Dateline: 11:00UTC- 17th March 2008
Fedor reports serious rudder problems

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Position: 51° 01’ 02″S 51° 52’ 31″W

Course: 319° Speed: 5.7 knots Log: 8289.2n.miles

Day 51 of the Antarctica Cup solo record challenge: Fedor Konyukhov, the Russian solo circumnavigator reported problems early today with a bolt connecting the starboard rudder on his Open 85ft yacht Trading Network Alye Parusa. The 56 year old sailing adventurer, who is trailblazing an extreme sailing course around Antarctica, first suffered problems while rounding Cape Horn last Monday when the bolt connecting the rudder to the above-deck steering assembly suddenly failed. This had been newly fitted before he left Albany, Western Australia at the start of this Antarctica Cup Challenge. Fedor quickly replaced this with a spare bolt but this too failed early today after only a few days.

Fedor laid his yacht hove-to for a period to improvise a second repair and is now heading on a North westerly course towards the Falklands Islands at 5.7knots. The Antarctica Cup Race Control Centre at Albany, and Fedor’s shore team are monitoring the situation closely.

On Sunday there was no concern in Fedor’s mind when he reported: “The Falkland Islands are 200 nautical miles astern. Passing through this part of the South Atlantic Ocean gave something new to my daily routine. Trading Network Alye Parusa was suddenly surrounded by all sorts of marine life. The changes came as soon as I had crossed over the Burdwood Bank south of the Falklands. It was certainly unusual to see the depth meter suddenly reading 50-80 meters under the keel after averaging 5,000 meters since passing the New Zealand shoals. The waters here are blooming with life. There are plenty of albatrosses with around 15 following my wake, together with polar dolphins and whales. The ocean has a strong smell of seaweed.

On Saturday morning my Active Echo Radar detector suddenly sounded an alarm signalling a radar wave signal from another vessel. I found a ship off my starboard bow on a collision course. I transmitted my call sign over the radio and notified that I’m a solo sailor heading for Western Australia. The officer on watch recognized my accent and asked if I am Russian. Then he asked – “Are you Fedor Konyukhov…?” I was puzzled and ask him why? He responded, “Who else can be down here in the deep South on a sailing yacht that talks Russian?” We had a nice chat over the radio. The crew is from St. Petersburg and have re-supplied South Georgia Island and the South Sandwich Islands for the coming winter. Now the ship is heading back to Montevideo. They told me they had very rough weather a few days ago, which was no surprise to me. It was good to talk to fellow countrymen when half way away from home.

Then on Saturday evening I heard Japanese speech on VHF channel 16. I checked the radar – 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 miles – nothing. The area was clear. Just in case, I broadcast my standard radio call and suddenly I could see a clear mark on the radar screen, three miles off my port side. I ran on deck – it was a Japanese fishing factory ship over 100 meters long. They responded to my radio call and changed heading. Five minutes later they disappeared from my radar screen just as suddenly as they had appeared.

When you have not seen any vessels for weeks – two ships within 24 hours looks like a heavy traffic situation.”

Click here for latest updates on Fedor Konyukhov’s progress.
Antarctica Cup Racetrack

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman
Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd
[email protected]
+61 413 057 559
Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561 [email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru
Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]
Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Dateline: 09:31UTC- 14th March 2008
Fedor Konyukhov heads into South Atlantic ‘Iceberg Alley’

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Position: 53° 44S 58° 45W

Course: 56°. Speed 5.6knots. Distance covered: 7,909n.miles

Day 48 of the Antarctica Cup Solo Record Challenge: Russian solo circumnavigator Fedor Konyukhov is now moving northwards after rounding Cape Horn on Wednesday, to clear the vast number of icebergs the C-CORE Ice detection service has located floating in the South Atlantic as far north as 45°S.

The 56 year old sailor, crossed through the Shackleton Gate – Gate 9 within the Antarctic Racetrack – at 23:55 UTC, and is now being routed by American weather guru Lee Bruce just above the Antarctic Convergence zone or Polar Front and the sectors of the Racetrack that have either been ‘Closed’ or are have a ‘Yellow Flag’ alert applied due to icebergs.

Bruce reports: ‘The satellite picture suggests squalls in the area near Fedor—but some breaks of sunshine. However, a heavier bank of clouds is moving in from the WSW. I have suggested a route that stays close to theFalklands which will set Fedor up for the northerly winds forecast for 15th March. For Fedor to leave 50S 50W to starboard, he will need the westing. To accomplish that, he must gybe either side of a line about 52°S 57°W. It is not ideal, and we will have to see how he fares over the next two days. It may be difficult for him to stay out of the yellow caution zone of the CENTER LANE.

Forecast:
14th March 08/0000 UTC: SW 30-35 knots 1200 UTC: WSW 20-25 knots.
15th March/0000 UTC: NNW 15-20 knots.’

Konyukhov’s Open 80 yacht Trading Network Alye Parusa, crossed longitude 62W – the half way point of the Antarctica Cup Racetrack – at 14:00 UTC 13 March and is now homeward bound for Albany. Yesterday, however, Fedor was still reflecting on his fourth rounding of Cape Horn.

“It is very emotional to be on deck and see this massive rock which is a milestone for my journey around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack. The approach was very difficult. The ocean was indescribably wild and powerful. My 30 ton yacht was dragged like a tree leaf, the waves were hitting the port rudder, stern and starboard rudder. There was no place to hide as waves were coming from N-W, W, S-W. On the approach to Diego Ramirez Islands one of two Raymarine autopilots burned out, the boat lost control, turned up into wind and was hit so hard by the seas that I thought we would lose bow and mast. It took me half a minute to sort things out and switch to the reserve unit. After a terrible night, things then began to improve 20 miles from the Cape. All of a sudden I saw this stunning sun rise! It was a greatest gift possible. Visibility improved and I could see Cape Horn 15 miles on my port side. It took me another hour to get close enough to see the Horn in all its beauty. This is the first land I have seen since leaving Albany!

On the VHF – channel 16 – I heard Chilean fishermen talking to each other. It is such a great thing to hear someone on the radio! I am not alone in this Ocean! The fourth time for me proves to be lucky – I can finally see Cape Horn from the deck of my boat. That was my dream. My 3 previous roundings have always happened at night.

I’m 56 and don’t know if I will have a chance to see Cape Horn again, but with four successful passages around – I think it is enough. I’m satisfied and feel complete. This time it is a special rounding – we are not heading north towards the Equator but stayin in the Southern Ocean for another 8.000 miles back to Albany”.

Note to Editors:
Fedor Konyukhov’s 4 solo Cape Horn encounters.

31 December 1990, 36 ft yacht Karaana,
17 March 1999, ‘Open 60’ Modern University for the Humanities
09 April 2005, Open 85 Trading Network Alye Parusa
12 March 2008, Open 85 Trading Network Alye Parusa
The Antarctic Convergence: better known as the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone (or “Polar Front” for short), is a line encircling Antarctica where cold, northward-flowing Antarctic waters meet and mix with the relatively warmer waters of the sub-Antarctic. Antarctic waters predominantly sink beneath sub-Antarctic waters, while associated zones of mixing and upwelling create a zone very high in marine productivity, especially for Antarctic Krill. The line is actually a zone approximately 32 km (20 mi) to 48 km (30 mi) wide, varying somewhat in latitude seasonally and in different longitudes, extending across the South Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans between the 48th and 61st parallels of south latitude. The precise location at any given place and time is made evident by the sudden drop in temperature from north to south of, on average, 2.8 °C (5 °F) to 5.5 °C (10 °F), to below 2 °C (35.6 °F). Although this zone is a mobile one, it usually does not stray more than a half a degree of latitude from its mean position. Fedor is now sailing above the Antarctica Convergence. The Antarctic Convergence extends its furthermost north across the South Atlantic Ocean and is thought to be the northern extent of ‘Iceberg Alley’ the massive field of icebergs located to the east of South Georgia Island.

GATE 9 of the Antarctica Cup Racetrack is named after SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON 1874 – 1922.
Shackleton led the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition and Ross Sea Party 1914-1916. After losing the ship Endurance in giant ice floes Shackelton and his men reached Elephant Island and awaited rescue. Elephant Island was an inhospitable place far from any shipping routes and thus a poor point from which to await rescue. Consequently, Shackleton felt it essential that he set out immediately upon arrival, and to him, it was obvious that he must head back to South Georgia, even if it meant traversing 1,287 kilometres (800 mi) of open ocean in one of the lifeboats. The lifeboat James Caird was chosen for the trip. The waters that Shackleton were to cross in his boat of 7 metres (23ft) are among the most treacherous in the world. Weather reports confirm that gale-force winds of 60 kilometres per hour (37mph) to 70 kilometres per hour (43mph) are present in the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica on an average of 200 days per year; they cause ocean swells of 6 metres (20ft), and the ship’s captain, Frank Worsley, suggested that waves of 16 metres (52 ft) were not uncommon. Of the journey, Shackleton wrote:

“At midnight I was at the tiller and suddenly noticed a line of clear sky between the south and south-west. I called to the other men that the sky was clearing, and then a moment later I realised that what I had seen was not a rift in the clouds but the white crest of an enormous wave. During twenty-six years’ experience of the ocean in all its moods I had not encountered a wave so gigantic. It was a mighty upheaval of the ocean, a thing quite apart from the big white-capped seas that had been our tireless enemies for many days. I shouted, “For God’s sake, hold on! It’s got us!” Then came a moment of suspense that seemed drawn out into hours. White surged the foam of the breaking sea around us. We felt our boat lifted and flung forward like a cork in breaking surf. We were in a seething chaos of tortured water; but somehow the boat lived through it, half-full of water, sagging to the dead weight and shuddering under the blow. We baled with the energy of men fighting for life, flinging the water over the sides with every receptacle that came to our hands, and after ten minutes of uncertainty we felt the boat renew her life beneath us”– Ernest Shackleton, South

Click here for latest updates on Fedor Konyukhov’s progress.
Antarctica Cup Racetrack

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman
Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd
[email protected]
+61 413 057 559
Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561 [email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru
Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]
Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Dateline: 13:44UTC- 12th March 2008
Fedor Konyukhov plays Russian Roulette at Cape Horn

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Position: 56,12.33S 67,13.11W Speed: 12 knots, Course: 89°

Day 46 of the inaugural Antarctica Cup: Cape Horn certainly lived up to its reputation today as Russian adventure sailor Fedor Konyukhov swept through Drake’s Passage, pushed by 50-65knot westerly winds.

The infamous Cape marks the spiritual half way stage in Fedor’s trail-blazing solo circumnavigation around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack and these storm-force winds, coupled with the 135 million cubic metres of water running each second through the 500 n. mile wide funnel that divides the South Pacific from the South Atlantic, makes these the most feared waters in the world.

“The storm came upon me very suddenly – and very hard. I knew it was coming and hoped the winds would build gradually, but the storm came as one huge gust and the winds have not dropped below 50 knots since, with gusts up to 65 knots. It is like all hell has broken loose. It is pitch dark, it is snowing, the ocean is completely covered in foam and the air is filled with spray. The noise on deck is enormous – it’s as if I am in a wind turbine. The waves are short and traveling very fast – like a train. The boat is continually surfing down one wave and hitting the one in front. I have had to reduce sail to the minimum to stay in pace with the ocean. The feeling is that I am in the high altitude jet stream with the water roaring and running east.”

