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Dear friends, partners and supporters,
Today, December 1st at 11:00am Barbados time (15:00GMT), my boat "URALAZ" and I arrived at Port St Charles, after spending approximately 46 days rowing the Atlantic (more precise time will be announced by the Ocean Rowing Society, London).
Let me tell you, that from the very beginning of the project I was prepared to spend at sea at least 100 days, and accordingly I had an appropriate supply of food and water onboard, as well as 30 books, pencils and notepads for sketches, several photo-cameras and a digital video-camera. But, as they say, it was "beginner's luck" -with the exception of the first three days, when I was having a head storm, the rest of the time, for almost 43 days, there were stable trade winds of 15-20-25 knots.
The boat "URALAZ" was moving in the targeted direction on average speed of 3.5 knots and you may agree, that it would be silly to cast sea-anchors and slow her down.
The second component of the success is the uniqueness of the boat - even I, after completing the crossing, have not yet comprehended her full potential. Being of my age ( on December 12th I am turning 51), it's too late to make a career as a rower, but I am sure, that young talented rowers, such as Theodore Rezvoy, Emmanuel Coindre etc., will appreciate the vessel's true worth. And take my word - I do promise,- that when I next meet Phil Morrison and Spud Rowsell, I will bow my head to them in respect: I don't have a single censure either re construction, or re design of the boat.
Besides exceptionally favourable weather and the boat of new generation, the success of the first Russian Row across the Atlantic has been stipulated by numerous components, such as powerful up-to-date financing by the General Sponsor of the project - Automobile Plant "URAL" (The Urals), in honour of which the boat has got her name "URALAZ".
Special thanks to the Chairman of the Board of Administration of the Automobile plant "URAL" - Pavel Yakovlev, - for his support of the project since August 2001. I can state, that the whole project, starting with our first visit to England and finishing with the last 3.000USD, which is yet to be paid for shipping the boat back to the UK - cost 100.000USD. Of course, there were some unexpected expenditures, that accounted 2-3% for the whole amount spent, which were covered from our family's budget.
And no doubt - one of the main constituent parts of this success is the PROFESSIONAL work of The Ocean Rowing Society in London, headed by Kenneth F. Crutchlow. We should say, that the major activity for the project, such as: who would be a designer, who would be boat builder, when and what place to choose for the start, shipping the boat to Canary Islands, customs formalities, tracking satellite tracking beacons 'CLSArgos', creating and maintenance of the interactive chart of my progress, shipping the boat from Barbados back to England and lots of more - all this was organized by The Ocean Rowing Society and personally - by Kenneth F. Crutchlow. And I can add even more - I do have a good experience in organising of more than 40 expeditions, including three skiing to the Northern Pole, one - to the South Pole, ascending Mt. Everest, three circumnavigations, which include two races; but this time this project appeared to be the most prepared one, regarding the way it had been organised. It was exactly Kenneth F. Crutchlow, who introduced me to Phil Morrison, he told methat he was going to use all the information received from the rowers, entries to the races 1997 - 2001; and that from the solo-rowers - and to apply it for the new design. Thus, the boat I got to cross the Atlantic was a joint product of unique experience of all the rowers who were rowed different oceans at different times. The partner of Phil Morrison of many years, boat builder Peter Rowsell (Spud) built the boat in 6 months and it took 3 months more to equip her at Spud's shipyard. I was lucky as well with a technical consultant, Peter Hogden, who himself, in team with Neil Hitt [onboard "Hospiscare"], rowed the Atlantic in 57 days in 1997. It was Peter who instructed me during my training in English Channel in August 2002, and it was under his guidance, that I went on training at La Gomera for 35 days running up to the start.
I am grateful to Mark Stubbs and Tim Welford [ocean rowers, UK] for their advice and the equipment they put at my disposal.
Of course, as far as we are speaking the same language, the consultancy of Theodore Rezvoy [an ocean rower, Ukraine] was very useful for me as well.
Here, at Barbados I would like to express a special gratitude to the Member of Honour of the Ocean Rowing Society, C.E.O. of the unique development Port St.Charles, where "URALAZ" is berthed now, - Thomas Herbert, - for all his support and help he rendered in view of my arrival.
Thus, I do emphasize once again, that my success is a result of cooperation of a huge team; and if to describe the crossing itself, it can be divided into three components that enabled me to make such a fast progress to the finish line: 50% - favourable weather conditions; 30% - unique boat, which is twice lighter, than standard boats, built for the race 1997 and 2001; and it's only 20% to my credit.
Thanks again to all of you
Respectfully yours, Fedor Konyukhov
Barbados
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