storming one of the last obstacles at dawn - the outreach of the Moolulaba River, which can drag the boat into the zone of reefs and huge rolling waves on the beach shallow water ... Strength and luck, brave conqueror of the oceans!

05/31/14

Immediately after the helicopter departed and dusk fell, the wind blew in the right direction... The boat, as if sensing close ground, rushed in the right direction, like a dog sled in the Arctic a year ago, and there was no time for sleep! By eight in the morning, the long-awaited shore was ten miles away.

A whole flotilla of yachts, catamarans, kayaks, led by boats from the Australian coastal service, came out to meet Fedor on the way. They were joined by the ubiquitous dolphins and even a pair of humpback whales. The boat, floundering in the leapfrog of the waves, was confidently moving towards the goal, a bearded captain in a white shirt and a burned-out skipper, who habitually worked with oars.

At this time, people gathered on the breakwater, at the entrance to the marina, and on the Moolulaba beach - both locals and visitors from Brisbane and Sydney. About 500 people gathered, they were waiting for the "krezi" -Russian, about which everything last days wrote newspapers and broadcast TV.

At about one o'clock in the afternoon, the keel of Fyodor's boat, amid a friendly ovation from the crowd, pushed into the sand of the beach. We were met not only by relatives, friends and project partners, but also by the local mayor, Russian ambassador, an Orthodox priest from Brisbane, numerous representatives of the diaspora, ordinary Australians. The ambassador read out V. Putin's greetings to Fyodor Konyukhov.

The epic ended, which is difficult to fit into the framework of ordinary ideas about the possible and the impossible. Completed successfully, and even 40 days ahead of schedule. The ocean missed Fyodor Konyukhov, and he wrote another page in the history of extreme record achievements of man and all mankind.

In 160 days, the passage across the Pacific Ocean was made by oars, alone and autonomously, with a length of 16 thousand km, from Chile to Australia - from continent to continent. Until now, no one has been able to do this!

While someone is pondering whether to go on a trip with all the conditions and in comfort, if there are such people who prefer to surprise the public, refusing everything. A striking example is Fyodor Konyukhov, whose adventures have come to an end.

The world media were pleased with the long-awaited information that the Russian traveler Fyodor Konyukhov had finally completed his idea: he had finished his trip around the world. It took place in all alone on a rowboat. Moreover, the Russian did not go to the ports, he did not accept any outside help.

So, let's tell you the details that are especially interesting for travelers who book the best hotels in Moscow or other cities in search of new experiences. Konyukhov's journey began in December 2013, when he sailed by boat from the port of Concon, located in Chile. Its boat is 9 meters long, and it is made of carbon fiber.

According to the calculations of the International Society of Ocean Rowers, the Russian traveler was able to accomplish his task in 160 days. Previously, another daredevil, Jim Shekdar, managed to make a similar tour in 273 days.

It is worth noting that Fyodor Konyukhov himself hoped that his journey would take at least 200 days. During all this time, the hero had to wave the oar many times, which requires great physical endurance and hardening. Approximately, he completed about 4 million strokes!

When Konyukhov stepped onto the ground, his gait was uncertain. He even remarked that "the ground is not very hard yet." However, the traveler very quickly came to his senses and was able to answer questions from journalists and just curious people.

For example, Fedor Konyukhov shared his plans for the future. In his dreams now set another record, but traveling on a different transport - hot-air balloon... Namely, the hero intends to fly out of Australia and, moving eastward, will land on the same continent. True, Konyukhov categorically does not want to reveal the secret of exactly when he wants to start realizing this goal.

If you are just thinking about where to go and one of the options that attracts you - this capital hotel sport Moscow will certainly delight you with numerous bright impressions. By the way, here it will be appropriate to recall some more words of Fyodor Konyukhov. He has been traveling for over 40 years and does not intend to stop this activity, if only because he believes - modern society not enough romance. So feel free to hit the road, even if not travel around the world for a record. Following the example of our hero, you can discover a lot of interesting things in the world around you, and also, if you wish, also test yourself for strength.

On account of his as many as four voyages around the world, performed in splendid isolation.

How to cross the ocean

The first time is always the hardest, especially if you are a teenager. The future famous traveler decided to conquer the sea at the age of fifteen. The place for the experiment was the Sea of ​​Azov, and the instrument was an ordinary fishing boat, equipped only with oars.

True, according to the original plan, Fedor was going to cross the sea on a boat of his own manufacture. But then the angry parent intervened and took away the homemade product. But the young traveler was not taken aback and "borrowed" a fishing boat from the village council. Konyukhov claims that he then swam across the Sea of ​​Azov.

Later, he realized that serious travel needs a good one. And after the end of the service he went to work as a sailor in the Baltic rescue fleet, and later went on fishing trawlers.

