Fyodor Konyukhov became the first person in history to cross the Southern Ocean on oars.
The traveler successfully completed the first stage of the circumnavigation on a rowboat - from New Zealand to Cape Horn.
On the 9-metre paddleboat «Akros» he paddled 154 days, 13 hours and 37 minutes across the Southern Ocean.
On May 9, at 9 p.m. Moscow time, Konyukhov crossed the finish line - the traverse of Diego-Ramirez Islands. Towards the yacht Australis came to meet the sailor. Despite a headwind of 45 knots and 6-meter waves, the crew, headed by Fedor Konyukhov's son Oscar , managed to launch a dinghy and raft down to a rowboat on it. Fedor was successfully transported aboard Australis, and his boat «Akros» was taken in tow.
Sailing from New Zealand to Cape Horn is the first leg of Fyodor Konyukhov's circumnavigation of the world by paddleboat.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the traveler on the completion of this, the longest of the three stages.
«You have overcome cold Antarctic winds and twelve-point storms and traveled over ten thousand kilometers from New Zealand to South America. And for the first time in history you have reached Cape Horn on a rowing boat. Your courage and firmness in the fight against the oceanic elements amaze millions of people around the world», - says the President in his message of greetings to Fyodor Konyukhov.
During the crossing the navigator has passed through several strong storms. During one of them his boat turned over several times.
«Fedor Konyukhov lost a lot of weight during the trip, but in spite of the exhaustion and vitamin deficiency, he feels good, his wife Irina said to the First Channel». He plans to fly to Moscow as soon as he recovers some strength.
The next round of the world tour by Fedor Konyukhov will start in December: he will go from Cape Horn to Cape Leeuwin (Australia). The last, third stage of the circumnavigation (Australia - New Zealand) is scheduled for December 2020.
