At 73 , Russian explorer Fedor Konyukhov has embarked on a daring adventure : completing a solo circumnavigation of the Antarctic , a challenge that will take him from Cape Horn to Australia .
He set out from Ushuaia on December 5 , and celebrated his birthday alone at sea . This journey , which is expected to last more than 200 days , covers a distance of 9,000 nautical miles (about 14,500 kilometers), and will be a testament to the courage and resilience of human beings.
Konyukhov holds more than 25 world records . His record includes impressive feats such as climbing Everest twice , becoming the first Russian to complete the Seven Summits , and completing the first circumnavigation of the globe in a hot air balloon .
In 2019 , he had set a record by crossing from New Zealand to the Drake Passage , a journey that took him 154 days , covering the distance of 6,400 nautical miles and becoming the first man to row from the distant Kiwi land to South America . Now, he is looking to add a new feat to his legacy .
The sailor sets sail with his boat, the AKROS , a modern and resistant 9-meter carbon fiber unit , equipped with solar panels and a water purification system , which will allow it to cope with the extreme Antarctic climates .
He will rely solely on his mental and physical strength , and freeze-dried food for his diet, although he also hopes to fish with his rod , as he recently did with a squid .
“ This journey is both a physical and mental challenge ,” says his son Oscar Konyukhov , who has been following his father’s journey from Moscow .
Communication is maintained twice a day via satellite systems , but ultimately Fedor must deal with inclement weather and his physical condition in an environment where help could take days to arrive .
“ All the difficult and potentially dangerous geographical points of the route in the South Atlantic were successfully overcome: the island of the States, the Malvina Islands, the Burwood Bank and the South Georgia Islands ,” Oscar stressed.
The sailor, painter and Orthodox priest celebrated his birthday on December 12 at sea. “ The weather was fine that day and he opened presents that we had hidden in secret places on the ship ,” his son said.
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