Most likely, Konyukhov did not forget his youthful adventure with a boat in the Sea of ​​Azov and decided to conquer the ocean in the same way. The traveler successfully implemented his idea, and even repeated it in two oceans. He began in 2002 with the conquest on the Uralaz boat.

The development of the seven-meter vessel was entrusted to Philip Morrison. The body was made of carbon fiber and Canadian cedar wood, and a figurine of the sponsor's Ural car was attached to the nose.

The navigation point was equipped with a stationary and manual GPS device, an automatic positioning system, an electronic compass and a radar warning of approaching ships. The life support system was powered by two batteries powered by solar panels. They also provided for the ability to replenish supplies with rainwater.

In October 2002, Konyukhov started off and set off for a solo across the Atlantic by the Columbus route. He reached the island in record time, having spent just over 46 days crossing the ocean.

Without a sail and without an engine, armed with only two pairs of oars, Fyodor Konyukhov managed to cross the Pacific Ocean. Preparing for the trip, he independently created sketches of a unique boat and entrusted its creation to English specialists. Initially the ship was named "K9", but later it was renamed "Turgoyak".

The nine-meter carbon fiber boat was divided into two parts: a compartment with a miniature galley and a navigation unit (equipped with the latest equipment) and a living compartment in which part of the area is reserved for navigation equipment. Electricity for household needs was generated by solar panels, which also served as a water desalter.

According to the plan, Konyukhov's boat was supposed to go from Chile to in six months, without calling at ports and stopping. The Turgoyak left Concon on December 14, 2013 and headed for the waters of Peru. On the way, he contacted the support group several times. In mid-January, Konyukhov survived the storm, but was able to continue his journey.

From Peru, the traveler went to the Australian city of Mooloolaba, the end point of a solo expedition. The entire trip was completed in 160 days, the boat withstood all the tests of bad weather, and its owner believes that he was lucky to get to his destination so successfully.

On the way, he caught squid, saw a coconut and tried to get rid of the annoying one. He also set the world record for the fastest crossing of the Pacific Ocean and became the first citizen to make such a trip.

Around the world and regattas

In this trip around the world, Konyukhov discovered wonderful world oceans, skirted Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope. Having closed the planetary circle, the traveler brought the yacht back to Australia in June 1991.

Konyukhov's second circumnavigation began in March 1993. For this trip, he built the Formosa yacht in Taiwan and immediately hit the road. The voyage took seven months, and in 1994 the traveler dropped at the starting point.

In 2004, the indefatigable Fyodor Konyukhov started from Falmouth, England, paved the way to the island of Tasmania and returned to Falmouth in 2005. His large yacht “Trading Network“ Scarlet Sails ”(85 feet long) was the first of her class to sail around Cape Horn. From December to January of the following year, he sailed on the same vessel, but with a Russian crew on board.

Except single circumnavigation the traveler took part in single regattas. His name can be found in the list of participants in the round-the-world regatta "Around Alone", held in 1998-1999.

Konyukhov took off on a yacht of the Open 60 class "Modern Humanitarian University". This voyage is considered the third round-the-world voyage of the famous Russian traveler.

At the helm of the same yacht, Konyukhov also competed in the French regatta. The ships had to make a round-the-world passage without stops and calls at ports.

It took Konyukhov one hundred and two more days to circumnavigate Antarctica, participating in the Australian Antarctica Cup in 2007-2008. In these races, he took part on his large yacht "Trading network" Alye Parusa ".

Fedor Konyukhov is constantly making new plans and developing new routes for sea voyages. For 2017, he has planned more than just a regatta or a trip around the world. The traveler swung to the Mariana Trench, he plans to sink to the bottom in a bathyscaphe and spend several days there alone.

December 12, 2012, on his birthday, Fedor Konyukhov officially presented a new project - crossing the Pacific Ocean on a rowboat. Fedor Konyukhov plans to cross the Pacific Ocean on a rowing boat along the continent-continent route non-stop, without entering ports and without escort.

In December 2012, a visit to England took place, at the entrance of which the design of a 9-meter boat was finally approved (the working name of the boat is "K9") and a decision was made to build a boat on the east coast of England (near the city of Ipswich).

Philip Morrison was involved in the design development, he also designed a 7-meter rowing boat "URALAZ" for Fedor Konyukhov on which he crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 46 days and set a world record. The project turned out to be very successful and more than 20 ocean-going boats were manufactured according to the drawings of the URALAZ boat.

Over the past 10 years, the projects of ocean-going rowing boats have undergone significant changes, but as for the design of the boat and the hull lines, Fedor Konyukhov decided to keep the classic design, repeating the shapes of the previous URALAZ boat. The new boat has a hull of 9 meters in length, a hull width of 1.6 meters, 5 watertight bulkheads, two types of steering gear (stationary and emergency), large enough volumes for storing food and equipment, while the weight of the Turgoyak boat is less than the URALAZ boat, since the hull is made of carbon fiber.