This is Fedor’s fourth rounding of Cape Horn, and the second aboard Trading Network Alye Parusa. Among the first to congratulate the 56 year old circumnavigator was Russian Vice Premier Minister Sergey Ivanov, currently on a visit to the Russian Novolazarevskaya Antarctic Survey station to watch tests of the new GLONASS satellite position system (A Russian version of GPS). The two spoke by satellite phone and Mr Ivanov invited Fedor to the Kremlin when he completes the Antarctica Cup in May

For the moment, visibility, not the winds, remain Konyukov’s prime concern. “Visibility is bad. I have my radar set for 6 miles – Alarm zone, but with my boat Trading Network Alye Parusa diving in and out of the huge swells, the radar is continually sounding false alarms. Each time, I jump on deck and get a cold shower. So far there have been plenty of alarms or false alarms but I cannot sight an iceberg. Frankly, it is hard enough to define the difference between ocean and sky – it all looks like one grey blanket. I hate to say it, but I am playing Russian roulette here.”

Illustration of the Circumpolar Current circulating around Antarctica. This funnels through Drake’s Passage, the ‘narrow’ 500 mile wide gap between Cape Horn and Antarctica, at the rate of 135 million cubic metres of water per second. This leads to an easterly current of more than 3 knots around Cape Horn.

Click here for latest updates on Fedor Konyukhov’s progress.
Antarctica Cup Racetrack

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman
Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd
[email protected]
+61 413 057 559
Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561 [email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru
Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]
Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Day 44: 00:00UTC- 10th March 2008
Groundhog Day close to Cape Horn

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Position: 56° 52’S 80° 57’W
Course: 109° Speed: 6.1knots. Log: 7091n.miles 24hr run: 172n.miles

As Antarctica Cup competitor Fedor Konyukhov and his Open 85 yacht Trading Network Alye Parusa drew to within 400n.miles of Cape Horn today, driven by 40-55knot West-Nor-Westerly winds, the 56 year old Russian was in reflective mood.

“When I go through my Log book it looks as if I am lost in time. The cold, rain, grey sky and pale ocean is continuous. Even my Latitude position stays the same. It has been 56° South for weeks. Every new day looks the same as the last.. Every day, the boat is on starboard tack. The are no ships and no birds – I have not even seen an albatross for a week.

These are Groundhog days.

The horizontal landscape is depressing. As an artist I have learnt a lot about the human eye and vision. We – people – need to see natural bright colours – greens, yellows, blues – they give us a positive impulse and lift our mood. Here in the Southern Ocean, the main colour is an uninspiring grey. The vision is hungry for colour.

I have to fight this “everything is OK” attitude. It might be OK with this sail trim; it might be OK for Iceberg look out; I am OK; I am not hungry… and so on. I understand that sails need to be re-set and I have not checked for icebergs for the last 2 hours. On a short voyage you would never contemplate a compromised sail trim, but on a long and cold voyage like this, every move requires motivation.

It is not just sail trim. I have to force myself to cook something hot. From my previous experience of extreme expeditions, I know that my body is trying to switch into hibernation mode to save energy. But I still have a long way to go in similar or worse conditions. I can’t just let things go out of control and drift.

It reminds me of Everest and the Dead Zone above 8,000 meters – where your oxygen-starved brain tells you that everything is OK. Then it is sheer will-power that pushes you up (or down) and never lets you sit down or stand up. In these conditions your physical condition does not matter. The big muscles don’t help. It is stamina and endurance – these are the keys to successful long distance sailing. I only hope I have enough.

I know that I need a change. The best one will come with rounding Cape Horn. This will give a boost and energize my mood. Unfortunately I am progressing painfully slowly towards this South American tip in light winds, a big swell and with a damaged mainsail.

I had planned to be in the Southern Atlantic 11 days ago and the fact that we are not there is pressurizing me. Setting a fixed date to reach a way point in the Southern Ocean is not normally in my nature, but I know that a new ocean will refresh my emotions. my only goal now is to get to the Atlantic.

I am still sailing away from Albany (my start point in this Antarctica Cup challenge) Once I cross 62° West however, I will be sailing back towards Albany. Then every mile east will bring me closer to home. That is the best motivation.

Right now, I am in the middle section of the Antarctica Cup Racetrack. Being close to half way is always where you get maximum stress. I now appreciate just how difficult this route around Antarctica is.”

Cape Horn approach

This will be Fedor’s 4th rounding of Cape Horn, and his second onboard Trading Network Alye Parusa. The Russian solo circumnavigator is staying within a 30n mile corridor between 56°30’ and 57° South, gybing each time he reaches these limits. Fedor reports heavy snow showers, very gusty winds and poor visibility. “Who knows if there are any icebergs around, but the radar is on. Things could be worse!” he says!

Click here for latest updates on Fedor Konyukhov’s progress.
Antarctica Cup Racetrack

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman
Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd
[email protected]
+61 413 057 559
Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561 [email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru
Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]
Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

08:00 UTC – 6th March 2008 – Race Control Centre – Albany, Western Australia
Giant iceberg breaks up to spawn hundreds more bergs across Antarctica Cup Racetrack

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Day 40 of Fedor Konyukhov’s solo circumnavigation around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack: The giant iceberg A53a sitting in the middle of the Antarctica Cup Racetrack has split in two, compounding the problems for Fedor Konyukhov, the solo yachtsman trail blazing a circumnavigation record around Antarctica.

Latest satellite pictures courtesy of NASA and processed by C-CORE, the Canadian ice tracking service, now show two icebergs, each around 30 kilometres long and drifting apart, some 75 n.miles east of South Georgia Island. Worse, C-CORE’s analysis has uncovered an ‘iceberg alley’ running right across the South Atlantic from Cape Horn almost to Cape Agulhas. Pradeep Bobby concludes:

“We are very confident that the ‘red’ detections to the east of South Georgia Island correspond to iceberg detections. It is very possible that the A-53A iceberg has been deteriorating over time, which has led to the high numbers of surrounding icebergs. Our reports in the earlier portions of the race mainly contained “Low” detections that were hard to identify as icebergs. That situation is not the case for the targets we are now spotting east of South Georgia Island. The iceberg (A53a) we spotted in the March 1 NASA image has since split into two large pieces that are moving in opposite directions. It is likely that this calving process introduced hundreds, if not thousands of additional icebergs into the ocean.”

Bob Williams, CEO of the Antarctica Cup Race Management says:

“We are monitoring the situation very closely, and may decide to ‘yellow flag’ further sections of the Racetrack. We are also considering relaxing any penalty should Fedor need to sail north of 45°S and outside the OUTER LANE. He will be keen to sail the shortest distance, but we are just as keen to keep him clear of ice.”

The large amount of ice in the South Atlantic, highlighted by Konykhov’s bid to be first around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, is attracting considerable interest among scientists. Jennifer Berry, an ecological consultant from San Francisco, writes: “Icebergs are breaking from Antarctica at an ever increasing rate, and every day there are new images and startling revelations about the loss of habitat for our South Pole flora and fauna. But what happens to the ice when it breaks away and floats to the ocean?

Scientists from the Monterey Bay Research Center set out to find out what effect these frozen travellers have on the waters they occupy. Anecdotal reports suggested an increase in seabird activity around these icebergs, but no one knew just why. It turns out that these melting ice masses are carrying organic and mineral debris stored from millennia, and releasing them into the cold waters off South America. These ocean waters are normally low in essential nutrients, like iron. As the icebergs melt, they act as a timed release fertilizer, increasing ocean life around them, such as algae. Organisms that take particular delight in the new food source are krill, the tiny shrimp like creatures that occupy the bottom of the food chain for marine mammals, even providing a direct source for many whales. When an iceberg breaks off and drifts, it creates a new habitat for opportunists, and increases biodiversity for a distance of up to 2 1/2 miles from the edge of the drift. Not only is the afterlife of an iceberg spectacular, but this new life in turn is able to absorb enormous amounts of the CO2 that created the melting in the first place, in a sort of feedback loop. Is this the silver lining here? We’ll have to find out.”

Meanwhile, Fedor Konyukhov, has more mundane matters to worry about today.

“The major challenge right now is to repair my 220 sq m. mainsail which has two vertical cracks below the first reef. To affect this repair I need to put on many layers of clothes (wet) and climb into my storm gear, goggles, and gloves to avoid frostbite. I will then lower the sail enough to reach the damaged area. The boom on my yacht Trading Network Alye Parusa is two metres above the deck. I need to climb up, lash myself to whatever I can find so that I’m not thrown into the freezing ocean by the constant pitching and rolling of the boat, then try to dry the damaged area enough so that I can stick a patch on the sail. This I have to do on both sides of the sail. This is no small job. I don’t know how long it will take. I only know it has to be done before Cape Horn. I’m not looking forward to it at all. Wish me luck!” Fedor.

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561

[email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]
Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

08:00 UTC – 6th March 2008 – Race Control Centre – Albany, Western Australia
Stop Press….. Icebergs force part closure of inside lane within the Antarctica Cup Racetrack

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As Russian solo circumnavigator Fedor Konyukhov closes to within 1,000 miles of Cape Horn, extreme iceberg presence in the South Atlantic, east of the Cape has forced the Antarctica Cup organisers to close a section of the INSIDE LANE of the Racetrack.

Bob Williams, the CEO of the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race Management said today. “The large number of icebergs highlighted yesterday by the C-Core Ice Tracking Service show that these now extend to the north of South Georgia Island (54° 15S, 36° 45W) . As a precaution we have therefore taken the decision to close the adjacent section of the INSIDE LANE between Longitude 20 W to Longitude 50 W (GATE 11) until further notice. As a further precaution we have also placed a ‘YELLOW FLAG ALERT’ over the CENTRE LANE from Longitude 30° W to 50° W. Icebergs are expected to extend well north of South Georgia Island and can be expected in this sector of the CENTRE LANE. Entry to this sector should be avoided. If entry is considered necessary this should be limited to the northern most reaches of this sector. Extreme caution must be exercised in this sector at all times. “

Williams added. “We are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis. No one has ever raced across these extreme latitudes east of Cape Horn before. All other long distance ocean races trace a route back up into the Northern hemisphere after rounding Cape Horn, so up until now there has been very little data available for this sector of our Racetrack . Even Jon Sanders, who pioneered a route around Antarctica back in 1981/2 went north around the Falklands before continuing east to complete the first of his two circumnavigations. No one expected this many icebergs to be emanating from the Weddell Sea. Fedor may be feeling the cold at this time, but the sight of all these icebergs is a clear sign that global warming is real.”

Google Earth image today showing position of large icebergs (over 10k) and track taken by Fedor Konyukhov towards Cape Horn

C-Core Satellite image showing largest iceberg (A53a) and many smaller bergs close to South Georgia Island

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561

[email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]
Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

11:30 UTC – 5th March 2008
Icebergs could force Antarctica Cup organisers to close two lanes of Racetrack course

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Position: 56° 29’S 101° 54 ‘W

Speed: 8 knots Course: 97°

Day 39 of the Antarctica Cup Racetrack record attempt

As Russian solo circumnavigator Fedor Konyukhov draws to within 1,000 miles of Cape Horn, the continuous rain squalls and threat posed by an increasing number of iceberg sightings are stretching the 56 year old Russian adventurer close to the limits of endurance.
“It has been pouring rain for 36 days of the 39 days I have been at sea. Everything is wet and damp. So much fresh water in the Southern ocean is unbelievable — and it is all being wasted. If we could only transfer these clouds over central Australia, the region would soon become a tropical rain forest!

