The Day 19th
The Moscow HQ of the transpacific crossing had a stressful day today. The Yellow Brick buoys on board had failed to deliver the coordinates for both 12:00 and 16:00 UTC. On top of that, Fedor was unable to make his regular phone call at 21:00 (Moscow time). When finally he was able to reach us via his satphone, we asked him to restart the buoys’ system. This worked, and we received the coordinates of Tourgoyak as of 17:50 UTC. The reasons for missed coordinates are unknown and we didn’t get a clear explanation from the Yellow Brick developers. Fedor has a reserve buoy on board and it’s been decided to use it the future situation of missed coordinates.
Fedor reports: “It’s been a good day. The wind is 15 knots, at starboard and stern. My course is 305-310. I’m very thankful that we installed a centerboard in the bow section of the boat. Since the sun is scarce I’m not using the autopilot and steer the boat manually. I have a fixed rudder in the stern and the centerboard in the bow. Phil Morrison, who designed Tourgoyak, had insisted that we add the centerboard. Am I glad we listened to him! The ocean is in chaos, mixing and stirring. It feels as though two currents are butting against my boat. The waves slap the boat on each side, unceremoniously.”
Fedor is near 20 degree south latitude and the ocean whirlpool that he found himself in today can be explained by the currents that go parallel to the equator and waves that come from north and south. As we can see on this map –ocean swell that comes from Northern hemisphere meets with swell that comes from Southern Ocean. 20 degree South is a borderline when these two vectors of waves meet each other creating confusing sea.
Fedor: “I was told that a famous Russian marathon-runner Dmitriy Erokhin is currently running from Moscow to Sochi. His trek is dedicated to the Russian Olympic Games in February 2014. Dmitriy is facing 1700 kilometers and he aims to finish his running on the day of the Olympic Games opening – 7th of February 2014. I have no doubt that he will successfully reach Sochi. Although I do think his route is more dangerous than mine. Dmitriy runs alongside of the major traffic highways, and I’m in the ocean far away from any danger posed by cars or other vehicles. I’ll be praying for him and his safe arrival in Sochi. I’m with you all. Fedor.”
As of January 10, 2014 after being on the ocean for 19 days, Fedor has rowed 1116 nautical miles, or 2066 km.
A detailed map of Tourgoyak’s course: www.oceanrowing.com/Konyukhov/Pacific2013/dist_map.htm
To learn more about a Russian long-distance runner, Dmitriy Erokhin click here. http://runmoscowsochi.ru/project.html
One of Dmitriy’s main objectives, besides finishing the 1700 km Moscow-Sochi run, is to raise funds and awareness of the organization called “Orbifond” that helps patients who have suffered a stroke and provides support to their families.
Translated by Tatiana Koreski