Antarctica Cup Ocean Race starts Jan 26 2008

by Bob Williams on 15 Jan 2008 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 more on the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race www.antarcticacup.com http://www.iemail.uk.com/linksite.lasso?1=64966&2=asset_lnk/36_91/&3=http://www.antarcticacup.com

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