Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Fedor Konyukhov sets Antarctica record

by Robert Williams on 7 May 2008
Fedor Konyukhov crosses the Finish Line: Official Finish Time 1056:50 WST, 0256:50 UTC, 07 May 08 Antarctica Cup Antarctica Cup Racetrack http://www.antarcticacup.com
Russian solo circumnavigator Fedor Konyukhov returned to Albany, Western Australia, (7th May 2008 WST) a hero today, throwing down the gauntlet to yachtsmen around the world to break his 102 day record around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack.

For the bearded 56 year old sailor, this was his 4th solo circumnavigation. 'Will it be his last?', Fedor was asked 'Having just spent 95 days in the Roaring Forty and Furious Fifty latitudes, I’m not planning to go back in the near future. But the Southern Ocean provides the most spectacular sailing conditions in the world. If I go again, it will be with a crew to make the most of the wild surfing rides you get down there.' He answered.

Setting out from Albany with his Open 85ft monohull Trading Network Alye Parusa at 18:21:40 UTC (10:21:40 WST) on Australia Day – 26th January to take on yachting’s last great frontier. He braved a succession of storms, freezing temperatures, the ever present threat of icebergs and collisions with whales. Konyukhov came through it all unscathed, returning to King George Sound at 02: 56:50 UTC (10:56:50 WST) today to record a time of 102 days 00 hours 56 minutes 50secs for this 16,400 mile circuit of Antarctica.

He had set out from Falmouth England on 12th October 2007, and discounting a 5 day stop in Cape Town and 2 weeks in Albany prior to the start, his 85ft yacht has been ‘home’ for the past 6 months. 'We have done 30,000 miles together and now have the greatest respect for her. But I am looking forward now to a nice thick steak, a shower, clean sheets, and 12 hours of sleep. It sounds basic, but that is exactly what I need.' He told reporters gathered on Albany Dock to greet him back


To commemorate this inaugural voyage, Bob Williams, Chairman of the Antarctica Cup Race Management announced that they will name Gate 12 (0º W - 0º E) within the Racetrack as the Konyukhov Gate.



Fedor’s achievements
a.. First solo sailor to complete the Antarctica Cup Racetrack.
b.. First solo sailor to traverse the South Atlantic Ocean - Cape Horn to Cape Agulhas - below 45° South.
c.. First solo sailor to sail non stop from 121°E - 110°E, 15,700 NM, below 40° south taking 95 days - 40 days of which were below 50°S.
d.. First solo sailor to sail a maxi yacht solo around Antarctica.

Antarctica Cup origins
The Antarctica Cup Yacht Race concept has taken Bob Williams and his team 5 years to develop. It brings land based racetrack functionality to yacht racing with a ‘virtual’ 360° racetrack around Antarctica. Like all great racetracks it has a permanent home - Albany in Western Australia.

Albany is one of the oldest ports in Australia. King George Sound is the gateway to Princess Royal Harbour where Albany is located, and like Sydney Harbour, is one of the most beautiful waterways in Australia.

The Princess Royal Sailing Club is one of the oldest in Australia, having been based in Princess Royal Harbour for the past 98 years. It hosts the annual Albany Race around Cape Leeuwin from Fremantle. Next year work will commence on a new AU$100 million waterfront development and marina in Albany with deepwater berths for maxi sized yachts.

The Antarctica Cup will now be an annual. Fedor’s solo circumnavigation has sparked considerable interest around the world with entries now planned from the USA, Europe and Australasia.


Antarctica Cup Ocean Race Divisions
Division A – Nation Vs Nation Monohull & Multihull
Division B – Solo Monohull & Multihull
Division C – Crewed Monohull & Multihull
Division D – Production Monohull & Multihull

The Antarctica Cup Racetrack will be open each year from December to March for races and record attempts.