The new boat Turgoyak is built from a durable carbon fiber material by forming in a matrix. Learn more about construction.

The manager for the construction of the boat and its technical armament was an Englishman - Charlie Pitcher. It is worth noting that Charlie himself twice crossed the Atlantic Ocean alone in a rowboat in 52 days and 35 days. In 2013, he started from the Canary Islands and finished 35 days later in Antigua, setting a new world record for singles. More details.

The project manager is Simon Chalk, another renowned ocean rower and organizer of rowboat races across the oceans. This Englishman has 6 crossings across the Atlantic Ocean and 2 crossings across Indian Ocean on rowboats. More details.

Organization of such a large-scale project as crossing the Pacific Ocean is a super task and we need professionals high level... If you compare the Atlantic - here is a route of 3 thousand miles, which can be covered in one season. The Pacific Ocean in the Chile section, the east coast of Australia, has a route length of almost 9 thousand nautical miles. We focus on 180-200 days in the ocean and it is clear that I will not fit in one season. I plan to start in summer (December in the Southern Hemisphere), and finish in late autumn, storms on the way to Australia cannot be avoided. The boat must withstand enormous loads, and I will need the most modern technologies, the latest developments in ocean rowing projects. Therefore, I invited active ocean rowers to the project - Simon and Charlie, in addition, they are both boat builders, each built a boat for their rowing marathons. Simon's experience as an organizer of races across the ocean is also important to me, the logistics England - Chile - Australia is quite complicated and we will need his experience. - Fedor Konyukhov

The name of the rowboat is Turgoyak

Start of the expedition. The first time Fedor Konyukhov started on December 14, 2013 from the Chilean city of Con Con (Con Con), Valparaiso region, but due to problems with the onboard batteries, he was forced to return to Con Con. The second start took place on December 22, 2013, also from Kon Kon. The estimated time planned for crossing the Pacific Ocean is 180-200 days. Finish area - the east coast of Australia, roughly the city of Brisbane.

In preparation for this expedition, Fedor Konyukhov used information about single crossings across the Pacific Ocean from east to west in non-stop mode by the following rowers: (based on materials from the website www.oceanrowing.com)

• Anders Svedlun (Sweden). Start 02/27/1974. Finish 06.09.1974. Travel time 191 days. Launch site Chile (Huasco). Finish on the island of Western Samoa. Passed 6,462 miles.
• Peter Bird (England). Start 08/23/1982. Finish on 06/14/1983. Travel time is 294 days. Start San Francisco (USA). Finish Barrier Reef (east of Australia), next to the Lockhart River. Walked 8688 miles. Crossed the equator.
• Jim Shekhdar (England). Start 06/29/2000. Finish on 03/30/2001. Travel time is 273 days. Launch site Peru. Finish site is North Stradbroke Island (Australia). Passed 10,652 miles. The main reference point for Fyodor Konyukhov.
• Maud Fontenoy (France). Start 12.01.2005 from Peru (Lima). Finish Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia). Finish 26.03.2005. Travel time: 72 days. Walked 4,217 miles.
• Alex Bellini (Italy). Start on 02/21/2008. Finish 12.12.2008. Travel time is 294 days. Starting place: Peru (Callao). Finish in the Coral Sea (65 miles off the coast of Australia).
• Serge Jandaud (France). Start 12.06.2010. Finish 11/23/2010. Travel time is 163 days. Starting place: Peru (Callao). Finish site is Wallis Island.

Fedor Konyukhov will try to cross the Pacific Ocean from east to west from the continent ( South America) to the continent (Australia) without stops and calls to the islands.

Map of the route of this transition

On May 31, 2014 at 13:13 local time (Brisbane) the rowboat Turgoyak touched the coast of eastern Australia, the city of Mooloolaba.

Fedor Konyukhov crossed the largest ocean on the planet in a rowboat, from continent to continent, without entering ports, without assistance in a record time - 159 days 16 hours 58 minutes.

Rowing to keep within the assigned 200 days will take 11-12 hours a day.

Konyukhov crossed the Atlantic 15 times and made 4 voyages around the world. Now, according to him, the time has come for a new world record.

Into the ocean - on a nine-meter boat

The journey begins in the Chilean port of Valparaiso and ends on the east coast of Australia. In a little over a month, Konyukhov will go to Latin America from where his swim starts. Especially for the navigator, a nine-meter long Turgoyak boat was created, it is almost three meters longer than the previous unique URALAZ design, on which Konyukhov crossed the Atlantic. The new watercraft is not heavier than the previous one: the boat is made of carbon fiber.