I have done a good many expeditions across both the Arctic and Antarctic, but this time I am finding these wet, cold conditions extremely debilitating. After a month at sea, I desperately needed a good wash, and eventually forced myself to take a shower on deck. It was very quick, and I then rushed back down to my sleeping bag. But that is no sanctuary, because I woke up still shivering and shaking.

To make things worse, I have now seen 10 icebergs during the past week. How many more have I missed? I am on constant alert and getting very little sleep.”

Another issue Fedor now has to contend with, is a torn mainsail. Two vertical splits have appeared down the centre of the sail above the second reef point. These have been caused by the constant flogging in the very light winds experienced during the past two days.
“The breeze has returned now, which is a relief, but I have to plan to pull the sail down and stick a Spectra patch over the area. To do this, the surface needs to be dry — and for that it needs to stop raining! Here on 55 South we get only 5 hours of darkness, but it is mostly grey and foggy. Below decks, it is like living in a cold, wet cellar. Above deck just add chilling wind and rain to that scenario. “

The latest news from the C-Core Ice detection service, providing routing advice to the Antarctica Cup Race Management suggests that there will be no let-up in these conditions even after Fedor has rounded Cape Horn. Pradeep Bobby writes: “Our detection data from the March 1 satellite pass show a lot of icebergs — more than I have ever seen before. There is a massive berg 42km x 12km located at 53.84S, 34.65W close to South Georgia Island which may be the source of thousands of other smaller icebergs that are listed in the results. The iceberg field now spans hundreds of miles and avoiding individual icebergs as Fedor has done in the past will be very dangerous. The large fissure in the middle of this iceberg, indicates that the iceberg could be unstable and may break up soon, which would mean even more ice pieces. The picture drew a lot of excitement in the office today, mingled with fear for how Fedor would chart his course. “

This concern is replicated at the Antarctica Cup Racetrack race control centre in Albany. Bob Williams, the Race Director says: “We are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis. The rules allow us to close off one or more lanes within the Antarctica Cup Racetrack and once Fedor rounds Cape Horn, we are looking to limit Fedor to the outer lane between 45° and 50° S between the longitudes of 30° to 50° W – 10° to the east and west of Gate 10 on the Antarctica Cup Racetrack . We are asking our weather and ice experts for more information and will make our decision within the next 24 hours”

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561

[email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]
Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

10:30 UTC – 25th Feb 2008
Konyukhov faces another 60 knot Southern Ocean blast

Click on images to view enlargements.

Position: 54° 11’S 134°37’W

Course: 87° Speed: 8.2 knots

Distance covered: 5058 n.miles. Last 24hr run: 186.3 n.miles

Fedor Konyukhov, the Russian adventure sailor currently trail-blazing a record circumnavigation around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, is facing his second Force 11-12 storm in a week.

Currently some 2,500 miles from Cape Horn, the 56 year old solo yachtsman reports from his 85ft (27m) yacht ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’: “The ocean surface is white, driven by the strong winds. It seems that this westerly flow of wind will stay strong all the way to Cape Horn. The forecast shows a strong, fast moving Low just ENE of my position. I am riding on the back of this Low and plan to hold on to the system for as long as we can. It’s a favourable situation for me because there is no chance that the Low will pass over my boat, as the previous one did a week ago.

The wind is blowing from the SSW, bringing even colder air from Antarctica. It must be close to 0°C now but I don’t have a thermometer on board. I’m using radar to spot icebergs and had one situation a couple of nights ago when it looked like a solid reflective surface at position of 54° S and 149°W. I bore away a few degrees until we cleared this dot on the screen. There was definitely something floating there. I have had SW winds for prolonged periods of time so there is a risk of an iceberg being blown up to 54°S. From here to Cape Horn, the chances of seeing icebergs is quite high.

Yesterday, I fried my last three barn eggs from Albany. They were a tasty reminder of quality food you enjoy on dry land. From now on it’s dry food, rice, spaghetti, and tinned fish. I’m not a big fan of freeze-dry food. I ate a lot of it during past trips to the North and South Poles. It’s light but not very tasty, but when you are pulling a 140 kg sled to the South Pole every gram of weight matters. Since my yacht ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’ has a gross tonnage of 56 tons, a few more cans will not affect performance. Right now a piece of grilled chicken would go down very well.”

Regards, Fedor

The forecast from weather router Lee Bruce does not make good reading:

The long-range outlook suggests headwinds for Fedor by the 28 th Feb . Luckily, those will be short-lived and relatively light (at least no gale). And if the long-term forecast is correct, Fedor would have to go well north—all the way to 51°S—to avoid all headwinds. That’s not a good idea, considering that he needs to be south of 56°S to clear Cape Horn. Granted, Cape Horn is a long way off, but now is not the time to take a big swing north, because there is no place to go if you get stuck too far north. Fedor should be able to put some more south in as the wind shifts, and I used 53 45S 135 00W as a WP (but Fedor can be anywhere between 53S and 54 30S at 135W, without any problems).

The strong wind for the 25th Feb extends more than 100 nautical miles north and south of Fedor, so there is no escaping it.

25th Feb 08 /00 00 UTC : WSW 45-50 knots gusting 60 knots

25th Feb 08 /12 00 UTC : SSW 35-40 knots

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561

[email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]
Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

8:30 UTC – 21st Feb 2008
Fedor Konyukhov – half way to Cape Horn and facing freezing conditions

Click on images to view enlargements.

Dateline 08:30 UTC 21st Feb 2008

Position: 53° 06’S 160° 28’W

Course: 115° Speed: 12 knots. Distance sailed: 4,262 n.miles

Day 26: Fedor Konyukhov sailing his 85ft (27m) yacht Trading Network Alye Parusa is now half way to Cape Horn from his starting point on the Antarctica Cup Racetrack at Albany, Western Australia. “There is less than 3.000 miles left to the Horn – sounds like a Transatlantic race distance and no-longer looks so far-far away.” he said today, adding: “I am sailing East at 10-12 knots and for now, would like to stay in the middle of the Antarctica Cup Racetrack around 52-53° South. It is interesting to see how Cape Horn will greet me. It will be quite unusual not to round and up into the South Atlantic, but to continue due East back towards Australia and Albany.”

“I know it is full moon now, but I am sailing in complete darkness. I have thick cloud, constant rain and frequent snow showers which makes it very unpleasant to work in the cockpit. All my gear is wet and I can only change one wet foul-weather jacket for another which “dry out” for 2-3 hours on the hook in my cabin. It is just as wet inside as it is out on the deck. Condensation is everywhere. My sleeping bag feels like it has been washed but not dried out. I have several sleeping bags and this helps, but I wish I had 10 of them. With the rolling seas we have now, I can at last think to open the deck hatch for ventilation.”

“Here in the Southern Ocean you are always fight something. Now that the storm has passed I’m fighting the cold. I have to put plastic bags on my feet to keep them warm and not lose body temperature. Obviously hat and gloves are onbut basically I am sailing inside a refrigerator.”

“Along the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, storms can be violent and massive, but they come and go and I can live with that. But the never-ending cold remains a major problem. I’m a single-handed sailor and allowed to use an autopilot, but future fully-crewed entrants in next year’s Antarctica Cup Ocean Race will have to spend 24 hours on deck in similar stormy conditions. I doubt if they will have the luxury of heating onboard, and equipment and sailing gear will have to be very well planned and selected.”

“Let’s hope I will safely reach Albany and can present a list of my recommendations to the future participants in the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race. Fighting the cold is number one on my list.”

“Warm regards from freezing Southern Pacific – Fedor Konyukhov”

Fedor received better news from Lee Bruce, his weather router. He forecasts:
‘Weather Improvements ahead!

Through 20th Feb 08/1200 UTC: WSW 30-40 knots.

21st Feb 08/0000 UTC: WSW 25-30 knots.

21st Feb 08/0600 UTC: W 20-25 knots.

21st Feb 08/1200 UTC: W 25-30 knots.

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561

[email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]
Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

11:30 UTC – 20th Feb 2008
Konyukhov successfully rides out Southern Ocean storm

Click on images to view enlargements.

Position: 52° 43’E 160° 28’S

Course: 100° Speed: 8.6knots.

Distance sailed: 4,113 n.miles

Fedor Konyukhov, the Russian solo circumnavigator caught in the same southern ocean storm that saw Franck Cammas’ Jules Verne trimaran Groupama 3 capsize on Monday, reported today that the barometer is finally rising and the sky is clearing. “Massive waves are still threatening but I have increased sail area to sail in rhythm with the waves.” He told his shore team via satellite phone.

“The waves are unbelievable. They are not normal. They are small hills with white foamy rollers running at high speed. I try to keep them at an 120° angle to the boat. This is the safest way to sail with them. Each wave is 100 meters apart – perfect for surfing on my 27meter surf board. If I catch the wave right, we run down at 15-16 knots. Otherwise we are climbing up the long swell. The conditions are similar to what I prepared for and boat has performed quite well.”

“I have just had a hot cup of coffee and spotted the first albatross since the storm, though the winds are still gusting up to 50 knots. The barometer is back up to 1000Mb from 960Mb this morning. It is wet and damp inside the cabin. Weather permitting, I will open one of the hatches tomorrow to get some ventilation down below. My feet are very cold, and I’m now wearing plastic garbage bags inside my boots.’ The storm conditions were similar to what I prepared for and the boat performed well. Thankfully, all that broke during the 60 hours of 50-65 knot winds was one of the dual masthead wind instruments”.

Fedor received better news from Lee Bruce, his weather router. He forecasts:
‘Weather Improvements ahead!

Through 20th Feb 08/1200 UTC: WSW 30-40 knots.

21st Feb 08/0000 UTC: WSW 25-30 knots.

21st Feb 08/0600 UTC: W 20-25 knots.

21st Feb 08/1200 UTC: W 25-30 knots.

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561

[email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]
Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Race Control Centre – Albany, Western Australia – 18 February 2008
Konyukhov commiserates with Groupama 3 crew from centre of same storm

Click on images to view enlargements.

Time: 08:47 UTC

Position: 52,31.70S, 171,34.67W

Speed: 9 knots, Course: 97 deg.

wind 50-55 kt W-S-W

The successful rescue today of Franck Cammas and his crew on the French trimaran Groupama 3, after they capsized 80 miles East of Dunedin, New Zealand brought an immediate response from Russian solo sailor Fedor Konyukhov who is braving Force 10-11 storm conditions 300 miles SE of them aboard his Open 85 yacht Trading Network Alye Parusa,. ” I am sad to hear that Groupama has capsized. I know most of the crew and sailed with Yves Parlier in the 2000 Vendee Globe . Before, it was good to know that there were others sailing in the Southern Ocean with me. I thank God, that no one was hurt and all have been rescued.’ Said Fedor who is now 21 days into his Antarctica Cup Racetrack record bid.”

“This is one of the harshest storms I have ever encountered. Here at 52 South, the winds are 50-55 knots, with gusts up to 65 knots and monstrous seas. Some of the waves are half the height of my 110 ft mast. It is difficult to breath on deck when I am standing facing the wind. The mainsail is completely down and I have only 1/3 of the staysail set, yet the boat is still doing 10 knots, and surfing at 15 knots down the waves. It is very rough but the boat is holding up OK.”

