On December 22, 2013, a rowing single boat left the Chilean port of Concon into the open ocean. The end point of the route was the Australian city of Mululaba. There was only one crew member on board the boat - Fedor Konyukhov.

On December 12, 2012, on his birthday - he is now 62 - the traveler announced his intention to cross the Pacific Ocean in a rowboat without calling at ports and without escort. It happened in England, where Konyukhov flew to approve the final version of the boat under the working name "K9". By decision of Konyukhov, this boat retained the classic design and shape of his previous URALAZ boat, on which he crossed the Atlantic in 2002 in 46 days.

The boat was made from carbon fibre. Hull - 9 meters long and 1.6 meters wide, divided into 5 watertight bulkheads. It is indicative that all the builders of "K9" and professional seafarers themselves have experience of single sea crossings on oars. In particular, the chief construction manager, Englishman Charlie Pitcher, twice crossed the Atlantic Ocean alone in a rowboat. Among the creators there are rowers who crossed the Indian Ocean on oars.

However, the Pacific Ocean is incorrect to compare with others. “The Atlantic is a route of 3,000 miles that can be covered in one season,” Konyukhov explains. “The Pacific Ocean in the section of Chile - the east coast of Australia has a route length of 9,000 nautical miles. It is clear that I will not fit in one season "I plan to start in the summer (December in the Southern Hemisphere), and finish in late autumn, I cannot avoid storms on the way to Australia. The boat must withstand enormous loads, and I will need the most modern technologies, the latest developments in the field of ocean row projects. Therefore, I project of operating ocean rowers".

Later, the boat instead of the faceless "K9" was named "Turgoyak".

Turgoyak is a large freshwater lake in the Chelyabinsk region near the city of Miass. Very picturesque. In addition to its beauty, it is famous for the fact that in the summer it hosts all-Russian regattas for the Konyukhov Cup. Here - the house-museum of the traveler. As the organizers of the regatta remind, it is on this lake that he recovers after difficult expeditions and draws inspiration for his new projects.

But the most meticulous admirers of the traveler's exploits, who will try to figure out the etymology of the name of the boat, I'm afraid, will have to abandon the idea. Mission Impossible. The fact is that the origin of the term Turgoyak is not entirely obvious even to local historians. Presumably, the word is from the Bashkir language, but there is no convincing interpretation of the toponym. There are many translation options, one more ridiculous than the other: from "Stop leg" to "Big chicken". There is also a romantic version: the lake got its name from an old legend about the love of a young man Tura and a girl Goyak.

Whatever it was, but "Turgoyak" has already entered the history of the most incredible journeys. “The first ever solo rowing boat trip from the coast of Chile to Australia was successful,” President Putin stated in a congratulatory telegram to Konyukhov. “You have continued the wonderful traditions of the great Russian explorers and travelers who have made a great contribution to the study of the oceans.”

The conquest of the elements, as always, was hard. The route across the Pacific Ocean ran in the corridor of 30-35 degrees South latitude, and in these latitudes Fedor had to go around the islands of Robinson Crusoe, Easter, Pitcairn and others. Having passed the first half of the journey (4000 miles), the boat entered the zone of atolls, many of which are still not marked on the map. In this part of the ocean, shipping is weak and in case of an emergency, help can be expected for a week or more, unlike the Atlantic Ocean, where, according to statistics, help for yachtsmen arrives within a day. “The main difficulty of this kind of test lies in its monotony,” Konyukhov admitted. “Every day I tried to row for 18 hours, slept for 20-25 minutes, but not more than 2.5 hours a day. I was not thrown onto islands or reefs, I avoided collisions with ships, did not suffer any injuries, and, of course, my approach to the coast of Australia in perfect weather and a safe landing are all thanks to prayers.

The motive for record swimming is not so much science and sports interest. In any case, Konyukhov himself claims so. The record is for the sake of the younger generation, to whom he wants to instill the spirit of romance.

"I travel to make people dream more," says the traveler. Adding that his next goal is to fly around the Earth in a hot air balloon.

Konyukhov crossed the Pacific Ocean in a single rowboat in 160 days with a plan of 200 days. The previous best achievement was 273 days. This result was shown by 52-year-old Englishman Jim Shekdar.

Dossier "RG"

Fedor Konyukhov was born in 1951 in Ukraine, on the shores of the Sea of ​​Azov, in the village of Chkalovo. Navigator by profession (Odessa Naval School and Leningrad Arctic School), artist and sculptor (Bobruisk Art School), Honorary Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, author of 3,000 paintings. Member of the Union of Writers of the Russian Federation, author of 12 books.

