Fedor Filippovich Konyukhov

Participating in the international sailing regatta “Around the Globe – Alone,” he made his third circumnavigation, on yacht “Modern University of the Humanities.” At first, there were 39 contenders from many countries, but only 16 vessels made it to the start, others were rejected due to several reasons – among them were those who did not qualify in the two thousand sea miles race. Fedor passed the trial, but he was hit real hard by three hurricanes. He had an especially difficult time struggling with the hurricane Daniel near the Bermudas. For three days his yacht was on its beam ends and he had to take enormous efforts to put it straight up again.

The race covered the entire World Ocean 27 thousand sea miles long, i. e. 50 thousand kilometers, and was passing trough the American port of Charleston–Cape Town (SAR)–Auckland (New Zealand)–Punta-del-Este (Uruguay)–Charleston. It is interesting to note that to all of these stops his wife Irina and son Oskar flew to give Fedor moral support; they also helped him to solve technical problems with his yacht).

The yachtsmen were cruising for eight months in total – since September of 1998 till May of 1999. They were tried by tropical heat and piercing wind of the Antarctic, had to dodge steel ships and icebergs and all this time they were racing on, without sleep or rest. With some boats there were up to fifteen different wrecks and Konyuhov’s yacht was no exception. At night time he collided with a sleeping whale and bent his rudder. When he was approaching Cape Horn, a dolphin jumped aboard, and the skipper had great difficulty pushing the heavy and slick body of this sea guest into its natural element. At Brazilian coast he barely fought off modern filibusters with the help of a signal pistol.

Unable to bear the race’s extreme conditions, seven participants dropped out. Fedor Konyuhov was the third to finish the race. An official telegram was sent for him from Moscow’s mayor Yuri Luzhkov, “We are so pleased that such legendary traveler lives in Moscow and continues the traditions of our compatriots in discovering the planet.”

According to F. Konyuhov’s request, he is signed up to participate in the International sailing regatta “Windy Globe-2000” which is scheduled to take start on November 5 of 2000. The main characteristic of this global race is that it will be non-stop – without any port calls! And what is also attracting Konyuhov: one has to round the Antarctica, and he has had this desire to follow the route of the first pioneers of the sixth continent, Russian navy officers Faddey Bellinsgauzen and Mikhail Lazarev. It will be the fourth circumnavigation for the brave mariner. Before that he has already participated in the international dog-sled race “Aiditarod-2000” in the snow-covered Alaska, along the route of gold-hunters of the XIX century.

Our science benefits very much from expeditions of this wonderful traveler, as well as our sport, tourism and whole society. They show what a man can do, when he is well trained physically and psychologically and able to keep good health and functionality in what is sometimes difficult circumstances. It is no wonder that the 48-year old pathfinder plans to keep on traveling till 2020.

To increase the baggage of his knowledge, Fedor is studying at the Modern Humanities University’s Law Department; he also runs the lab of distance training in extreme conditions.

Fedor Konyuhov always, even during his journeys, paints and draws a lot. He is a member of the Artists Union and a member of the Journalists Union of Russian Federation. Three books were published in 1999, “And I Saw the New Earth and the New Heaven,” “Havre-Charleston,” and “Discovering the Antarctic;” earlier his almanac “Russian Traveler” was published. It is mainly diary notes of the author, but you read them as adventure novels.

Fedor Konyuhov’s name is enlisted among the most prominent scholars and inventors in the international encyclopedia “The Chronicle of Humankind.” The traveler is awarded the Order of Peoples’ Friendship, UNESCO’s honorary diploma for his contribution to environmental studies. He is an Honoured Master of Sports and yacht captain.

Besides the main avocation of his life – traveling – Fedor Filippovich also writes poetry, music for organ and novels.

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