Update from Fedor Konyukhov
Ahead me on my route lie the Bounty Islands, which I plan to traverse at Portside and leave to the north of me. What is referred to as ‘Bounty Islands’ is in fact a series of uninhabitable cliffs found at 47 degrees latitude in the Southern Ocean, beaten by enormous waves. I will have to keep my distance from them, and although they are still 100 miles ahead, I have outlined a plan for their traversal.
The coming week’s forecast shows that it will be a tense one. The first storm will come on Tuesday, with another, stronger storm to hit closer to the weekend. These will be the first tests for the row-boat “AKROS”. It has not failed me so far, but there have been no winds stronger than 30 knots. Ahead, I may experience 50+ knots. Such winds can raise waves of up to 8-10 metres.
In three degrees longitude from my current position I will cross the International Dateline and enter the Western Hemisphere.
The Ocean is deserted. I only encountered other vessels in the first few days, and now it has been a week since I saw another boat. Only the albatrosses hover overhead; they are my constant companions. The radio is silent, as are the albatrosses. The Ocean makes enough noise for all of us. It has gathered strength, droning and dragging the boat East. This is the real Southern Ocean, with high-crested, long waves. The wind meanders, blowing North-Westerly for some time, then turning more South-Westerly, but most importantly, it blows in a favourable Westerly direction. On this journey it is impossible to sustain a general course for Cape Horn. The Ocean and the wind are too powerful. I have to constantly adjust in relation to the wind and make sure the boat is not oriented sideways to the waves, or it will capsize.
The furthest south I have reached on this journey so far has been 48.15 degrees latitude, but then I was forced north to 47.45 degrees latitude. The South-Westerly wind pushed me further north, bringing with it freezing cold air from Antarctica. Tonight I will be dragged south again. Hence, these wave-like motion up and down along my course line. It has been ten days since the start, and I can already make my first conclusions. Previously, I have crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in rowboats, but large sections of those journeys took place in very persistent trade-winds. The situation here is completely different. It is very difficult to control the boat, and living on board feels like being in a centrifuge, constantly being tossed and thrown around. Ahead is an iceberg zone, which will present additional challenges. It becomes colder with every day I travel further South. In previous journeys, it grew warmer by the day, as I went deeper into the Tropical latitudes, but this time I’m going into the Antarctic latitudes.
My best regards to all,
Fedor Konyukhov