Day 114. It was decided to end the expedition
After assessing all damages and equipment malfunctions on the rowing boat, the team has advised Fedor Konyukhov to end this unprecedented ocean crossing and evacuate aboard the passing cargo vessel. This decision is supported by all project partners.
Today, the expedition center contacted the NSRI of South African (National Sea Rescue Institute) as this falls within their jurisdiction. NSRI has connected a coordination center on Reunion Island.
A vessel route analysis identified the nearest ship: the ORE HONG KONG cargo ship under the flag of Hong Kong – MMSI 477162700, traveling from Brazil to China. At 09:00 UTC on March 29, it is located 400 miles away from the AKROS boat.
In the coming days, March 30-31, favorable weather conditions are expected in the Indian ocean in the area where AKROS is located. The bulk carrier ORE HONG KONG will be able to get close enough and launch a boat to arrange a transfer. Weather permits the crew of the bulk carrier will try to collect the AKROS boat, but if it does not work out, Fedor Konyukhov will secure all systems, seal the hatches, and the boat will drift toward Australia with an active Iridium Rock Star satellite buoy and AIS system ON.
The reasons for this decision: at the moment, the boat’s critical control and life-support systems have failed. Yesterday, Fedor confirmed the autopilot control unit has stopped working.
The wind indicators were also damaged (as a result of the boat’s multiple capsizes). There were four wind indicators on board (and two connectors for them). All of them are out of order.
The main desalination plant (Schenker) has failed. Fedor is currently using a backup unit, but its long-term functionality is uncertain. There are still several months of voyage ahead and 5 000 km to Western Australia coast…
This is a difficult decision, especially for Fedor Konyukhov. Throughout all 73 years of his life, he has always returned to the port aboard the same yacht or boat he started with. He had never abandoned his vessel, his home in the ocean.… However, Fedor is the first one on this route. The crossing of the South Atlantic Ocean will be recorded as the first rowing boat passage in history (completed in 68 days). This is a world-class achievement!
Fedor Konyukhov is preparing for the transfer. So far, he has covered 11,000 km along the lag (!) – 120 degrees. The remaining distance to Australia is 60° – half of the globe along the meridians!
Even at a pace of 1 degree of longitude per day (which is unlikely), reaching Australia would take a minimum of 2 more months. The approach to Australia will be in winter season, in conditions of severe Antarctic storms. With such technical failures, this could have fatal consequences.
If we compare the 154–day leg 1 crossing in 2019 in the South Pacific Ocean, it was calmer there. In 154 days, the boat only capsized at the finish line, when approaching the Drake Strait, where the ocean floor rises to the continental shelf, creating steep waves. However, at that time, it was clear Fedor could complete the remaining 500 miles even with a handheld GPS and paper charts.
This time, the situation is far worse: not three capsizes, as in 2019, but dozens, occurring right at the midpoint of the route (February 2025). No one could have predicted such extreme conditions.
The team is currently engaged in an operation to evacuate Fedor from the rowing boat to the bulk carrier under conditions that pose no danger to either him or the ship’s crew. The goal is to avoid unnecessary risks – delaying another week could result in a full-scale rescue operation in storm conditions (bad weather is coming in few days’ time).
In a conversation with Fedor, he shared his initial thoughts: “Yes, perhaps these crossings should be divided into stages: South America – South Africa (although approaching South Africa is very difficult), and then South Africa – Australia.”
As we know, Fedor reached Cape Agulhas (RSA) in 68 days. The super-goal of crossing two oceans: the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean in one season turned out to be overwhelming. The route was too extreme in terms of weather conditions, cold and massive waves (40 ft).
For the next 48 hours, our priority is to evacuate Fedor Konyukhov aboard the cargo ship as safely as possible and in conditions of stable communication with the rescue services and the crew of the cargo ship.
Current coordinates of AKROS: 42°05′ south latitude and 60°00′ east longitude.