S_Groupama_GoogleEarth_Image.jpgBob Williams, the CEO of the Antarctica Cup event was just as pleased about the Groupama rescue outcome. “We had been tracking their progress and were expecting Groupama to overtake Fedor’s yacht today. The Southern Ocean is one of the harshest places on the planet – which is why the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race is viewed as one of the last great challenges to man. Twenty one days into this inaugural event, and Fedor is facing a severe low pressure weather system covering the whole 900 nautical mile wide Antarctica Cup Racetrack (extending from 45S to 60S). There is no escape, which makes the Southern Ocean the most exhilarating test of endurance, courage and seamanship.’
To view the latest animated weather and wave maps visit:

Map with Wave Heights

Map with Peak Periods

Wind Speed and Direction

Note to Editors

Beaufort Scale

Force 10: 48 — 55 knots. Very high waves. The sea surface is white and there is considerable tumbling. Visibility is reduced.

Force 11: 56 — 63 knots. Exceptionally high waves.

Force 12: 64 knots and more. Huge waves. Air filled with foam and spray. Sea completely white with driving spray. Visibility greatly reduced.

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561 [email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]

Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Race Control Centre – Albany, Western Australia – 18 February 2008
Konyukhov prepares for the mother of all southern ocean storms

Click on images to view enlargements.

Position: 52° 12’S 176° 10’W

Course: 95°

Speed: 6.9 knots

Distance covered since start: 3,531.4 n. miles

Fedor Knoyukov, the Russian adventurer trailblazing a record-setting course around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, is preparing himself for the mother of all storms to hit him later today.

Fedor’s 85ft (27m) yacht, Trading Network Alye Parusa, which crossed the International Date line yesterday, is deep in the Furious Fifty latitudes sailing with heavily reefed sails in preparation for the force 10-11 winds and 50ft seas that are forecast to sweep across his position later today. At the same time, Franck Cammas and his crew aboard the French trimaran Groupama 3 challenging for the Jules Verne Trophy, are speeding along at 24knots on the back of the same low pressure system 640 miles behind Fedor along 49°S. This French crew will pass Fedor some time in the next 36 hours and share the experience of this storm but at different latitudes.

After crossing the 180° longitude yesterday that marks Ross Gate, the 4th of 14 gates within the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, Fedor reported: “I am already getting the breath of the storm to come: cold winds of 30+ knots from the SW and a confused sea. I tried to sleep tonight for at least two hours, but could only nap for 30-40 minutes as the wind was gradually increasing and shifting from SSE to SSW. I have had to spend many hours in the cockpit. To sleep here means I’m in the navigation station bunk fully geared up with sea boots, hat and harness on, ready to run into the cockpit. I set the alarm clock every 20 minutes in order not to fall into a deep sleep.”

Weather router Lee Bruce has already brought Konyukov up from 55°S to be sure that Trading Network Alye Parusa is north of this extreme Southern Ocean Low pressure system and in the favourable wind flow sector, but can do nothing more to save the 56 year old Russian from what will the severest test so far during this 14,000 n. mile circumnavigation attempt.

Bruce’s timescale for this battering is as follows:

17th Feb 08 /0000-0600 UTC: Becoming WSW 30-35 knots.

17th Feb 08 /0600-1200 UTC: Becoming WSW 35-40 knots gusting 45 knots.

17th Feb 08 /1200-18th Feb 08 /0600 UTC: WSW 35-40 knots gusting 45 knots.

18th Feb 08 /0600-19th Feb 08 /0600 UTC: WSW 45-50 knots gusting 60 knots.

19th Feb 08 /1200 UTC -20th Feb 08 /0000 UTC: WSW 30-35 knots.

The American weather router also predicts: ‘Waves should gradually increase, with max of 12-13m (40 feet), occasional 14-16m (53 feet) from about 18th Feb /0900 -19th Feb /1200 UTC.’

Unflustered, Fedor cooked himself a bowl of rice with dried fruit today. ‘This was my hot meal for today and perhaps the last one for 48 hours. I filled both Thermos flasks with hot water which should be enough for today.

The rest is business as usual. I will talk with you again after the coming storm has abated.”
Fedor”.

To view the latest animated weather and wave maps visit:

Map with Wave Heights

Map with Peak Periods

Wind Speed and Direction

Note to Editors

Beaufort Scale

Force 10: 48 — 55 knots. Very high waves. The sea surface is white and there is considerable tumbling. Visibility is reduced.

Force 11: 56 — 63 knots. Exceptionally high waves.

Force 12: 64 knots and more. Huge waves. Air filled with foam and spray. Sea completely white with driving spray. Visibility greatly reduced.

Ross Gate: GATE 4 of the Antarctica Cup Racetrack is named after the British Admiral Sir James Clark Ross. Ross joined the British Navy at age 11 and retired with the rank of admiral. Ross spent 15 years exploring the Arctic and located the position of the north magnetic pole on Boothia Peninsula in northern Canada on May 31, 1831.

Antarctica and the south magnetic pole was the next challenge. In April 1839 Ross took command of the 370-ton EREBUS with his friend Francis Crozier assuming command of the 340-ton TERROR and left England On October 5, 1839. They reached Hobart in August 1840 where Ross picked up newspaper accounts of the French and American searches for the magnetic south pole. Both Dumont d’Urville (honoured within the Antarctica Cup Racetrack by Gate 1) and Charles Wilkes (Gate 3) were doing research in an area that Ross felt was his expertise alone. Wilkes left charts of his course and discoveries for Ross who then decided to take a more easterly course for his search of the south magnetic pole.

On November 12, 1840, EREBUS and TERROR set out from Hobart for the Antarctic and sailing via the Auckland and Campbell islands, encountered the first icebergs and whales on December 17. They crossed the path of Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen’s (honoured by Gate 11) on December 30 but soon came upon the Antarctic icepack that had yet to be penetrated by man. Poor weather continued but on January 5 Ross decided to “make the attempt on the ice and push the ships as far into it as we could get them”. On January 9 an open sea was discovered which they named Ross Sea. Six days later a mountainous, snow-covered land was spotted. Ross was disappointed to find land between him and his search for the south magnetic pole. They next saw a range of mountains, rising to 8000 feet, which Ross named the Admiralty Range. His compass needle was behaving oddly and Ross determined he was within 500 miles of the magnetic pole. Taking a westerly course, they sailed through the Ross Sea and on January 12 Ross and Crozier planted a flag on newly discovered Possession Island, one of two islands located just off the mainland. Ross claimed this region as Victoria Land. On January 27 Franklin Island was formally possessed and on January 28 they discovered Beaufort Island and the volcanic Mt. Erebus. A smaller extinct volcano to the east was named Mount Terror.

As the ships sailed south, Ross saw a low white line which turned out to be a perpendicular cliff of ice up to 200ft high. There was no way through or around it and stated “we might with equal chance of success try to sail through the cliffs of Dover. Naming it the Victoria Barrier – later changed to the Ross Ice Shelf — the two crews then returned to Hobart to await a second season.

The expedition once again left Tasmania on November 23 and by January 19, 1842, found themselves in “an ocean of rolling fragments of ice, hard as floating rocks of granite, which were dashed against them by the waves with such violence that their masts quivered”. TERROR’S rudder was smashed by the ice and the EREBUS’S didn’t fare much better. After repairs, they continued south reaching the Ross Ice Shelf at the end of February.
Unable to find a route round, Ross set a course for Cape Horn. The expedition progressed uneventfully for several hundred miles until March 12 when a massive iceberg loomed directly ahead of EREBUS. In taking avoiding action, she ran into the path of TERROR and was dismasted. After making repairs The expedition finally arrived at the Falkland Islands, where they remained for nearly five months.

Ross departed the Falklands on December 17, 1842, for his third and final season in the Antarctic. His desire was to penetrate the Weddell Sea and add to the research done by Weddell in 1822. Unfortunately, he met with “dense, impenetrable, pack ice” an was forced to return to England, and abandon his search for the Magnetic South Pole and.
Further information from www.south-pole.com

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561

[email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]

Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Day 16, 11:00 UTC – 11 February 2008
Konyukhov heads into ice territory south of Macquarie Island

Click on images to view enlargements.

Position: 55°21.42’S 160°34.44’E

Course: 90°T

Speed: 8.5knots

Distance sailed: 2,567.2m

Bob Williams, CEO of the Antarctica Cup Management reports from Albany that Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov has chosen to head south of Macquarie Island (54°30S, 158°57E) en-route to crossing Gate 7 (90°W) within the Antarctica Cup Racetrack.
The chase south for more favourable winds is a function of Fedor’s commitment to meet elapsed time expectations, which will test his powers of endurance as temperatures fall, and daytime visibility lessens. Ice in the form of ‘bergs’, ‘bergy bits’, and ‘growlers’ that are hard to detect by fully crewed racing yachts are a major hazard for the solo sailor, who cannot maintain a 24 hour lookout.

The 56 year old Russian is now 2,560 nautical miles into his record setting endeavour with approximately 4,680 nautical miles to GATE 8 at Cape Horn, the half way point in this 14,000 nautical mile solo circumnavigation of Antarctica.

Fedor messaged his shore team overnight: ‘Greetings from 55 South! All is well on board the good ship Trading Network Alye Parusa. I am now East of Macquarie Island and aiming for the waypoint 56°South and 160° East.

I have faced rain, sleet and drizzle again all day. The visibility is very poor – no more than 300 meters. I am on the limit of the sub zero temperature zone, so it is impossible to even touch the winch handle with bare hands. All the ropes are wet and frosty. Early today I had ice on deck. Before I go on up, I dress up like a gladiator with full set of offshore foul weather clothes, boots, big gloves, hat and harness. All the warm clothing from the bag is now on me! I am even using the dry-suit from my survival grab bag when working on the bow. Each day I check the pins and locking nuts holding the staysail and jib on the bow. I clip on to the jackstay and walk to the bow. This morning, a huge wave lifted the stern high up and I looked at the empty cockpit 20 meters behind with no one there. Some unpleasant thoughts came into my mind and I rushed back.

There is a chance to see icebergs or smaller bergs but I need better weather with several miles of visibility. All I can do is shut the doors within the watertight bulkheads and have the pumps ready to run in every watertight compartment. It is like sailing in a submarine — all is locked and sealed; the radar is on, but with 5-7 meter waves running, it is hard to spot anything — let alone a berg.

Last night there was a clear sky for several hours and I saw the Aurora Australis (or southern polar lights).

Today I had good winds of 35-40 knots. I had 2 reefs on the main and the staysail set, which was nice and comfortable. I even had a chance to read a book and made some sketches in my album. Now (12:00 UTC) the wind has dropped below 20 knots and shifted to the west (270). The massive swells are still pushing and rolling the boat about. When we slide down the wave we have even less wind at the bottom. I wish we had stronger winds for longer. In fact 30 knots downwind are excellent conditions. Forecast shows wind from 20 to 40 knots within 48 hours.

Fedor

Lee Bruce, Fedor’s American weather router, hopes he can supply those winds, for some of the time at least. He predicts:

“Widespread 30+kt wind near Fedor. The wind has been slow to clock to NW and NNW. The forecast still brings the wind to about 310-320T through 10/12 UTC, and then quickly backs it to W or WNW about the time Fedor nears Macquarie Island (so if he wants to leave that island to port, he should pad in some room to the south in case he gets forced north of east near the island). After 11/00 UTC, the wind should clock again to NW or NNW.

