Goal of the Expedition:
Crossing the ocean solo on a rowboat will be the first in Russian history of plying the ocean by rowing. This marathon is a continuation of the exceptional attempts on a rowboat by Evgeny Smurgis from Lipetsk, Russia, who was the fist in the world to make an attempt at circumnavigating the world on a rowboat in 1993. Fedor Konyukhov is counting on becoming the first Russian to cross the ocean on a rowboat.
From the History of Ocean Rowing Marathons
The epoch of ocean rowing marathons is figured as being more than 100 years and was begun in 1896 by the crossing of two Norwegians from New York to Brest (France) and, in 1969, Englishman John Fairfax became the first in history to cross the Atlantic by rowing solo.
The Lone Oarsman and His Boat
For Fedor Konyukhov, crossing the Atlantic is his own way of returning to his old plans which were put off for several different reasons. At the age of 15 Fedor “rowed” the Sea of Azov on an open fishing boat which he stole from the neighboring fishing region.
Thirty-five years later he has returned to his dream; however, this time the boat is being built on the coast of England in the city of Exmouth on the Rowsell&Morrison, Ltd. Wharf.
Fedor Konyukhov’s rowing vessel is a monotype made of fiberglass with a length of seven meters, breadth of two meters, and weight of 350 kilograms. She holds approximately 500 kilograms of necessary equipment and supplies and the oarsman. The boat’s design and technical parameters serves for effective rowing: on the average, one stroke on such a boat yields three meters. In turn, 600 strokes yield one mile and, in order to cross the ocean, more than 1.5 million strokes will have to be made.
The oarsman’s safety is a key issue in this project. The experience of English shipbuilders has proven that during a storm a well-balanced boat will always automatically resume its normal position even after overturning. Over the entire route the oarsman is required to always wear a safety belt.
Fedor Konyukhov will be supplied with four-month’s worth of food and unlimited potable water received from water-distillers on board. He will keep in contact with the expedition headquarters via satellite telephone and electronic mail via Internet.
Ocean Marathon Route
Crossing the Atlantic on a rowboat is considered the height of human endurance just like climbing Mount Everest alone. The route that Fedor Konyukhov has chosen is the historical route from Europe to America charted during Christopher Columbus’ time. Fedor Konyukhov’s rowing marathon route will start from the island of La Gomera (Canary Islands) and end on the island of Barbados (Antilles). The length of the route is 2,900 nautical miles (5,200 kilometers) and the time is less than 100 days. Along the entire route there will be favorable northeasterly winds, which will lessen the oarsman’s labor. Here in the tropical and subtropical zones, the climactic conditions are comparably more favorable for long stays and the ocean is rich with various types of fish.
Realization of the Russian Program
The project is under the patronage of:
Vice-Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, A. N. Chilingarov
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, A. I. Kuroedov
His Royal Highness, Prince of Asturias (Spain)
As general sponsors of Fedor Konyukhov’s ocean rowing marathon is the Automobile Factory “Ural,” a division of the company “RusPromAvto,” which is part of the investment-industrial group “Sibal,” which president is Oleg Deripaska.
Among the divisions of “RusPromAvto” are the factories of famous enterprises such as “GAZ,” “UralAZ,” the Chelyabinsk factory of Road Machinery “Kolyushchenko,” the Pavlov, Likin, Golitsyn, and Kurgan Bus Factories, “Avtodizel” (Yaroslav Motor Factory), and the Yaroslav Factory of Fuel Equipment.
The expedition across the Atlantic on the rowboat “UralAZ” is a joint project of the Ural automobile builders and the legendary traveler. Thanks to Fedor Konyukhov, the leader of the Russian off-road “Ural” will cross the ocean.
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