Made 4 round-the-world voyages. The first person in the world who reached 5 poles: the North Geographic (three times), the South Geographic, the Pole of relative inaccessibility in the Arctic Ocean, Everest (the height pole) and the pole of yachtsmen Cape Horn. The first Russian citizen to climb the 7 Summits of the World.

In 2010, he was ordained a deacon and received the priesthood at St. Nicholas Church in Zaporozhye.

He has a large family: a wife, two sons and a daughter, four grandchildren and two granddaughters.

On his account, as many as four round-the-world voyages, made 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 in a boat of his own making. But then an angry parent intervened and took away the homemade product. But the young traveler did not lose his head and "borrowed" a fishing boat from the village council. Konyukhov claims that he then swam across the Sea of ​​Azov.

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

Most likely, Konyukhov did not forget his youthful adventure with a boat in the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov 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 boat "Uralaz".

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

The navigation point was equipped with a stationary and handheld GPS device, an automatic positioning system, an electronic compass and a radar warning of the approach of ships. The life support system was powered by two batteries powered by solar panels. Also provided the opportunity to replenish stocks at the expense of rainwater.

In October 2002 Konyukhov started off and went solo across the Atlantic by way of Columbus. He reached the island in record time, spending a little more than 46 days crossing the ocean.

Without a sail and without a motor, armed with only two pairs of oars, Fedor 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, and a water desalinator also worked from them.

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



From Peru, the traveler went to the Australian city of Mululaba, the end point of a solo expedition. The whole journey was completed in 160 days, the boat withstood all the tests of bad weather, and its owner considers 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 a world record for the fastest crossing of the Pacific Ocean and became the first citizen to make such a journey.

Round the world and regattas

In this circumnavigation Konyukhov discovered the wonderful world of the oceans, rounded Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope. Closing 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 set off. The voyage took seven months, and in 1994 the traveler gave up at the launch site.

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

In addition to single round-the-world voyages, 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 went to the start on an Open 60 class yacht "Modern Humanitarian University". This flight is considered the third circumnavigation of the famous Russian traveler.

Konyukhov also competed at the helm of the same yacht 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 competition "Antarctica Cup" in 2007-2008. In these races, he took part on his large yacht "Scarlet Sails Trading Network".

Fedor Konyukhov is constantly making new plans and developing new sea voyages. For 2017, he planned not just a regatta or a round-the-world trip. The traveler swung at the Mariana Trench, he plans to sink to the bottom in a bathyscaphe and spend several days there all alone.

What is our life filled with? Family, work, meetings with friends, unexpected problems, good news ... While everyone is busy with ordinary affairs, somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean they throw a small boat over the waves - a person in it rows all day long, occasionally interrupting for an hour's sleep. This is the ordinary life of the traveler Fyodor Konyukhov

On December 22, 2013, a single boat departed from the pier in the city of Concon (Chile), on which Fedor Konyukhov is going to row 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km) across the Pacific Ocean. Every evening, Fedor communicates by satellite phone with his son Oscar, who keeps a sailing diary on behalf of his father. "Around the World" publishes the brightest excerpts from the diary.

The last day of 2013, preparations for the New Year are underway on the shore, but everything is the same here. I wanted to drink wine, but ten minutes before midnight, the instruments recorded a tanker coming towards me. The celebration had to be postponed and maneuvers began to "dodge" the ship, which eventually passed three miles (5.5 km) astern. But I am glad that I meet the New Year on the road and can observe the greatness of the Pacific Ocean.

Everything is like in a solo trip around the world. Physically harder, but psychologically easier. Navigation on a rowboat is simple: I look at the map of the route, course and speed ... Most of all I am worried about commercial and fishing boats. They go very fast (relative to the speed of the rowboat). Before the ship's silhouette appears on the horizon, half an hour later it is already abeam with the boat (a direction perpendicular to the ship's course. - Note. " Around the world» ).

I'm fighting the hardest fight against the elements. I confess I didn't think it would be so hard. Continuous struggle with squall winds and waves lapping over the side. The oars are out of hand. I am constantly wet through. I haven't changed my clothes for over a week. The Humboldt current and the southwest winds carry me north. Every hour I pray to the Lord to soften the elements.

At night, three small squids were brought on board by waves, I cleaned them and doused them with boiling water. It turned out to be a good addition to the usual freeze-dried menu (frozen, then dried food that retained its beneficial properties. They weigh less, they are diluted with boiling water before eating. - Note. " Around the world» ).