10 Feb /00 UTC: NW (300-320T) 30-40 knot gust 45 knot squalls

10 Feb /06-12 UTC: NW to WNW 25-30 gust 35 squalls

10 Feb /18 UTC: WNW 20-25

11 Feb /00 UTC: WNW 20 (S of 55S; 10kt at 54S)

11 Feb /06 UTC: NW 15-20

11 Feb /12 UTC: NNW 15-20

12 Feb /00 UTC: NNW 30-40 knots

Note to Editors: Macquarie Island Nature Reserve and Australian Antarctic Research Station

There are 18 Islands that are hazards on the Antarctica Cup Racetrack the two most southern being Macquarie Island and the South Sandwich Islands. Fedor is now south of Macquarie Island on the southern reaches of the ‘Furious Fifty’ latitudes

Macquarie Island is a sub-Antarctic island located at 54° 30′ S, 158° 57′ E. It is 34 kilometres long and 5 kilometres wide at its widest point and has a total surface area of 128 square kilometres. It consists of one main island with several outliers (Judge and Clerk Islands). The island is of sedimentary origin with the highest elevation, Mt. Hamilton, at 433m. The Island, which lies 1500 kilometres south east of the island of Tasmania and 1300 kilometres north of the Antarctic continent, is part of the Australian state of Tasmania.

This unglacierised island was first found by sealers in 1810 and named after Lachlan Macquarie, then Governor of New South Wales. In 1911, Australia’s Sir Douglas Mawson established the island’s first scientific station. The Ross Sea party of Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctic Expedition on Aurora visited the island in 1915. Mawson returned aboard Discovery in 1930 with the British, Australian and New Zealand Research Expedition. Permanent occupation of a scientific station has occurred since 1948. Macquarie island was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1933 and, with the establishment of the Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service in 1971, became a conservation area. It was upgraded to a state reserve in 1972 and in 1978 was renamed the Macquarie Island Nature Reserve. In 1998 Macquarie Island was granted World Heritage status

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For hi res pictures or video, contact PPL Photo Agency: +44 (0)1243 555561 [email protected]

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]

Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Day 11, 08:00 UTC – 6 February 2008
Fedor Konyukhov passes through first gate on 14,000 mile Antarctica Cup Racetrack

Click on images to view enlargements.

Russian sailor Fedor Konyukhov passed through the Cottee Gate (140E) at 15:17:56 UTC on Feb 5 to complete the first stage of his solo record attempt around the 14,000 mile Antarctica Cup racetrack. It has been a slow start, but with classic Southern Ocean winds – and snow – forecast for the next few days, the 56 year old adventurer expects to reach the next gate – Wilkes – in much shorter time.

His Open 85ft yacht Trading Network Alye Perusa covered the 400 mile distance from Gate 1 DUMONT d’URVILLE in 2 days, 13 hours, 16 minutes, and 56 seconds.

Lee Bruce, Fedor’s American weather router has advised: “We need to get some more south into Fedor’s course – a heading of about 115-130True whenever possible with 53’S 160’E as an aiming point. If we can’t leave Campbell Island to port, it’s not a big problem, but we are working with that in mind. A front will move through within the next 12 hours, bringing colder air—cold enough to result in snow showers. The upper-level air will be plenty cold enough to support snow, but the water temperature will help keep the temperature on the boat from falling too far. Still, snow or sleet may make it to the boat before melting”.

Forecast or next 3 days: NNW 20-25 knots gusting to 30-35 knots. Squalls.

06 Feb /0600 UTC-1200 UTC: Backing as front moves through, becoming SSW 25 knots by 06 Feb /1200UTC. Snow squalls.

06 Feb /1800UTC: SSW 20-25 knots; gusting 35 knots possible snow squalls.

07 Feb /0000UTC: SW 20-25 knots

07Feb /0600UTC: WSW 20 knots

07 Feb /1200UTC-08 Feb /1200UTC: Light WSW to SW

08 Feb /1200UTC-09 Feb /1200UTC: WNW 15 knots, becoming NW 25-30 knots.

Yesterday, Fedor reported: “It was a good day today. Clear skies with some high altostratus cloud. Wind 20 knots at times gusting up to 30 as predicted. I am experiencing massive swells corresponding with the forecast of 5-6 meters high, occasionally 7. The swell is coming from S-W and is smooth without windy tops. The boat is lifting gently.
This “water express” has travelled from Cape Horn across Southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans undisturbed. When I look at these waves I think of eternity. A thousand years waves all going in the same direction – nothing has changed here. When you see this vast ocean your mentality changes and you begin to think differently. Many things that seemed to be very important on dry land, have no meaning here. Once passed Gate 2 ‘COTTEE’, I am aiming for Waypoint 140E and 50S. From there we will keep diving South towards 53 South. There are two low pressure systems to the North and South which I will try to pass between. If I manage to do so, we get 35 knots of wind. If not we can end up with up to 50 knots of wind!

I would like to build some distance between New Zealand and Auckland Island. Last time when I sailed from Hobart to Falmouth (in 2005) I cut the corner and ended up on the bank with dozens of Korean fishing trawlers. It was during the night, with heavy rain and gusty winds. I had to sail very close to some of the trawlers and that was not very pleasant. This time I would like to leave all these islands to port and head for Cape Horn.
The ocean is empty with hardly a sign of any life. I have seen Just one albatross which is very unusual. Normally I would expect to see some whales at this area – but not yet.
My GPS shows I have covered 1,500 nautical miles since the start. Not very impressive, but the first week was very light, with several calm periods. I have plenty of miles ahead and plenty of wind and think I will catch up. Today was one of those rare days you would like to frame. I wish it could stay like this for the rest of the voyage, but know it won’t!”
Fedor Konyykhov.

Note to Editors:

Gate 2 – COTTEE GATE within the Antarctica Cup Racetrack is named after KAY COTTEE, the first woman to sail solo unassisted and non-stop ‘round the world’. Kay, then aged 34, left Australia on November 29th, 1987 from Watsons Bay New South Wales, and returned 189 days later on June 5th. She cruised into Sydney Harbour to be met by tens of thousands of wellwishers. Her historic voyage on the 11.2m Cavalier 37 Sloop First Lady was the result of a childhood ambition. Kay Cottee’s numerous records include: the first woman to complete a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation; the first woman to circumnavigate non-stop west to east, south of the five southernmost capes; the fastest time for a solo circumnavigation by a woman; the fastest speed (average speed 4.87 miles per hour during her round-the-world voyage) for a solo circumnavigation by a woman; the longest period alone at sea by a woman; and the greatest non-stop distance covered by a solo woman. Kay was named Australian of the Year in 1988 for her achievement and contribution to the nation, and has also received the Officer of the Order of Australia award. Kay Cottee’s boat ‘First Lady’ is now on permanent display at the National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia.

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]

Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Day 7, 07:52 UTC – 2 February 2008
History Unfolds as Fedor Konyukhov Inaugurates the World’s Toughest Sailing Racetrack

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At 15:31 UTC on 1st February 0,8 Fedor Konyukhov entered the Antarctica Cup Racetrack to become the first sailor to take on the 14,000 nautical mile journey solo around Antarctica below Latitude 45 South. It will be another 60 days or so before the 56 year old Russian adventurer points ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’ towards the Finish Line in Albany W.Australia to write his name in history and record books yet again. The ultimate test of ocean racing endurance, courage, and seamanship has commenced.

Who will follow Fedor? Australian, New Zealand, American, French, Japanese, sailors or sailors of other nationalities; solo or in crews?

Click here for latest updates on Fedor Konyukhov’s progress. Antarctica Cup Racetrack

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]

Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Day 5, 07:52 UTC – 1 February 2008
Fedor Hits Roaring Forties

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Position: 42,8.59S , 123,24.66E

Speed: 8 knots

Course: 176′

Wind: 20 knots

Direction: 315′ WNW

Following his start from Albany last Saturday, Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov is now making good progress down towards the entry point to the Antarctica Cup Racetrack.
His Open 85 ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’ finally crossed into the Roaring Forty latitudes yesterday after spending much of the previous day becalmed.

Fedor reports “The wind has shifted to the south and is picking up – which is better than the 0-5 knots experienced during the past 24 hours. It’s getting cold and I’ve already got into my polar gear — a goose down jacket from Russian company BASK. I used this jacket in Greenland during the dog sled crossing last Spring. We crossed Greenland from East to West alongside the Polar Circle with my Inuit friend Hans, at a record time of 15 days. This jacket smells of dogs, snow and the Arctic. It brought back some good memories.
For the first time since the start, I went down to the galley and fried potatoes in the pan. This is my favorite meal and my shore team know that when I cook this, the weather is good and the ocean is smooth. In other conditions it is just not possible to spend much time in the galley.

Have not seen any ships, but last night heard plenty of Japanese over the VHF radio. I had to use my new radar but could not see any vessels within a 16 mile range. Fishermen are a big concern for me. Jon Sanders told me of how he ran into a Korean trawler one night near the Falklands Islands. He was asleep; the boat was sailing on autopilot and hit a trawler, damaging the pulpit and forestay. In the Southern Ocean nowadays, there are more and more ships and you need to keep a constant lookout. Although my yacht is equipped with an Active Echo Radar Detector (an electronic device that sounds a loud alarm in the cabin once it picks up other radar within 5 miles), there are times when fishing trawlers do not use their radar here in the Southern Ocean.”

Lee Bruce, Fedor’s weather router, has set out a strategy for approaching the Racetrack entry gate. He writes: ‘Fedor’s challenge over the next 48 hours is to work the weather shifts and strengthening winds to make the entry into the Antarctica Cup Racetrack west of 126E. A high pressure system is expected to move rapidly through Fedor’s position (15:00UTC, 30 Jan, 40.732S 123.954E) with the breeze filling in again at 18:00UTC. The better part of wind for 31 Jan will be WNW 20 knots, gusting 35knots. Later in the day and for 1st Feb, the wind will shift to WSW 20-25 knots with squalls. Fedor must be on track for the entry gate before the WSW winds push him too far east.

With 150 miles still to cover before reaching the Racetrack entry, Fedor is hopeful joining the favourable easterly flow of the Southern Ocean within the next 24 hours.
Click here for full details of the Antarctica Cup Racetrack

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

Or visit: www.antarcticacup.com

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: www.konyukhov.ru

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]

Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Albany, Western Australia – 26 January 2008
Fedor Konyukhov sets out on Antarctica Cup Racetrack record bid

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One of the 9lb muzzle loader guns landed in 1893 to shore up Albany’s defences against a perceived Russian invasion, finally had a Russian in its sights today when Fedor Konyukhov set out from this historic West Australian port to set a solo sailing record around Antarctica.

The 56 year old adventurer who sailed his Open 85ft monohull Trading Network Alye Parusa’ half way round the world from Falmouth UK to take on yachting’s last great frontier, crossed the line at 10hrs 21 minutes 40secs W.Australia Summer Time, to the signal from the gun and a cacophony of car horns and cheers from crowds lining the foreshore.

Conditions could not have been better with bright, warm sunshine and flat seas — a far cry from what Konyukhov can expect once he is down within the ‘Roaring Forty’, ‘Furious Fifty’ and ‘Screaming Sixty’ latitudes that mark the the Antarctica Cup Racetrack.

Among the well wishers here to see Fedor off was Jon Sanders, the only other solo sailor to have ever circumnavigated around Antarctica before in southern latitudes. He completed the 14,000 mile circuit aboard the S&S; 34, monohull ‘Perie Banou’ on the first stage of a remarkable double global circumnavigation back in 1981/2. His first circuit around the icy southern continent during which he suffered two horrific knockdowns, took Sanders almost three times Fedor’s expected time of 60-65 days!

The Russian will be hampered for the next three days by very light southerly winds — exactly the direction he needs to enter the Antarctica Cup Racetrack. “It’s typical! The winds have been blowing hard from the east for the past two weeks. This will at least give Fedor some time to find his sea legs and re-acquaint with ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’ before finding the westerlies” Said Richard Williams, one of the race organisers.

