A Russian solo yachtsman sailed into Western Australia today to set a record of 102 days for circumnavigating Antarctica. Fedor Konyukhov , 56, threw down the gauntlet to yachtsmen around the world in what was his fourth circumnavigation. Konyukhov set out from Albany (on Western Australia's south coast) with his open 85ft monohull Trading Network Alye Parusa on Australia Day. The adventurer braved a succession of storms, freezing temperatures, dodged icebergs and sailed past whales.
He came through it all unscathed, returning to King George Sound on 7 May to record a time of 102 days 00 hours 56 minutes 50secs for his 16,400 mile circuit of the Antarctic continent. Asked whether it would be his last such voyage, Konyukhov said it would be the last for a while!He said, "the Southern Ocean provides the most spectacular sailing conditions in the world".
If you fancy following in Konyukhov's footsteps, then you can do so thanks to the sturdy icebreaker, the Kapitan Khlebnikov, which will trace the coastline of the Antarctic continent in a semi-circumnavigation departing from South America (in an anti-clockwise direction) to Australasia this November. Find out more about the amazing Epic Antarctica voyage here - there is VERY limited availability left! Rumours abound that there may be a full circumnavigation voyage with the icebreaker planned for the Antarctic season 2009/10 - how incredible an adventure would that be! We hope to have details of the 2009/10 season within the next few weeks, so watch this space!
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