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Russian Roulette at Cape Horn

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Boating and Sailing News 12 Mar

antarctica cup Cape Horn certainly lived up to its reputation today as Russian adventure sailor Fedor Konyukhov swept through Drake’s Passage, pushed by 50-65 knot westerly winds.

The infamous Cape marks the spiritual half way stage in Fedor’s trail-blazing solo circumnavigation around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack and these storm-force winds, coupled with the 135 million cubic metres of water running each second through the 500 nautical mile wide funnel that divides the South Pacific from the South Atlantic, makes these the most feared waters in the world.

“The storm came upon me very suddenly - and very hard. I knew it was coming and hoped the winds would build gradually, but the storm came as one huge gust and the winds have not dropped below 50 knots since, with gusts up to 65 knots. It is like all hell has broken loose. It is pitch dark, it is snowing, the ocean is completely covered in foam and the air is filled with spray. The noise on deck is enormous – it’s as if I am in a wind turbine. The waves are short and traveling very fast – like a train. The boat is continually surfing down one wave and hitting the one in front. I have had to reduce sail to the minimum to stay in pace with the ocean. The feeling is that I am in the high altitude jet stream with the water roaring and running east.”

This is Fedor's fourth rounding of Cape Horn, and the second aboard Trading Network Alye Parusa. For the moment, visibility, not the winds, remain Konyukov’s prime concern. “Visibility is bad. I have my radar set for 6 miles - Alarm zone, but with my boat Trading Network Alye Parusa diving in and out of the huge swells, the radar is continually sounding false alarms. Each time, I jump on deck and get a cold shower. So far there have been plenty of alarms or false alarms but I cannot sight an iceberg. Frankly, it is hard enough to define the difference between ocean and sky – it all looks like one grey blanket. I hate to say it, but I am playing Russian roulette here.“

Google Earth image showing position of large icebergs (over 10 k) and track taken by Fedor Konyukhov towards Cape Horn:

antarctica cup

Trading Network Alye Parusa Position report:
Dateline: 13:44UTC March 12 2008
Position: 56,12.33S 67,13.11W Speed: 12 knots, Course: 89°

Photo: Fedor Konyukhov on the yacht Trading Network Alye Parusa on the Antarctica Race track.

Submitted By YachtPals on 12 Mar

Antarctica Cup, Fedor Konyukhov, Cape Horn, boats, boat, sailing, sail, yachts, yacht, sailboats, sailboat, cape horn

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Fedor Konyukhov, on board Trading Network Alye Parusa, Cape Horn

On March 14th, 2008 Fedor Konyukhov (not verified) says:

It is very emotional to stay here on deck and see this massive rock which is a milestone for my journey around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack. The approach was very difficult. The ocean was indescribably wild and powerful. My 30 tons boat was dragged like a tree leaf, the waves were hitting us in the port rudder, the stern and in the starboard rudder. There was no place to hide as waves were coming from N-W, W, S-W. On the approach to Diego Ramirez Islands one of two Raymarine autopilots burned down, (I think it was a motor), the boat lost control turned on the wind and got such an impact that I thought we would lose bow and mast. I took me half a minute to sort things out with the burnt out pilot and switched to the reserve unit.

Things began to improve 20 miles to Cape Horn. After a terrible night all of a sudden we have a stunning sun rise with some sun breaks! It was a greatest gift possible. Visibility improved and I can see Cape Horn 15 miles on my port side. It took me another hour to get close enough to see the Cape in all its beauty. This is the first land I have seen from Albany! On the VHF – channel 16- Chilean fishermen are talking to each other. It is such a great thing to hear someone on the radio! I am not alone in this Ocean! The fourth time for me proves to be lucky – I can finally see Cape Horn from the deck of my boat. That was my dream. In my 3 previous roundings – but it always happened during the night.

I’m 56 and don’t know if I will have a chance to see Cape Horn again, but with four successful passages around – I think it is enough for me. I’m satisfied and feel complete in the way that we reached the Everest of the Ocean. Although this time it is a special rounding – we are not heading north towards the Equator but will stay in the Southern Ocean for another 8.000 miles to Albany.

Fedor Konyukhov, on board Trading Network Alye Parusa, Cape Horn.

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Update from Fedor Konyukhov at Sea

On March 16th, 2008 Fedor Konyukhov (not verified) says:

The Falkland Islands are 200 nautical miles astern. Passing through this part of the South Atlantic Ocean gave something new to my daily routine. The boat was surrounded by all sorts of marine life. The changes came as soon as were over Burdwood Bank south of the Falklands. It was unusual to read 50-80 meters under the keel after we had average 5,000 meters since the New Zealand shoals. The waters here are booming with life; plenty of albatrosses, I had around 15 of them following my yacht, polar dolphins, whales. The ocean has a strong smell of sea weed.

On Saturday morning my Active Echo Radar detector sounded with an alarm buzz which means the AER received a radar wave signal from another vessel. I found a vessel on my bow starboard side on a collision course. I transmitted over the radio my call sign and notified that I’m a solo sailor heading for Western Australia. The officer on watch recognized my accent and asked if I am Russian. Second question he asked was – “Are you Fedor Konyukhov…?” I was puzzled and ask him why? He responded “who else can be here Deep South on a sailing yacht and talks Russian?” We had a nice chat over the radio – the crew is from St. Petersburg. They are working on a ship that is re-supplying South Georgia Island and the South Sandwich Islands for the coming winter. Now the ship is heading back to Montevideo. They told me they had very rough weather a few days ago which was no surprise to me. It was good to talk to your country mates when you are half way away from home.

On Saturday evening I heard Japanese speech on VHF channel 16. I checked the radar – 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 miles – nothing. The area is clear. Just in case I put over the air my standard radio call and suddenly I could see a clear mark on the radar three miles on my port side. I ran on deck – it is a Japanese fishing base over 100 meters in size. They responded to my radio call and changed heading. Five minutes later they disappeared from my radar screen as sudden as they appeared.
After you have not seen any vessels for weeks – two ships within 24 hours looks like we are in a heavy traffic situation.

We have a hectic weather pattern with the wind going in circles. Today I should experience head winds from SE.

Regards Fedor