15:05 Moscow Time. A call from Fedor Konyukhov via satellite phone to the expedition center
On February 13 and 15, a powerful storm passed through the area where the AKROS boat is located. Waves of 7-8 meters persisted for almost a day. Over the past 48 hours, we have received only 2 short text messages: “I have a storm” and “I’m alive and well”. And now hearing Fedor’s voice now was very important for us.
“The waves are like mountains, the boat has capsized many times, I’ve lost count of how many. But each time the boat self-right itself I returned to an even keel.”
“The Raymarine wind index is broken. This is the second one – I installed it after the storm on February 3–4. There are 2 more left…”
“The Iridium360 ROCKSTAR satellite tracking buoy was flooded. There is water inside the device, its sealing turned out to be weak. I placed a new buoy on the deck. There were 3 buoys on board, and now 2 remain working (1 on deck, 1 in reserve).”
“Some black birds flew in, like swallows, but larger. They are trying to land on the boat, but they are afraid of getting hit by the waves. What are they doing here?”
“I love the ocean, I praise it in my books, I paint it’s beauty, and yet it treats me so harshly. The third week in the storms.”
“I can’t cook anything hot, the boat is being tossed around, and I’m afraid of getting burned with boiling water. So it’s just cold water, Argentinian dried fruit, and biscuits for now. My Great Lent has already begun.”
“But it’s all right, with God’s help and through the prayers of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, I am alive. It’s been 72 days in the ocean on this boat.”
Fedor called using a handheld Iridium phone (the stationary terminal has not yet been restored after a force-10 storm on February 3-4). The handheld phone has its own external antenna on a 3-meter cable, typically used for calls from a moving vehicle with an antenna mounted on the roof. Fedor takes the antenna out onto the cabin roof while staying inside. This can only be done in relatively good weather. The connection was stable.
His voice sounded exhausted, the third week of storms is affecting. Today there is a 6-8 hour break before another storm sets in for a full day. Everyone who heard Fedor’s voice at that moment was amazed by his endurance and self-control. A person enduring such trials in the ocean can still stay composed, notice birds, make technical remarks about the boat (“this part we designed well, but here we overlooked something”), and even give instructions on what needs to be improved for the future!
Meanwhile, Fedor Konyukhov is approaching the midpoint of his journey (in terms of longitude). We won’t get ahead of ourselves, but the shore team is holding its breath in anticipation.
The coordinates of the AKROS boat: 44°38′ south latitude and 25°04′ east longitude.