Fedor’s departure marks the end of a 6 year programme by Richard and his Father Robert Williams to bring the Antarctica Cup to fruition. Now, the race has sparked interest from American, British, French, Portuguese and Scandinavian sailors to take on the most exciting sailing conditions in the world — a 14,000 mile sleigh ride around the ice-strewn seas of the Antarctica. Not something for the feint-hearted.

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: konyukhov.ru/eng/

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]

Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Albany, Western Australia – 25 January 2008
Fedor Konyukhov welcomes Australian veteran Jon Sanders onboard, on eve of start to Antarctica Cup Racetrack record attempt

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Australian Jon Sanders, the first man to circumnavigate Antarctica back in 1981/2, flew into Albany today to meet the man destined to carry his mantle forward into the 21st Century. Fedor Konyukhov, the Russian adventurer who will set sail tomorrow at 10:30am from Albany to set a new benchmark record for sailing around the Antartica Cup Racetrack, welcomed his hero onboard like a long lost friend.

“Fedor has got an excellent boat. She is much, much bigger than my first S&S 34 monohull Perie Banou. At over 80ft, Trading Network Alye Parusa is huge by comparison. I’m used to sailing much smaller boats.” said Sanders.

Later, while having a drink together in the Earl Spencer pub in Albany, Jon Sanders recalled some of the harrowing moments he faced 27 years ago after setting out from Fremantle on his double solo circumnavigation. ‘The first lesson I learned was that this is no sleigh ride downwind. Once east of New Zealand, I ran into a lot of head winds which were very difficult. Then, about 1,000 miles west of Cape Horn, the barometer took a huge dive. First there was no wind, and then as if from nowhere it came blasting back at 60knots.’

Sanders’ glassfibre yacht, taken from the same mould as Edward Heath’s 1969 Sydney Hobart winner ‘ Morning Cloud’ experienced 2 savage knock-downs during the voyage, but came out of both unscathed. ‘The first was when surfing down a huge wave when she broach and was rolled upside down. The second was when I tried lying a hull in further bad weather which proved to be a pretty stupid tactic.” he recalled.

The remarkable double circumnavigation by Sanders aboard his , saw him pass south of the three great capes – Horn, Good Hope and Leeuwin – before continuing on around Cape Horn a second time and turning north to Plymouth, UK and returning south around Good Hope and returning to Fremantle.

His voyage was recognised in the Guinness Book of Records as:

The first single-handed sailor to remain continuously at sea twice around the world
First single-handed sailor to round the 5 southern most Capes twice on one voyage.
First single-handed sailor to round the 5 southern most Capes twice
Longest distance continuously sailed by any yacht 48,510 miles.
Longest period alone at sea during a continuous voyage: 419 days: 22 hours: 10 minutes
In 1986 Sanders set out again from Fremantle, and this time completed 3 solo non-stop circumnavigations aboard his yacht Parry Endeavour, rounding St Peter & St Paul Rocks just north of the Equator each time to ensure that his course covered both hemispheres.

In honour of his pioneering voyage nearly 3 decades ago, one of 18 gates marking sectors within the circular Antarctica Cup Racetrack has been named ‘Sanders’. Another, Gate 10, is named Cottee in recognition of another of Australia’s great circumnavigators Kay Cottee.

Bob Williams, the Chairman of Antarctica Cup Management and the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race, says:

“What Jon achieved during his double circumnavigation in 1981/2 was truly remarkable, given the technology available at the time and size of his yacht. His achievement is an inspiration to all long distance ocean racing sailors and we were very pleased to honour him now by naming this Gate 17 ‘Sanders Gate’ and Sector 17 after his yacht Perie Banou”

Tomorrow (Australia Day) thousands of spectators are expected to fill King George Sound to give Fedor Konyukhov and his Open 85 monohull ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’ a spectacular sendoff as he crosses the start line drawn between Wooding Point and Gull Rock in King George Sound close to the entrance to Princess Royal Harbour at 10:30 hrs.

Click here for full details of the Antarctica Cup Racetrack
For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

Or visit: www.antarcticacup.com

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: konyukhov.ru/en/

Contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]

Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Albany, Western Australia – 24 January 2008
Fedor Konyukhov keeps weather eye on Southern Ocean in readiness for Saturday start on Antarctica Cup Racetrack record attempt

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As Fedor Konyukhov loaded last minute stores aboard his Open 85 monohull Trading Network Alye Parusa in Albany in preparation for the start on Saturday of his Antarctica Cup Racetrack record attempt, the Russian was keeping a keen eye on the weather and ice flow predictions.

Lee Bruce, the American weather router charged with keeping Fedor on the north side of the vicious clockwise rotating low pressure systems that sweep around the Globe between the ‘Roaring Forty’ and ‘Screaming Sixty’ latitudes reported today.
‘The weather patterns are in constant flux, and often running at breakneck speed. Trading Network Alye Parusa doesn&apost have the luxury of enough speed to stay with a pattern for long, so Fedor will always be looking over his shoulder for the next shift.’ He said, adding. ‘The challenge will be to keep Fedor in a ribbon of favorable wind, while then lows and highs trace ever-changing tracks along the way. High-pressure systems will threaten to slow Fedor to a crawl, but strong low-pressure centers will create dangerously high wind speeds. So, the trick is to find the right track that avoids these extremes.’

The weather charts predict the state of play for the start on 26 January. The thin black isobar lines mark areas of equal pressure; the tighter the spacing, the higher the wind speed. Black arrows show the movement of the Highs and Lows over a 48 period. Green arrows show the basic wind direction.

Image of race start weather patterns

Of equal concern is the amount of ice now in the southern seas, as witnessed by the Barcelona Race fleet as they flashed across the Pacific towards Cape Horn earlier this month. The big difference for Fedor is that instead of turning north around this infamous Cape into the relatively sheltered waters of the Atlantic, the 56 year old Russian adventurer will continue eastwards across ‘uncharted territory’ as far a race tracks go between the longitudes 60W and 20E. The only man to have sailed these waters before is West Australian Jon Sanders who is flying down to Albany on Friday to provide Fedor with advice and encouragement, and will join thousands of spectators expected along Marine Drive and foreshore on Saturday towatch Fedor set out at 10:30am from King George Sound.

Since much of the ice, particularly the table-sized chunks between 2 and 5 m (7 and 16 ft) in diameter known as ‘Bergy bits’ or ‘Growlers’ will not be picked up by Trading Network Alye Parusa’sradar, Fedor is relying on the Canadian ice tracking service C-CORE to monitor the flows. They use Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery from the ENVISAT satellite to provide “pre-sector” iceberg reconnaissance for the portions of the South Pacific and South Atlantic Oceans. SAR data can be collected day or night regardless of cloud cover, and is particularly useful for monitoring remote locations like the Antarctica Cup Yacht Racetrack.

At present, there is one iceberg within the race track (A-53A – 55.15S, 38.20W) but others are close enough to move across Fedor’s path during the course of this 2 month long 14,000 mile record attempt.

Last night , Fedor and his Trading Network Alye Parusa team were feted at a Civic Reception in Albany

At 4:30pm Friday, Jon Sanders will join Fedor onboard Trading Network Alye Parusa in Albany dock for interviews

At 08:00 Saturday Fedor Konyukhov and Jon Sanders will attend a press conference and further photo call

The press boat will leave the Albany Dock at 09:30 to follow Trading Network Alye Parusa to the start at 10:30 out of King George Sound. To book a place on the press boat, please call Bob Williams on +61 413 057 559 or email [email protected] before 5:00pm Thursday

Albany, Western Australia – 22nd January 2008
Media Call to watch Fedor Konyukhov set out to beat last great frontier – Sailing solo non-stop around Antarctica Cup Racetrack.
As Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov prepares for his ‘Australia Day’ start next Saturday on the inaugural solo record attempt around the 14,000 mile Antarctica Cup Racetrack, the Antarctica Cup organisers are busy finalising details for the World Media to cover the start.

Konyukhov and his Open 85 monohull ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa‘ will cross the start line drawn between Wooding Point and Gull Rock in King George Sound close to the entrance to Princess Royal Harbour at 10:30 hrs on 26 January. Places on the media boats are limited, so it is essential to pre-book by Thursday 24th January.

E-mail Bob Williams [email protected] or call +61 413 057 559 to confirm requirements.

Fedor will be available for pre-arranged interviews on Friday 25th January and on the dockside at 08:30 on Saturday morning prior to departure when he will be joined by West Australian sailing hero Jon Sanders, the first man to sail solo around Antarctica.
Konyukhov and his yacht ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa‘ are superbly prepared to trail-blaze the Antarctica Cup Racetrack and establish the inaugural record for the ‘Solo-Monohull Category’ of the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race, having sailed half way around the world from Falmouth, England to take on the challenge.

Bob Williams, Chairman of the Antarctica Cup Management says that Albany is proving to be a very good venue or the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race event. “We have been blown away by the cooperation and skill base of the Albany marine industry service providers. They have exceeded our expectations. The people of Albany are excited to have the event permanently based in their beautiful coastal town. The Mayor of Albany, His Worship Milton Evans is hosting a civic reception for Fedor this Wednesday. The generosity of local businesses is extending to Fedor being supplied all the coffee he can drink during his journey supplied by the finest coffee house in Albany. It has been blowing hard from the South-East all week but things are looking good for the start next Saturday and the large spectator fleet we anticipate will be following Fedor out of King George Sound and further south.”

As the people of Albany , Western Australia, and Australia, come to grips with the amazing achievements of the 56 year old Russian adventurer, there is a growing appreciation of the stature of the man in their midst. if we were to use Fedor’s credentials as a yardstick for future solo sailors I’m afraid that there may be no one else that qualifies! Says Bob Williams, adding. ‘If ever there is one man most suited to sail the Antarctica Cup Racetrack solo for the first time, its Fedor Konyukhov.”

Fedor is looking forward to the challenge “Albany is a wonderful place.” He said today. “My family think this is paradise. We have had so much help and hospitality here. This will be a major yachting destination there is no doubt about that”.

Fedor Konyukhov – Biography

1977: Led a scientific research expedition on a 40 ft yacht along the route of Commodore Vitus Bering.
1979: Second stage of the scientific research expedition on yacht along the route Vladivostok –Sakhalin Island – Kamchatka – the Commodore Islands – Ascension – Klyuchevskiy Volcano.
1980: Participated in the Baltic Cup.
1990/1: First Russian sailor to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation – Sydney (Australia) to Sydney.
1994: Completed a second against the prevailing winds.
1997: Skippered the Russian entry in the Ericcson Maxi World Cup.
1998/9: Completed the Around Alone Solo Round the World Race in Open 60 ‘Modern University for the Humanities’
2000/1: Completed the Vendee Globe solo non-stop round the world race in ‘Modern University for the Humanities’
2002: Completed solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in the 7 meters rowboat ‘Uralaz’, setting a record 46 days, 4 hours from La Gomera (Canaries — Barbados).
2003: Set a 9 day E-W transatlantic sailing record from Canary islands — Barbados on a 102 ft catamaran ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’ (ex. ENZA)
2003: Set a 16 day W-E transatlantic sailing record from Jamaica — Lands End (UK) on ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’
2003: Set an 11-hour trans-Baltic sailing record from Helsinki (Finland) to St. Petersburg (Russia). on maxi yacht BOLS
2004: Set an E-W transatlantic solo sailing record of 14 days 7hrs from La Gomera (Canaries) to Barbados in current 85ft yacht ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’
2004/5: Solo circumnavigation from Falmouth (UK) to Hobart (Tasmania) Falmouth in Single-handed round the world sailing in ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’
For further information and interviews, Contact:
Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: konyukhov.ru/en/

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]

Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Albany, Western Australia – 15th January 2008
Fedor Konyukhov plans Australia Day start for Antarctica Cup record
Arrival in Albany, Western Australia, picture courtesy Antarctica Cup Ocean Race Arrival in Albany, Western Australia, picture courtesy Antarctica Cup Ocean Race Arrival in Albany, Western Australia, picture courtesy Antarctica Cup Ocean Race
Click on images to download hi-res

Russian adventure sailor Fedor Konyukhov will set out on his solo record attempt around Antarctica on January 26 – Australia Day.