Caught a tuna today. He released a lure behind the stern and at a speed of 2.5–3 knots (4.6–5.5 km / h. - Note. " Around the world» ) started fishing. After a couple of hours, the coil crackled. After some effort, I pulled out a small tuna, 40 centimeters in length. Just what I need, no bigger size, no fridge on board. While cutting, cleaning and cooking the fish, it took more than an hour. As a result - tuna fish soup and a kind of sashimi (thinly sliced ​​raw meat). So today I have a gourmet lunch with a great view of the ocean, but speed has to be sacrificed.

From the beginning of swimming, the stomach feels all the "charm" of sublimated products. Every day I need to dilute in boiling water and eat several servings of this "special food". I get a terrible amount of energy from such dinners. And the same terrible heartburn in addition.

Carried out inspection of the boat. I smeared all the deck hatches with sealant (they began to leak), changed the wheels on the rowing seat. He put on a mask and dipped his head into the water - the bottom was covered with a layer of nasty green slime. This is a harbinger of the fact that growing mollusks will appear soon - you will have to dive and clean them off with a special tool.

During the day I took a little rest, I was able to read. I only have a couple of books on board. Today I read "Unholy Saints" by Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov). Engaged, useful book. So the daily transition will be less than usual.

It is difficult to calculate how much longer I will stay in the ocean, so I set the mode to save everything: food and gas. When I go half way, it will be possible to build more accurate forecasts and adjust the diet. I'm hoping for fish. In the early days, in bad weather, I didn’t eat anything, kept on internal supplies, but now I can’t, I want to eat 24 hours a day. Hungry all the time. I lost a lot of weight.

This emptiness around cannot be expressed in words. In recent days, when I was struggling with bad weather, I didn't think too much about it. But when the Japanese ship Onahama Maru appeared on the radar, everything changed. For the first time I deeply realized loneliness. I myself did not see the ship, and I do not know if I was displayed on their radars. In the places where my path lies, there is not a single soul around for hundreds of miles. It feels like you've landed in a place where there's nothing at all...

Today I dreamed that I was walking on the ground, on a green field. It's so cool. When the alarm rang, I didn't want to wake up trying to prolong these moments. On a boat, I move around on my knees, crawling from the cabin to the deck and back. I practically don’t get up to my full height, and there’s nowhere to go here.

Recently, the bones of the hands hurt, it feels like they are twisting. When I row, the pain is not so strongly felt, but I lie down to rest, and begins to pull and twist. I can't relax and unwind. Because of this, he only slept three hours a day. Almost 50 days of pitching, chattering does not stop for a minute. The boat is in motion, all the muscles of the body are tense, even when I am lying in the cabin.

Solo hiking expeditions

1. March - May 1990, 72 days
The first solo ski trip in Russia to the North Pole. Start - Cape Lokot (Sredny Island)
2. Nov. 1995 - Jan. 1996, 64 days
The first solo trip to the South Pole in Russia. Start - Hercules Bay

Solo swims

1. oct. 1990 - June 1991, 224 days
The first circumnavigation of the world in Russia on the yacht "Karaana". Start and finish - Sydney (Australia)

2. March 1993 - Aug. 1994, 518 days
Round the world on a two-masted ketch "Formosa". Start and finish - Taiwan

3. Nov. 1998 - Apr. 1999 ~224 days
American race Around Alone 1998/99 on the yacht Open 60 "SGU". Start and finish - Charleston (USA)

4. Nov. 2000 - Feb. 2001 ~ 90 days
French round-the-world sailing race Vendee Globe on the yacht Open 60 SSU. Start and finish - Les Sables-d'Olonne (France)

5. oct. - Dec. 2002, 46 days and 4 hours
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean on the URALAZ rowboat. Start - about. Gomera (Canaries), finish - about. Barbados

6. Feb. 2004, 14 days and 7 hours
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean on the yacht "Scarlet Sails". Start - about. Gomera (Canaries), finish - about. Barbados

7. dec. 2004 - June 2005, 190 days
Around the world on the yacht "Scarlet Sails". Start and finish - Falmouth (England)

8. Jan. 2007 - May 2008, 102 days
Australian race Antarctica Cup. Start and finish - Albany (Western Australia)

9. dec. 2013 - June 2014 ~ 200 days
Crossing the Pacific Ocean on a rowboat "Turgoyak". In progress. Start - Concon (Chile)

