MOSCOW, August 7. /TASS/. The Akros rowing boat found in the Indian Ocean, on which Fyodor Konyukhov attempted a solo crossing from South America to Australia, will be placed in a museum in the Tula Region, the Russian adventurer’s son and expedition director Oscar Konyukhov told TASS.

"We are towing the Akros to Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, and the journey will take another day. We will lift and inspect the boat after completing all formal procedures. We will then bring it to Russia, most likely to the museum in the village where Fyodor Konyukhov was born, in the Tula Region. The boat drifted alone in the ocean for 16 months, while it remained with Fyodor for 115 days before his evacuation," Konyukhov Jr. said.

He said that a fisherman from Reunion Island discovered the boat on August 6, but could not tow it due to its size and weight. A rescue boat from the coastal service was dispatched to assist. As a result of joint efforts, the boat was returned to Fyodor Konyukhov on the morning of August 7. He has already inspected it and is evaluating the condition of the hull and equipment after many months in the ocean. "The bow compartment remained dry, while the stern compartments were filled with water," Konyukhov Jr. said.

About the expedition

In 2025, the traveler planned to reach Australia from South America on this boat, covering 18,000 km in 200 days. The expedition ended in March 2025 on the 115th day due to numerous malfunctions of the rowing boat. A Chinese cargo ship rescued the sailor in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The boat continued to drift.

Despite the end of the voyage, Konyukhov became the first person in history to cross the South Atlantic Ocean in a rowing boat along the most difficult and dangerous route through the "furious fifties" and "roaring forties" latitudes. He reached the Indian Ocean from South America in 68 days.

The crossing to Australia became the second stage of his round-the-world route in the Southern Ocean, the first part of which Konyukhov completed in 2018-2019. At that time, he covered 11,000 km in 153 days. The same Akros boat was used for the crossing.

The vessel is nine meters long, and the empty hull weighs 400 kg. The Akros is equipped with watertight compartments for storing food and equipment, as well as for resting. The boat was designed for conditions in which the traveler would face storms, meaning it had to withstand multi-day wave impacts and capsizing. The boat carried 100 kg of freeze-dried food based on a daily intake of 5,000 calories, and was equipped with satellite communications, solar panels, and an electric water desalination system.