retirement<\/a>. <\/p>\nNew keel was designed by the naval architect Jaap van der Neut (New Zealand). Based on these drawings new keel was produced by AIMECS ENGINEERING Ltd (New Zealand) in association with Holton Marine. <\/p>\n
Just 2 days before the Christmas the boat was re-launched in Auckland. 8 Russian crew including skipper Fedor Konyukhov and project manager Oscar Konyukhov are coming to Auckland on 03 of January 2009 to get the boat ready for long distance passage: New Zealand \u2013 Cape Horn \u2013 Falkland Islands \u2013 Antigua \u2013 Falmouth (UK). <\/p>\n
The boat will be skippered by Australian sailor Mark McRae, with Fedor Konyukhov taking part only in leg 1 (NZ \u2013 Cape Horn – Falklands) \u2013 as a co-skipper. <\/p>\n
The 7,000-mile route has been again plotted across the rigorous Roaring Forties and the Howling Fifties. In order to sail round Cape Horn, the yacht will have to reach out to the 57th degree of southern latitude. <\/p>\n
Fedor Konyukhov said, “To me, please God, this will be a fifth cruise round the legendary Cape Horn. To the rest of the crew that will be the first experience. The goal is to navigate the route safely and preserve the yacht and the crew. Sailing across Southern Ocean is great experience and I hope that our crew will enjoy this passage. One of the goal is to get the crew ready for next year fully crewed Antarctica Cup Russian-Australian campaign. The rules for Antarctica Cup is very simple: circumnavigate Antarctica from west to east within the corridor 45 South \u2013 60 South, non-stop, unassisted. This is what makes AC race \u2013 the ultimate challenge for every sailor. Leg from New Zealand to Cape Horn should be good learning curve for the Russian crew before Antarctica Cup 2010”. <\/p>\n
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