Stormy week of February

The final month of summer (February is the Southern Hemisphere’s equivalent of August in Northern Hemisphere) is testing both Fedor Konyukhov and his boat for endurance.

For the third day in a row, the weather remains stormy, and the forecast calls for several more cyclones until February 8.

On February 2, there will be a short break, only for half a day, before an extremely intense Force 9 storm passes through the area where AKROS is currently located.

On February 3-4, the wind will reach 45-50 knots, with gusts up to 60 knots. Such wind will raise massive waves 8-10 meters with powerful foamy crests. The main danger is the boat capsizing. And although it is designed as a self-righting vessel, a capsize in these conditions could damage deck equipment and injure the person on board. This must be avoided at all costs.

Stormy weather will remain throughout the entire eastern sector of the Atlantic south of 45 degrees latitude. Fedor sends short messages, reporting that so far everything is fine and he is holding on.

Just over 10 degrees remain before reaching the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope. These final degrees of the Atlantic are proving to be the most difficult – storm after storm. Fedor writes that it feels as if the South Atlantic wouldn’t let go. While the first half of the journey in the Atlantic was relatively moderate in terms of weather, on the final stretch the ocean justifies the name of the “roaring forties” latitudes.

In such conditions, it is impossible to cook hot food or even boil a cup of water. For the next three or even four days, Fedor’s diet will consist of dry rations and bottled water.

Boat position: 45°50′ south latitude, 07°10′ east longitude.

The route map is here.