The 56 year old sailed his 86ft monohull ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’ into Albany, Western Australia, the starting point for the Antarctica Cup Race Track, last Saturday, after a shake-down voyage half way round the world from Falmouth UK. Fedor and his team will now spend the next 2 weeks preparing the yacht for the 14,000 mile record attempt.

After family, friends and onlookers had given him a grand welcome to Albany, Fedor said: ‘This is my 5th visit to Australia, but my first time to the West Coast. I am very impressed with the beautiful coastline, the natural harbour of King George Sound – and particularly the warm welcome I have received here in Albany.”
Bob Williams, CEO of Antarctica Cup Management, who was one of first to welcome Fedor ashore, added “It is fitting that Fedor will embark on his historic solo non-stop record attempt around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack on the same day that we Australians celebrate the birth of our Nation. Fedor is about to help us create our own piece of history. The Antarctica Cup Ocean Race around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack is the first international sporting event to be based out of Albany in Western Australia, the first inter-ocean yacht race based in Western Australia, the first in Australia, and the first in the Southern Hemisphere. The moment Fedor crosses the start line, seven years of event planning and promotion comes to realisation. It will be a great moment for us, for Fedor, and for sport in Australia.”

Konyukhov plans to cross the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race Start and Finish line off Wooding Point on the King George Sound coastline at 1030hrs on Saturday 26th January. This will provide a spectacular grandstand view for spectators as ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’ heads south towards the entry gate of the Antarctica Cup Racetrack some 600 miles south of Albany. From there Fedor will sail 14,000 nautical miles east-about around Antarctica, which he hopes to complete in late March.

For further information and interviews, Contact:
Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected]

+61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, +61 419 969 492

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: konyukhov.ru/en/

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected]

Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

Cape Town – 13th December 2007
Fedor Konyukhov pit stops in Cape Town en-route to start of Antarctica Cup record attempt.

Solo Russian sailor Fedor Konyukhov has pulled in to Cape Town to repair his 27m (88ft) monohull Trading Network Alye Parusa after experiencing problems during his singlehanded delivery voyage from Falmouth, UK to Albany, Western Australia.

The Russian adventurer will attempt a solo circumnavigation record around the Antarctica Race track early in 2008, but must first repair a broken staysail chain plate torn from the foredeck during a ferocious storm in the South Atlantic, as well as replace the yacht’s main autopilot which failed a month ago. A diver will also attempt to unblock the seawater inlet valve to the yacht’s starboard ballast tank. For the past month, the only way for Fedor to fill the tank has been to go onto port tack and gravity fill it from the tank on the opposite side. That might be easy to do in light weather, but not in the Roaring Forty latitudes, so the pit stop in Cape Town was a prudent call.

Fedor, who left Falmouth on 12 October, expects to have Trading Network Alye Parusa ship-shape again by December 18 when he plans to set out on the final 4,500-mile stage across the Southern Ocean to Albany and start of the Antarctica Cup.

Fedor, who celebrated his 56th birthday yesterday, said on arrival at Cape Town. “The last time I sailed here was during the Around Alone Yacht Race nine years ago. We are getting tremendous support from the local yachting community and I am sure we will be able to fix all the problems here. The voyage from Falmouth down through the South Atlantic has not been easy, as the two Open 60 Barcelona Race crews also forced to pull into Cape Town, will attest to. For me however, the tough conditions in the South Atlantic have been a good test before starting the Antarctica Cup Race Track record. It is much better for things to break now than during the record attempt.”

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd

[email protected] Tel: +61 413 057 559

Or: Richard Williams, Tel: +61 419 969 492

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: konyukhov.ru/eng/

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov: [email protected] Tel:+ 7 910 477 09 70

Albany, Western Australia – 6th November 2007
Jon Sanders honoured by Antarctica Cup Ocean Race
Jon Sanders completes triple circumnavigation non-stop. Picture courtesy Jon Sanders.
Australian Jon Sanders, the first man to circumnavigate Antarctica back in 1981/2, – has been honoured with a Gate named after him within the Antarctica Cup Racetrack.

The Gate, marking one of 18 gates to sectors within the circular race track bounded by the Roaring Forty and Screaming Sixty latitudes, is positioned mid-way round the Indian Ocean zone, close to where Sanders suffered an 180 degree knockdown nearly 3 decades ago.

The remarkable double circumnavigation by Sanders aboard his S&S; 34 monohull Perie Banou, saw him pass south of the three great capes – Horn, Good Hope and Leeuwin – before continuing on around Cape Horn a second time and turning north to Plymouth, UK and returning south around Good Hope and returning to Fremantle.

His voyage was recognised in the Guinness Book of Records as:

The first single-handed sailor to remain continuously at sea twice around the world
First single-handed sailor to round the 5 southern most Capes twice on one voyage.
First single-handed sailor to round the 5 southern most Capes twice
Longest distance continuously sailed by any yacht 48,510 miles.
Longest period alone at sea during a continuous voyage: 419 days: 22 hours: 10 minutes
In 1986 Sanders set out again from Fremantle, and this time completed 3 solo non-stop circumnavigations aboard his yacht Parry Endeavour, rounding St Peter & St Paul Rocks just north of the Equator each time to ensure that his course covered both hemispheres.

Bob Williams, the Chairman of Antarctica Cup Management and the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race, says:

“What Jon achieved during his double circumnavigation in 1981/2 was truly remarkable, given the technology available at the time and size of his yacht. I have had the greatest respect for Jon ever since watching him set off in a full gale off Plymouth at the start of the Parmelia Race in 1979 and was very pleased to be a contributing sponsor for his next yacht Parrry Endeavour in 1986/7. His achievement is an inspiration to all long distance ocean racing sailors and we are very happy to honour Jon now by naming this Gate 17 Sanders Gate and Sector 17 after his yacht Perie Banou”
Click here for full details of the Antarctica Cup Racetrack

First to test himself around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack will be Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov and his 86ft monohull Trading Network Alye Parusa. Fedor crossed the 10N latitude into the Doldrums on Monday bound for Albany, West Australia and the start of his solo non-stop attempt around the ACRacetrack. The 56 year old Russian adventurer reported that all was well and expects to reach the famous Australian port in December.

For further information and interviews, Contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman — Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd
[email protected]
+61 413 057 559

OR

Richard Williams
+61 419 969 492

For more information about Fedor Konyukhov, visit: konyukhov.ru/eng/

Or contact: Oscar Konyukhov on [email protected]

Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70

10 October 2007
Fedor Konyukhov sets sail from Falmouth UK to set solo non-stop record around Antarctica.

Famous Russian sailor Fedor Konyukhov will set sail from Falmouth UK on Friday 12th October on a shake-down solo voyage to Albany, Western Australia in preparation for his attempt to become the first man to sail solo non-stop around Antarctica.

The 56 year-old yachtsman and his 27 metre (88ft) yacht Trading Network Alye Parusa will set out from the National MaritimeMuseum dock at 10:00am. He will be sailing solo, non-stop and expects to complete the 12,500 mile voyage to the historic portof Albany by December.

Fedor and his team have spent the past 3-months preparing his Open 85 yacht for the challenge ahead at Pendennis Shipyard inFalmouth. The Russian adventurer, who has completed four previous global circumnavigations plans to set out on the 14,600 mile Antarctica Cup Race Track in January and set a benchmark record as a prelude to the Antarctica Cup Race planned for 2009/10 to coincide with the Centenary celebrations of the Princess Royal Sailing Club in Albany.

The record attempt will be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) to provide a benchmark for others to beat.

Bob Williams, the CEO of the Antarctica Cup Management said today: We wish Fedor good speed and look forward to welcoming him in Albany. The extreme nature and historical significance of this record attempt will appeal to audiences way beyond normal ocean sailing events. His voyage Down-Under offers the best possible preparation and we will be monitoring Trading Network Alye Parusa’s progress throughout the voyage and publishing weekly updates.

Aerial photography and video footage is available on a copyright free basis from PPL Photo Agency. Contact:

Emma Brenton
+44 (0)1243 555561
[email protected]

Media wishing to follow Fedor Konyukhov’s departure should contact:

Oscar Konyukhov
+44 (0)7833 537449.

Fedor Konyukhov – Biography
1977: Led a scientific research expedition on a 40 ft yacht along the route of Commodore Vitus Bering.
1979: Second stage of the scientific research expedition on yacht along the route Vladivostok –Sakhalin Island – Kamchatka – the Commodore Islands – Ascension – Klyuchevskiy Volcano.
1980: Participated in the Baltic Cup.
1990/1: First Russian sailor to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation – Sydney (Australia) to Sydney.
1994: Completed a second against the prevailing winds.
1997: Skippered the Russian entry in the Ericcson Maxi World Cup.
1998/9: Completed the Around Alone Solo Round the World Race in Open 60 ‘Modern University for the Humanities’
2000/1: Completed the Vendee Globe solo non-stop round the world race in ‘Modern University for the Humanities’
2002: Completed solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in the 7 meters rowboat ‘Uralaz’, setting a record 46 days, 4 hours from La Gomera (Canaries — Barbados).
2003: Set a 9 day E-W transatlantic sailing record from Canary islands — Barbados on a 102 ft catamaran ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’ (ex. ENZA)
2003: Set a 16 day W-E transatlantic sailing record from Jamaica — Lands End (UK) on ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’
2003: Set an 11-hour trans-Baltic sailing record from Helsinki (Finland) to St. Petersburg (Russia). on maxi yacht BOLS
2004: Set an E-W transatlantic solo sailing record of 14 days 7hrs from La Gomera (Canaries) to Barbados in current 85ft yacht ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’
2004/5: Solo circumnavigation from Falmouth (UK) to Hobart (Tasmania) Falmouth in Single-handed round the world sailing in ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’

For further information and interviews, contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman – Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd
[email protected]
+61 413 057 559
+965 635 7447

Or Richard Williams
+61 419 969 492

For information about Fedor Konyukhov visit:
http://konyukhov.ru/eng/

Oscar Konyukhov
E-mail: [email protected]
Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70
UK: +44 7833 537449

17 September 2007
Fedor Konyukhov takes on last great frontier – Sailing solo non-stop around Antarctica.
Finish in Falmouth
Famous Russian sailor Fedor Konyukhov aims to become the first person to sail solo around Antarctica. Starting in January 2008 from Albany, Western Australia, the 56 year-old yachtsman will endeavor to sail his 27 metre (88′) yacht Alye Parusa around the challenging 14,600 mile Antarctica Cup Race Track. His intention is to claim the inaugural world record for sailing solo, non-stop, around Antarctica as a prelude to the Antarctica Cup Race planned for 2009/10 to coincide with the Centenary celebrations of the Princess Royal Sailing Club in Albany.