Photo: Fedor Konyukhov, Oscar Konyukhov

In December 2013, it started, and at the end of May 2014. the next expedition of the traveler-explorer Fyodor Konyukhov ended. On the rowing boat "K9 Turgoyak", alone, he set off to conquer the largest ocean in the world, which he eventually managed to do. The 62-year-old navigator crossed the Pacific Ocean from South America to Australia (more than 9,000 miles, 17,000 km) autonomously, without visiting any islands, in 160 days. He became the first person to row the Pacific "from continent to continent" in record time. In accordance with the assignment of the SGA, a permanent partner of Fedor Konyukhov on 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 is supported by the Russian Geographical Society. The information sponsor of the project is the TV channel "First Educational

09/25/2013

Fedor Konyukhov, a traveler-explorer, recently returned from Southampton (England), where a 9-meter rowing boat of an original design was presented at the international exhibition Boat Show. Built on a special project, this boat is designed for long active stays in extreme ocean environments in typical conditions of the world's greatest ocean - the Pacific. It does not look like a traditional boat or yawl that is familiar to us. Most likely, its distant prototype is a kayak, but not with one, but with two oars inserted into the oarlocks. With two swollen pressurized compartments, at the bow and at the stern, something 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, perhaps, it can be compared with a spaceship, and the entire expedition - with a flight into space. The goal is to cross the vast ocean on oars in a completely autonomous mode, akin to flying to Mars. And it is not clear who will find it easier - a cosmonaut in a distant orbit or Fedor in a boundless ocean.

The previous, 11-year-old boat crossing of the Atlantic Ocean brought Fedor not only the glory of a record holder - no one, until this year, had crossed the Atlantic Ocean by oar faster than him - but also inner confidence in the possibility of more for himself. Despite the fact that he always understood and now understands that all, not so numerous 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, an exceptional ability to survive in incredible conditions and emergency situations, concentration and determination.

That is why he developed the terms of reference for the boat himself, and entrusted the construction, based on the latest technologies, to recognized masters and experienced shipbuilders from England. There is nothing superfluous on it, a Spartan lifestyle awaits the rower. Oars, navigation devices, a satellite phone, a computer, video cameras, a portable salt water maker, a supply of freeze-dried products for six months, a fishing rod, a shark lance - that's all his household.

After demonstrating the boat at the exhibition - the only exhibit from Russia - it was again transported to the shipyard for final fine-tuning and installation of equipment. On board it is placed the logo of the television company SGU TV (TV channel "First Educational") - the information partner of the project.

October 17, 2013

The preparatory stage of Fyodor Konyukhov's expedition project "By boat across the Pacific Ocean" has been completed. At Mike Wood's shipyard in the village of Benham-on-Croach, a hundred kilometers from London, construction and installation work on the original boat of the K9 formula ("Konyukhov - 9 m") has been completed. Now it will be loaded into a container and sent by 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 Fedor Konyukhov's design concept is the energetic Charlie Pitcher. Charlie is the record holder among rowers for crossing the Atlantic by oars, having improved Konyukhov's record result (46 days) at the beginning of this year by a week and a half, shown by him earlier on the Uralaz boat. At the same time, he is an experienced shipbuilder who has built more than one boat for ocean extreme sports 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 a collision with reefs. The carrying capacity of the boat is 1 ton: these are products, equipment, equipment, and the weight of the rower himself. Despite its impressive size and only one pair of working oars (it has neither a sail nor an engine for fundamental reasons), the boat can reach speeds of several knots, that is, move at the speed of a bicycle. The number of strokes that the Russian navigator must make on the route is expressed in seven figures.

“According to our calculations, the boat must travel at least thirty miles a day,” says Fedor Konyukhov, “that is, you need to do 50 km to meet the scheduled 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 ten days of December, at which time summer comes in the Southern Hemisphere.

11/07/2013

On November 5 in Chelyabinsk, and on November 6 in neighboring Miass, press conferences were held by Fedor Konyukhov and his Ural partners on the project “On a rowboat across the Pacific Ocean”, at which the press and the public were informed about the results of the preparatory stage of the new expedition.

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

19 .11.2013

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

Ferdinand Magellan turned out to be the first person who managed to cross the Pacific Ocean on a fragile ship. He was not a Chilean, but on the shore 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 facing a new challenge. And again, not a Chilean, but from the Chilean shores. It is symbolic that the Russian Fyodor Konyukhov decided to start the program of training and preparation for the start on a rowboat across the Pacific Ocean from the region of Tierra del Fuego, once discovered by Magellan.