Fedor Konyukhov - Biography
a.. 1977: Led a scientific research expedition on a 40 ft yacht along the route of Commodore Vitus Bering.
b.. 1979: Second stage of the scientific research expedition on yacht along the route Vladivostok –Sakhalin Island – Kamchatka – the Commodore Islands - Ascension - Klyuchevskiy Volcano.
c.. 1980: Participated in the Baltic Cup.
d.. 1990/1: First Russian sailor to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation - Sydney (Australia) to Sydney.
e.. 1994: Completed a second against the prevailing winds.
f.. 1997: Skippered the Russian entry in the Ericcson Maxi World Cup.
g.. 1998/9: Completed the Around Alone Solo Round the World Race in Open 60 ‘Modern University for the Humanities’
h.. 2000/1: Completed the Vendee Globe solo non-stop round the world race in Modern University for the Humanities’
i.. 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
j.. 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)
k.. 2003: Set a 16 day W-E transatlantic sailing record from Jamaica — Lands End (UK) on ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa
l.. 2003: Set an 11-hour trans-Baltic sailing record from Helsinki (Finland) to St. Petersburg (Russia). on maxi yacht BOLS
m.. 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’
n.. 2004/5: Solo circumnavigation from Falmouth (UK) to Hobart (Tasmania) Falmouth in Single-handed round the world sailing in ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa‘
o.. 2008: Set a solo non-stop record around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack of 102 days 00 hours 56 minutes 50secs in ‘Trading Network Alye Parusa‘



(Sail World: We stand and applaud you Fedor Konyukhov)

RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERVetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTERAllen Dynamic 40 Footer

Related Articles

Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang for larger yachts
Specifically sized for yachts measuring between 50 and 55 feet A rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing, preventing the boom from falling into the cockpit or onto the coach roof. Equipped with gas springs, it automatically elevates the boom upon release of the kicking strap.
Posted today at 11:00 am
SailGP Racing on the Edge Season 5 Episode 5
Los Gallos revisit their SailGP Season 4 triumph Get a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of the SailGP Season 4 Champions as they return to winning territory – facing personal and professional challenges head on.
Posted today at 9:01 am
Final opportunity to enter AWKR
This is a final call to female sailors This is a final call to female sailors who would like to race Australia's premier all-female regatta, the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), where you will join the 25 already entered in Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron's (RMYS) annual event.
Posted today at 5:35 am
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans starts Tuesday
The fleet is ready for racing in Thessaloniki, Greece A new chapter begins for the fast doublehanded classes. The Champions from Paris 2024 have mostly either retired or are taking breaks for various reasons, leaving the start of the new quadrennial to a new group of sailors.
Posted on 2 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup practice day
Breezy, beautiful Baiona finds favour again with TP52 teams Takashi Okura's Sled team today laid down a marker on the beautiful waters off Baiona, NW Spain as the top performers over the two official practice races sailed today on the eve of the Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup.
Posted on 2 Jun
RORC centenary Rolex Fastnet Race
All set for another record-breaker Less than two months now remain until the start of the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race, this year coinciding with the Royal Ocean Racing Club's centenary.
Posted on 2 Jun
Team Racing Worlds at Newport, RI, overall
Corinthian Yacht Club puts on top notch performance to win Sustained winds in the low 20-knot range and choppy seas brought on another challenging day in the final stretch of the 2025 Team Racing World Championship.
Posted on 2 Jun
Young Aussie squad ready to shine at Europeans
Australia's fast boat sailors are set for the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans in Greece Australia's fast boat sailors are set to take on the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships this week in Thessaloniki, Greece. With up to 18 races scheduled over the next six days, it's set to be a high-intensity regatta.
Posted on 2 Jun
The call of the mighty
See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action, braving the elements, and glory for the victorious. As an Australian, you have King Louie (the late Lou Abrahams), and the late Sir Jim Hardy as the poster boys.
Posted on 1 Jun
Southern Wind Rendezvous overall
A Perfect Conclusion to a Perfect Event The horn sounded right on time for the fourth day of the Southern Wind Rendezvous and Trophy. Blue skies, warm sun, and 6-7 knots of breeze with gusts up to 10 knots accompanied the fleet on a 15-mile course rounding Monaci and Secca Tre Monti.
Posted on 1 Jun