Fedor, who is currently in Falmouth, England preparing ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’ prior to setting sail for Australia in October, has already completed four global circumnavigations and crossed the Atlantic fourteen times, one of them in a rowing boat. His latest record attempt will be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) and provide a benchmark for others to beat.

Bob Williams, the CEO of the Antarctica Cup Management said today: “The city of Albany is looking forward to hosting this historical event. The extreme sports nature and historical significance of Fedor’s record undertaking will appeal to audiences way beyond normal ocean sailing events. We have already established multi-media production and tracking facilities to provide broadcasters, print media and Internet audiences on a global basis with continuous updates on Fedor’s progress, and fully expect the event to reach several hundreds of million people.”

Last week, work commenced on the AU$100 million marina and foreshore redevelopment programme in Albany. Completion of this work in 2009 will coincide with the centenary of the Princess Royal Sailing Club, one of Australia’s oldest clubs, and provide Albany with the facility to accommodate a large ocean racing fleet and visiting superyachts.

Fedor Konyukhov – Biography
1977: Led a scientific research expedition on a 40 ft yacht along the route of Commodore Vitus Bering.
1979: Second stage of the scientific research expedition on yacht along the route Vladivostok –Sakhalin Island – Kamchatka – the Commodore Islands – Ascension – Klyuchevskiy Volcano.
1980: Participated in the Baltic Cup.
1990/1: First Russian sailor to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation – Sydney (Australia) to Sydney.
1994: Completed a second against the prevailing winds.
1997: Skippered the Russian entry in the Ericcson Maxi World Cup.
1998/9: Completed the Around Alone Solo Round the World Race in Open 60 ‘Modern University for the Humanities’
2000/1: Completed the Vendee Globe solo non-stop round the world race in ‘Modern University for the Humanities’
2002: Completed solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in the 7 meters rowboat ‘Uralaz’, setting a record 46 days, 4 hours from La Gomera (Canaries — Barbados).
2003: Set a 9 day E-W transatlantic sailing record from Canary islands — Barbados on a 102 ft catamaran ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’ (ex. ENZA)
2003: Set a 16 day W-E transatlantic sailing record from Jamaica — Lands End (UK) on ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’
2003: Set an 11-hour trans-Baltic sailing record from Helsinki (Finland) to St. Petersburg (Russia). on maxi yacht BOLS
2004: Set an E-W transatlantic solo sailing record of 14 days 7hrs from La Gomera (Canaries) to Barbados in current 85ft yacht ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’
2004/5: Solo circumnavigation from Falmouth (UK) to Hobart (Tasmania) Falmouth in Single-handed round the world sailing in ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa’

For further information and interviews, contact:

Bob Williams, Chairman – Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd
[email protected]
+61 413 057 559
+965 635 7447

Or Richard Williams
+61 419 969 492

For information about Fedor Konyukhov visit:
http://konyukhov.ru/eng/

Oscar Konyukhov
E-mail: [email protected]
Russia: + 7 910 477 09 70
UK: +44 7833 537449

15 August 2007
Albany Western Australia chosen for start/finish of Antarctica Cup Yacht Race.
Albany, Western Australia, has been selected as the start and finish port for the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race. The historic port, 150 nautical miles east of Cape Leeuwin, sits on the very edge of the ‘Roaring Forty’ latitudes and provides crews with a natural springboard to attack the challenging 360° race track around Antarctica.

The event has weathered five years of perseverance to arrive on the doorstep of realisation this coming Southern summer with the first entry expected to set out around the course in December.

Albany, a former whaling station, is one of the oldest ports in Australia. Site of the initial European settlement in Western Australia, it became the first safe port beyond Cape Town for sailing ships bound for Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and New Zealand. The advent of steamship traffic during the 1850’s expanded port activities with a coal bunkering service and the first rail link to the State’s Capital, Perth, to speed up the increasing trade in mail, goods and people rushing to the rich Kalgoorlie goldfields.

King George Sound, the gateway into Princess Royal Harbour where the City is located, rivals Sydney Harbour as one of the most beautiful waterways in Australia. The deep-water harbour is the regional centre of the Great Southern region, and a regular port of call for cruise ships. The Princess Royal Sailing Club, which celebrates its Centenary in 2009 and has hosted the ‘Albany Race’ from Fremantle around Cape Leeuwin for the past 40 years, will also host the Antarctica Cup racers and attendant spectator fleet.

Nine hectares of city foreshore at Princess Royal Harbour has been earmarked for redevelopment. Importantly, the AU$100m plan includes a new deep-water marina which will make this Southern City one of the most progressive in Australia, attracting visitors not only for sailing, but to the region’s famous wine growing area and the famed Sterling Range National Park.

The ‘Roaring Forty’ and ‘Furious Fifty’ latitudes provide the pinnacle conditions that all ocean racing sailors aspire to compete in at some point in their lives, and with 18 ‘gates’ including Cape Horn within the racetrack, all named after famous explorers in the region, the world at large will be able to follow every mile of this down-wind sleigh ride around the Southern ice via TV and the Web.

Bob Williams, chairman of the organisation behind the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race, is creating an ocean racing business based around Albany and the Antarctica Cup Racetrack.

“Our intensive study of the weather patterns around Australia’s southern region underlines Albany as the best port to start and finish the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race and access the 14,600 mile Antarctica Cup Racetrack. The Westerly winds here are consistently in the 10-20knot region during December and February, giving crews the sling-shot they need to get down to the ‘Roaring Forty’ latitudes and back again.” Williams confirmed, adding. “We are very impressed with plans to redevelop Albany’s waterfront, particularly the new marina, which will be deep enough to host the largest superyachts. The South West region of Western Australia is a major international tourist area and we are confident that with this new investment, the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race event will attract sustainable ongoing interest in the years ahead leading to organised fleet races and class events on the Racetrack. The course is also very sustainable taking only 40-60 days to complete, compared to 70-100 days for non-stop round the world circumnavigations.”

Jack Spaanderman, Commodore of the Princess Royal Sailing Club, is equally pleased with the choice of port. He said today: “On behalf of the members of the Princess Royal Sailing Club I warmly welcome your decision on choosing Albany as the host port for the inaugural Antarctica Cup Yacht Race. The Port of Albany has a long history of being a chosen port of call for mariners of the Southern seas as a safe haven from the perils of the Southern Indian Ocean since it was first discovered by the Dutch captain Pieter Nuyts in 1627, and most recently during last year’s Volvo Ocean Race. We look forward to working with the Antarctica Cup Management and your first competitor, to ensure that this inaugural attempt runs as smoothly as possible.

For further information and interviews, contact

Bob Williams, Chairman – Antarctica Cup Management Pty Ltd
[email protected]
+965 635 7447

Australian contact:
Richard Williams
+61 419 969 492

11 April 2007
Russian adventurer to sail inaugural Antarctica Cup Yacht Race commencing December 2007.
Russian adventurer-sailor Fedor Konyukhov is confirmed as the first competitor in the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race (ACYR).

Starting in December 2007, Fedor will attempt to sail his 27 metre (88′) boat “Alye Parusa” around the challenging 14,600 nautical mile Antarctica Cup Racetrack and in doing so claim the inaugural world record for sailing solo, non-stop, around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack and become the first ocean racing sailor to circumnavigate Antarctica in the Southern Ocean.

Chairman of Antarctica Cup Management, organiser of the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race, Bob Williams is confident that this inaugural event will inspire future competitors and establish the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race as on ongoing event attracting worldwide participants, “We welcome Fedor in his historic quest. Now that the Volvo Ocean Race has deleted the great Southern Ocean from their future events the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race offers blue water ocean sailors the supreme yachting challenge”, he said.

Explaining his decision to select the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, Fedor Konyukhov commented, “Sailing around Antarctica is one of the greatest challenges in offshore sailing. With several circumnavigations completed I have always treated the Southern Ocean leg as the most extraordinary, risky and beautiful part of the voyage. I have considered previously the historic challenge of rounding Antarctica non stop and the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race offers this opportunity.”

“To me racing around Antarctica is about sport, adventure and history. This is also a great moment in Russian sailing heritage. To commemorate this event I am dedicating my participation in the ACYR to the historic discovery of the Antarctica by my country-mates.”, Fedor said.

Fedor Konyukhov’s participation in the ACYR is sponsored by the leading retail chain of supermarkets in Moscow “Trading Network Alye Parusa” (Scarlet Sails). TN Alye Parusa has been the main partner for several of Fedor Konyukhov’s offshore sailing record attempts including his single-handed round the world circumnavigation in 2005.

The event will be based out of an Australian port yet to be announced.

Click here for more detailed information
February 2007

An event proposal that incorporates the Antarctica Cup event, the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and the Arabian Sea is under consideration.
We are hopeful that this will lead to the Antarctica Cup Race coming to fruition between 2007 – 2008.

Regards,

Bob Williams
Chairman
Antarctica Cup Events Management Pty Ltd
[email protected].

October 2006

Since we started out with the development of the Antarctica Cup event much has happened in terms of public awareness of the global warming phenomenon. The regular staging of this event will present an opportunity to monitor effects, and enhance scientific knowledge, of any impact global warming is having on the pristine continent of Antarctica.

Regards,

Bob Williams
Chairman
Antarctica Cup Events Management Pty Ltd
[email protected].

October 2006

Our project to work with an ocean racing boat owner (monohull or multihull
with an international crew) to race around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack to
establish the world sailing speed record around the Antarctica Cup
Racetrack, starting and finishing from the Port of Fremantle, continues.

Please direct interest in :

Event sponsor/advertising
Multi-media coverage
Boats and crew
Host port facilities
The Racetrack
Information about Fremantle and Western Australia Any other information
To:

Bob Williams
Chairman
Antarctica Cup Events Management Pty Ltd
[email protected]
March 2006

Following our announcement in September 2005 opening the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race to existing classes of ocean racing monohulls and multihulls for an event scheduled for the southern summer of 2007/2008 we have pleasure in posting details of our Antarctica Cup Racetrack upon which Antarctica Cup Ocean Race events will take place.

Please go to The Racetrack and read the notes describing the philosophy behind the Racetrack.

As a precursor to a number of ocean racing boats competing in the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race event we have commenced planning for an individual ocean racing monohull and/or maxi multihull to sail the Antarctica Cup Racetrack and set the inaugural elapsed time record for the first non-stop circumnavigation of Antarctica below latitude 45 South.

For further information please contact-

Bob Williams
Chairman
Antarctica Cup Events Management Pty Ltd
[email protected]

New Information:
Click Here to View the Antarctica Cup Information Document(Right-click to Save File)

September 2005

ANTARCTICA CUP OCEAN RACE
FREMANTLE – FREMANTLE
Summer 2007/2008

Antarctica Cup Ocean Race headquarters advises the following:

To celebrate Fremantle’s 20th anniversary of the legendary 1987 AMERICA’S CUP DEFENCE and the 125th anniversary of the INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR discussions are progressing to bring existing circumnavigating fleets to compete in the inaugural –

ANTARTICA CUP OCEAN RACE
FREMANTLE – FREMANTLE
Summer 2007 / 2008.

OUT GOES identical one – design boats, nation vs nation, crew nationality rules.

The ANTARCTICA CUP OCEAN RACE is NOW OPEN to existing high performance ocean racing classes such as –

OPEN 60
VO 70
Ocean Racing Multihulls
Other recognised classes
The Antarctica Cup Ocean Race will be an ongoing biennial event staged during the Antarctic Summer (December – February).