November 20, 2013

A team of project participants led by Fedor Konyukhov, who covered a distance of 15,000 km in two days - similar to what an ocean boat has to go - and did not forget to bow to the legendary Magellan in Punta Arenas, jumped on a tiny "Twinwater" through the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego and landed in the southernmost town of the Earth - Puerto Williams. There is a Chilean military base here. 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 begun training, intends to go on a yacht in the coming days to once again test himself 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 ultra-marathon, not so much the physical condition of the rower is important, but the strength of the spirit, strong-willed attitude. A week's trek around Cape Horn might help. The yacht will be provided by a local skipper.

Interesting and useful is the experience of the Yagan Indians, who lived from time immemorial on the islands of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and sailed through the ocean straits and fjords in rowing boats made of thick juniper bark. In the town of Lakutaya, which means "The Bay of the Black Bird", Fyodor got acquainted with the subjects of maritime activities and the life of the yagan.

Despite the coming summer and blooming daisies and dandelions, following the sun several times a day, snow falls from the sky, a cold Antarctic wind blows, the mountains hide in clouds. Let's hope that the changeable weather will not disturb the plans of Fedor and his comrades - very soon it will be necessary to meet the K9 boat in the port of Valparaiso.

November 27, 2013

If in the old days the Yaghan 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 local population and visiting guests who want to paddle are at the service of quite modern and comfortable plastic kayaks and canoes. This circumstance did not fail to take advantage of Fedor Konyukhov, who appreciated the merits of different models of training boats.


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




Before we had time to reverse course, the weather began to deteriorate, a strong wind blew. However, the main thing was done, and this was taken 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.


12/01/2013

During the long transport 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 Concon near Valparaiso. Immediately, the bottom was painted in several layers - to prevent the active growth of mollusks on its surface, which increases water resistance and, accordingly, slows down the boat.


On December 1, the first launch of the boat took place. In a bay overlooking the ocean, on a sunny, moderately windy day, Fedor Konyukhov and technical manager, renowned ocean rower Simon Chalk, dipped their oars into the waters of the Pacific Ocean for the first time.


It took several hours to check the stability of the boat, its driving characteristics, the calibration of the compass and electronic navigation equipment. The tests were successful, the original design of the boat did not deceive the expectations of its creators. A speed of more than 3 knots was reached - approximately 6 km / h. But it became clear how difficult it would be to fight alone through the headwinds, waves and currents that are characteristic of this area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe coastal waters of Chile.


The next task, in addition to loading products, equipment, additional installation and debugging of equipment, is to study the direction of local currents and the wind rose to select the optimal start time. While the wind blows more from the ocean, and the reefs standing at the entrance to the bay create powerful circulating underwater currents, which are better not to fall into.


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


And a day earlier, here, in the yacht club, Fedor met with the President of Chile, to whom the traveler-explorer showed his boat, spoke about the impending transoceanic passage and invited him to the start. One of the principal tasks that we managed to solve with the assistance of representatives of the Russian diplomatic corps was obtaining permission from the military authorities to launch the boat from the Chilean coast. Weather permitting, the start will take place on December 12 from the marina of the Concon Yacht Club.


12/07/2013

The project of Fyodor Konyukhov in Chile is showing unusually lively interest. Near the boat in the yacht club people are constantly crowded - yachtsmen, journalists, television people. A video report about Fedor and the upcoming transition was shown on the central Chilean channel "13", other channels, materials about the Russian traveler are published on the front pages of the local newspapers.


In Santiago, in our embassy, ​​Fedor met with the Russian Ambassador to Chile, Mikhail Orlovets. We agreed on the preparation of a photo exhibition based on the project materials to be placed in the Russian Cultural Center, as well as on 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 the members of his team, shared his plans and answered numerous questions. Then he donated an icon of the Mother of God to the Russian community for installation in the chapel at the Russian Cultural Center, the consecration of which was to take place the next day. No one here expected such a gift, and it was perceived as God's providence.



Meanwhile, in Concon, daily hard work is underway to prepare the boat for the launch. The yacht club is protected from direct ocean waves by a stone pier, 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 is preparing for the first step - the first miles will be especially difficult, as you will need to break away from the coast and pass the reefs at the entrance to the bay. Every day he sits down at the oars and makes his way through the waters 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 it is impossible to go to the ocean. Local fishermen and pelicans watch with surprise the unusual boat slowly passing by the lighthouse before their eyes.




