VLADIVOSTOK, January 09. /ITAR-TASS/. World-famous Russian traveller Fyodor Konyukhov, who continues his solo rowboat voyage across the Pacific, has covered his first 1,000 miles.
“I had passed an important psychological mark of 1,000 miles. How many miles I have to pass depends on how my route will develop,” Konyukhov said by satellite phone on Wednesday evening.
Fyodor Konyukhov sailed off in Chile’s Concol in hope to cross the Pacific to Australia’s Brisbane on December 22, 2013. There are 6,386 nautical miles to go to Australia, if measured by straight line.
However, to get to Australia, the Russian traveller on his rowboat Turgoyak has “to catch winds and currents” that prevent him from taking the base course. As a result, Konyukhov will have to overcome around 11,500 miles across the Pacific, according to the London-based Ocean Rowing Society International.
Konyukhov told his headquarters by phone that his boat had entered an area, where there were no dolphins, whales or flying fishes. Along with this, he added that ocean was calming down, it was easy to row his boat that was not thrown by waves any more.
“I changed short oars (3 meters) to middle oars for an even surface of the ocean (3.2 meters),” he said, adding that the boat had also 3.4 meter oars for absolutely calm ocean.
“The result of 17 days in the ocean is 1,000 miles astern, voyage is normal. I have got used to the rowing regime. Every day I inspect my boat from stem to stern and back, I check all hatches and lockers for water entry,” Konyukhov said, adding that “tropics are felt now, today is warm and even hot.” “I am heading on to the west and slightly to the north, I am overcoming mile by mile with God’s help and your prayers.”
If successful Konyukhov would be the ninth person in the world to row the Pacific solo and the second person to row the South Pacific solo.
Konyukhov hopes to get from Chile to Australia in 200 days.