Konyukhov has just conquered the Atlantic Ocean on a boat, which is now kept in the South Urals, at a school for young travelers, opened by a navigator. Photo: From the personal archive of Fyodor Konyukhov

“Of course, it's very hard to row 11-12 hours a day,” says Fedor. - Scientists have long calculated that not a single person can count to a million. Maybe he can, but not at once: in a week, a month. And I have to count up to 4 million: I will have to do approximately that many rowing oars during the trip, even more. "

The boat is specially designed for Konyukhov. This is the first specimen in the world in which Fedor will try to cross the Pacific Ocean alone. Photo: From the personal archive of Fyodor Konyukhov

According to Konyukhov, no one knows what surprises will await him in the ocean. From the experience of previous voyages, he knows that in about a month his boat will be overgrown with small shells that will interfere with its progress. The sides will need to be cleaned of growths, especially for this, the navigator has a wetsuit and a scraper, but what to do with sharks that can smell a person many kilometers away is still unclear.

Konyukhov always personally supervises the manufacturing process of boats. And this time the traveler will meet his boat at customs. Photo: From the personal archive of Fyodor Konyukhov

The traveler will be tied to the boat to sleep, but even here dangers lurk, for example, possible storms and hurricanes. Konyukhov will have to think about safety at night.

“I always go to bed after twelve, then I get up and pray from two to four, and I wake up completely at six in the morning,” says the navigator. - I am no stranger to such a regime. Of course, I don't know what other dangers might come along the way. For example, on one expedition we saw a giant octopus, whose tentacles are 36 meters long. "

Fedor Konyukhov gets up at six in the morning and goes to bed after twelve. From two to four in the morning he gets up for a prayer service. Photo: From the personal archive of Fyodor Konyukhov

"Eat to row"

“In order to row 11 hours a day, you need to eat 6 thousand calories. To do this, I need to eat 3 packs of special food every day - it tastes very nasty. This is nothing at first, and then he is very annoying. I don't even have a stove, but only a special mug with a gas cylinder, in which you can boil water, because the boat is thrown too much. I will take a fishing rod, but it will not be possible to fish everywhere, but only where there is current and plankton, there will be no such opportunity for months, but sharks will accompany me all the way, ”says Konyukhov.

Chocolate chips and the second. The traveler will eat such food for 200 days. Photo: AiF / Nadezhda Uvarova

Fedor showed special food, which was specially developed for him by the creators of products for astronauts. Hermetically packed snacks and bolognese become boring, if you take 600 packs of such food, the boat will not withstand the load. Therefore, Konyukhov will load 450 packages into the boat.

“I will be walking at the thirtieth degree,” the traveler says. - Past Tahiti, Robinson Crusoe Islands, Easter, Pitcairn and to Australia. That is, from continent to continent. This is 9 thousand miles, and I will walk 54 miles a day. When I walked across the Atlantic, I had a record of 84 miles. URALAZ weighed 250 kg empty. The boat is now longer, 9 meters, but weighs the same, it was built using new technologies. In one stroke, I have to travel 4 meters. The computers calculated that I had to walk 100 km a day. Sometime I will go more, sometime less. To set the daily world record, I need to walk a hundred miles in one day. "

Fedor Konyukhov shows his colleagues on the map at what latitude he plans to plot his route. Photo: From the personal archive of Fyodor Konyukhov

"Preparing Spiritually"

According to the traveler, it is physically impossible to train: if you row into the ocean in Chile, it will be very difficult to go back: there are very powerful currents. He believes that a person should train spiritually, not physically.

It is very difficult not only to sail in a rowboat, when the water is constantly overflowing and its level is only thirty centimeters below the edge of the ship's side, but also to be alone. Fedor takes church chants and music of different genres with him: you will never know what preferences will be on the way: "Although you are not alone in the ocean: there are dolphins, whales, and other inhabitants."

Fedor and at home, during his vacation, does not part with the card. Photo: From the personal archive of Fyodor Konyukhov

According to the traveler, of all the water bodies of the planet, the oceans are the least polluted. The real threat to them is plastic. If iron gets into the water column, the same cans, they sink to the bottom and do no particular harm. It's the same with glass bottles: they are made of sand, they just sink. But plastic - wrappers, bottles - does not dissolve and floats on the surface. Whales, swallowing water, can also swallow a plastic bottle. She will be hammered into a blowhole, and the mammal will die.

In the Urals, where Konyukhov was supported by friends and businessmen, Fedor was presented with a piece of meteorite - for luck - and a bottle of water from Lake Turgoyak - the traveler crossed the Atlantic on a boat with the same name, therefore “she is a saint” for a navigator. The organizers of the trip across the Pacific Ocean admit that the expedition costs "about like a luxury car."

A piece of meteorite for good luck - a gift from the South Urals. Photo: AiF / Nadezhda Uvarova

So far, not a single traveler in the world has crossed the Pacific Ocean on oars. “They are waiting for the Russians to do it,” Konyukhov is sure.