12/12/2013

After carefully analyzing the weather forecasts, Fedor Konyukhov decided to start on December 14th. By this day, the excitement caused by the cyclone raging in the ocean on the proposed path of the boat should subside somewhat. Further, within a few days, the weather is expected to improve, which should contribute to the separation of the rower 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 - an unusual age for travelers embarking on expeditionary 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 congratulations were voiced by the Russian Ambassador to Chile, Mikhail Orlovets, who specially came to Concon for this purpose. He read out a letter of greeting to Fyodor Konyukhov from the President of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Geographical Society Vladimir Putin. Fedor invited both the ambassador and, through him, the President of the Russian Federation to Australia to meet him upon completion of the transition.


December 14, 2013

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


The pier was crowded with people all the time, mostly compatriots. They thanked Fedor for what he is and instills in them a sense of confidence, pride in distant Russia. Congratulations on the past birthday, presented with gifts.

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



Early in the morning of December 14, when it was just beginning to get light, the Russian traveler-explorer set sail from the floating pier of the hospitable Konkon Yacht Club. Despite the early hour and cloudy weather, there were surprisingly many mourners. The consul of the Russian Federation, who arrived from Santiago, gave the go-ahead for the start at 6 hours 52 minutes. The first careful strokes, the first turn in the alignment of the marina, and now - the way out of the pier. Behind are the lighthouse, the forest of yacht masts, and the anthill of Concon's houses piled 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 swell of one and a half meters high majestically and evenly goes.


Confident rowing, and soon the signal lights of the boat disappear into a dark blue haze. No escort other than a Chilean Armada (Navy) boat. And only an hour later, as agreed, the yacht and two boats with the project participants, as well as the most stubborn fans, went after the rower to finally wish him good luck on the beam of Valparaiso. Pelicans and seagulls on the coastal cliffs, having been worried, calmed down.


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

« Dear Fedor Filippovich!

I congratulate you on your birthday and the beginning 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, well-known researchers, caring and enthusiastic people, has no analogues in history. And, without a doubt, it will attract the attention of the public, specialists, and experts in nautical business.

You have more than once conquered the most difficult, hard-to-reach routes - the water element, mountain peaks, the North and South Poles. I am sure that the current campaign will also 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, without closing his eyes, fighting against the wind and currents. We managed to move 18 miles from the coast to the west, and 8 miles to the north.

December 18, 2013

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

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

It was possible to sleep fitfully only on the second day, when the wind changed direction and became more or less favorable. The echo transponder was buzzing all the time - here lies the main route of sea vessels calling at 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 south-westerly direction. In three days of rowing and maneuvering, about a hundred very difficult miles were covered, and they managed to break away from the mainland by fifty miles. Well, the start time was chosen well - with minimal excitement, in a pause between cyclones, constantly walking along the roaring forties and frantic fifties latitudes.

Communication with the outside world is provided through the Iridium satellite phone provided to Fedor by the Modern Humanitarian Academy. The coordinates are captured and automatically transferred to an interactive map via the Yellowbrick satellite tracking buoy.

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

December 19, 2013

An emergency situation arose on board the boat K9 ("Turgoyak") - the power supply system failed. The main and backup batteries, charged by solar panels, are out of order. Fedor Konyukhov failed to fix the problems on his own.

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

December 23, 2013

And here's what happened. British designers have installed on the boat the most modern lithium batteries, which have a large capacity and relatively low weight. But these batteries, charged by solar panels, have some specific features compared to 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 to restore, which no on-board power sources can provide.

Fedor started in cloudy weather and walked in fog for three days, fighting the wind, the Humboldt side current and, at the same time, crossing the busy route of ocean-going ships calling at the port of Valparaiso. Moving along a curved trajectory, he was forced to constantly use the autopilot, keep the navigation and radar equipment on, and the marker lights on. The echo transponder was buzzing all the time - huge ships passed by, in the night and fog, for which a 9-meter boat is like a chip.

With an increased level of energy consumption, the main batteries were discharged on the second day, then the backup, but there was still no sun. The voltage control system failed, at some point the battery charge level passed the critical level, and everything went out. It was not possible to restore the operability of the power supply system in any way and, therefore, it became pointless to continue moving. After discussing the situation by satellite phone with the shore headquarters, it was decided to return to Konkon. Fortunately, it has not yet been possible to go far - only fifty miles to the coast (although about 80 have been covered).

A rescue yacht towed the boat to the Concon Yacht Club. All this happened on the day of St. Nicholas the Pleasant - it seems that it was he who prompted the sailor, at the very beginning of the journey, the right way out of the situation.

Analysis of the cause of failures in the power supply system and replacement of equipment took only three days. Instead of exotic batteries, traditional ones were installed. They are heavier, but, according to experts, they are 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 trials, directing his boat straight to the west. On this day, the Pacific Ocean, as if justifying its name, decided to present a gift to the rower - an almost complete calm was established in Valparaiso Bay.

May 30, 2014

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

The night before, a helicopter took off towards Fedor. Moving among the waves, a white boat was found without much difficulty 72 miles from the coast. Visual contact did not last long, about ten minutes, but there was no end to the joy of those who were in the helicopter and those who were in the boat.

Fedor Konyukhov will spend this night, as usual, on oars in order to enter the 5-mile coastal zone by morning and start storming one of the last obstacles already before dark - the outward flow of the Moolulaby River, which can drag the boat into the zone of reefs and huge waves on the beach shallow water . Strength and good luck, brave conqueror of the oceans!

05/31/14

Immediately after the helicopter left and dusk fell, the wind blew in the right direction. The boat, as if sensing the near land, 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 Coast Guard, 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, confidently moved towards the goal. The bearded captain in a white shirt and a faded skipper habitually worked with oars.

At this time, people gathered on the breakwater, at the entrance to the marina, and on Moolulaba beach - both locals and visitors from Brisbane and Sydney. About 500 people gathered, waiting for the "krezi"-Russian, about which newspapers have been writing and broadcasting on TV all the last days.

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

The epic has ended, which is difficult to fit into the framework of conventional ideas about the possible and the impossible. It ended successfully, and even 40 days ahead of schedule. The ocean missed Fedor 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 on oars, alone and autonomously, with a length of 16,000 km, from Chile to Australia - from continent to continent. Nobody has been able to do this until now!

Almost every week we throw you unusual stories about how people run away from normal life, try to overshadow their existential longing, and learn about the world around them in unusual ways. But this story, perhaps, surpasses all previous materials in terms of the level of madness.

It is better to simply write the initial data separated by commas. Alexey Neugodov studied at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, left the university, left home, traveled by train to Vladivostok, earning money for food at the same time, got a small single-seat dinghy (this is such a sailing boat with a retractable keel) and is going to cross the ocean to America to get into the scientific environment of MIT and Harvard and study theoretical physics there.

We talked to Alexey about his crazy plans, journey and motives.

The story of the escape to America

ESTIMATED TRAVEL TIME

COST OF EQUIPMENT

150 thousand rubles

Describe in general terms the plan of your future trip.

Sailing along the coast of Primorsky Krai to Sakhalin and at the same time learning how to steer a ship. A little some excitement - immediately return to the shore. The boat can be pulled out because its keel is a centerboard. It is removed, it is not heavy, and it can be completely dragged ashore. If a storm suddenly catches me, then I will have to go further into the sea - during a storm it is dangerous to approach the shore.

I hesitated for a long time whether to go north or straight across the ocean. Now I simply do not have the opportunity to go across the ocean, because I do not have enough supplies. Therefore, I will walk along the coast, study, ask for advice, shoot, maybe more equipment, maybe someone will take me in tow. Still, Primorye is not a completely lifeless area. There are villages on the coast. I will go to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk or Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky if there is a need to replenish supplies.

I read that you originally had a plan to go to the USA on the fortieth latitude across the ocean.

When I was sitting in Moscow and thinking about how to implement all this, I realized that the legal path would be too complicated. Then I began to sort through all the semi-legal ones. I chose Vladivostok. I set my sights on it, because on the one hand, Chukotka, on the other, you can pick up a boat here. You can arrange to get on board with someone. But in the end I decided that it would be better if there was a small boat, but under my personal control. I had no idea where I would live here and what to do.

And what did you do in Moscow?

I am from the Moscow region. Studied at Bauman Moscow State Technical University. But at some point, he abruptly left his parents and the institute. He lived on the roofs, was homeless, one might say, and at the same time earned a little money from tutoring, so that he had time to attend the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow State University, and the Independent Moscow University. It was problematic for me in the summer to earn big money in Moscow, after graduation I worked in a lot of places - both in electronics, and as an engineer, and at a construction site. And in the summer without students, it was pretty bad with money.

Are you also going to the USA to get scientific knowledge?

Getting a diploma is not important for me. It is important for me to get into the scientific environment. Moscow also has this environment, but it is rather provincial. And when someone has the opportunity to go to Europe or the US, he leaves. There you can get acquainted with professors, free attendance of some classes is practiced, it is important to have an interest, there is no local bureaucracy. The main thing I need is to get into this environment, to student campuses, to communicate with people, to look at stands, to go to open lectures. Here I also study English, I pay a tutor 1500 rubles, but by giving the same money to prepare the boat and my crazy plan, I do much more for my education.

Why didn't you decide to move across the Atlantic Ocean?

First, the idea itself can help me because my plan looks so crazy. Secondly, there are much fewer border guards in Vladivostok compared to St. Petersburg. And it's easier to earn money. My time is limited - if I had an infinite life, there would be many options. And I need to earn money at the same time, and leave as soon as possible. Here I will go along Primorye. Here, no one expects some kind of escape.

Okay, how did you get to Vladivostok?

I decided to save on airfare. And went absolutely wild. I found a suitcase under my house, took a sleeping bag, a guitar and a computer. And I went without any money. I learned one song at the Kursk railway station and set off. It is completely unusual for me to play in public, and at first my knees were shaking, but then they gave me money. I got to Vladimir, slept on the banks of the Klyazma, met with criminals in the forest. I went further.

In the Moscow region, you can ride like a hare, but the farther, the stronger the control. I collected money by playing the guitar on the previous train and paid for the ticket for the next one. This is how I drove Yekaterinburg, Tyumen. I slept on the roofs of banks, in forests and fields. I chose relatively respectable buildings because they are much safer. You can’t spend the night at the station, because the homeless would quickly rob me. Although on the way I was almost robbed once by policemen in Siberia.

There, in general, the most criminogenic situation, I did not even think that there are places in Russia where poverty is so widespread. Here, in Vladivostok, and even more so in Moscow, this is hard to imagine. But there are villages near Irkutsk where people live on water and potatoes for half a year, and they have no money to even leave. They don't farm or do anything. Only drugs and alcohol. These are villages of horror, the population is corrupted, lives on welfare and drinks it completely. This is where I got to.


As always, I walked along the car with a guitar, met the policemen. This, in general, was a familiar operation for me, they checked in almost every train. Because if you go to such remote places, everyone knows each other, and a stranger stands out, and he is immediately checked. And so they also began to check me, there was no one on the train, except for me and some old woman. They said I just wouldn't make it to the next station if I didn't pay them. They didn't go into any details. They offered to pay me five thousand in exchange for all my property. I managed to go to the toilet, and then I just jumped out of the train at the stop. I had a ticket to another station, so they didn't expect me to jump out into some bushes without a platform. I was picked up by the local police and interrogated for two hours, but in the end they released me with my property. Then I walked 25 kilometers from this village to the highway, because I could no longer get on the train. I chopped wood from nine in the morning until nine in the evening for 100 rubles, which I spent on food. We didn't even have enough money for the bus.

In Russia, in general, everything is very unpredictable. Trains are sometimes canceled in entire regions without warning. That is, I was sitting in Moscow, planning a trip, and it’s right that I didn’t go deep into the theory - where and from where I would leave, what time. You can’t think everything through thoroughly, we cancel everything in two days. In Khakassia last year, electric trains were canceled in the entire region - there was no communication at all. I made my final journey in a Porsche on the roof of a transporter. Many people drive cars to Vladivostok. That is, the trucker drove the car, and I slept in it.

As a result, I got to Vladik in 25 days and saved on air tickets. On the other hand, the path itself provides me with new opportunities. The way I got to Vladik provided me with a completely different attitude from the locals.

And what did you do when you arrived?

First, I started making money. Arrived hungry and weak. At the time when I was traveling, I ate mainly dry buckwheat, cut my arm with a guitar, and was exhausted. In the early days, I just needed to raise 500 rubles to the phone. Tried to make money on it with all his might. Stritiroval and collected aluminum cans. I collected them for two days, collected two bags, received 100 rubles, but while I was collecting them, I found three phones. And on it I made 150 thousand (I still have all the work going on by phone, not even on a laptop), because I called up the students - everything is the old fashioned way. There, in Vladik, I met a man who helped me and provided me with a room in which I lived and conducted classes. But now, as unnecessary, I moved to the garage and live only in it. And yes, I have stopped making money. I need to meet people who make me a boat cover, be in the garage all the time, prepare the boat.

What kind of boat do you have?

On the Internet, it was sold for 130 thousand. But they sold me for 100 thousand, because I bought it on January 30, out of season. At the same time, the owner of the boat agreed to keep it in his garage. It's made of composite and is quite sturdy despite its appearance. Assembled according to the American project of Dudley Dix at the Vladivostok shipyard. I also bought a cover for it for 25 thousand, which is reinforced with transverse ropes. It will be possible to climb under this cover. It reduces the mechanical stress on the boat.