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Konyukhov becomes world’s first to cross 55th parallel south in rowboat

06 May 2019 05:31 (UTC +04:00)

Russian voyager and survivalist Fyodor Konyukhov, who is now on a solo round-the-world rowboat voyage, has set a world record, being the first to cross the 55th parallel south in the Southern, or Antarctic, Ocean, Konyukhov’s eldest son Oskar, the organizer of the journey, told TASS on Sunday citing his father’s diary, ONA reports citing.

"Today, I crossed the 55th parallel south. It is safe to say that not a single rowboat has ever crossed the 55th parallel in the Southern Ocean. There was an attempt to reach Australia from the Falkland Islands. But these islands are located at the 52nd parallel south," Fyodor Konyukhov writes in the diary.

The adventurer also writes about the foul weather conditions and a forecasted storm. "The week is going to be stormy… It will be hardly ever possible to hide behind the islands. With waves in the Southern Ocean developing a velocity of 50 kilometers per hour and winds of 40 knots, I will not be able to round the islands - the ocean will cast the boat ashore to smash it against the rocks in a couple of hours. I will be able to survive only on the open water. So, I need to stay at sea at all accounts," the diary says.

According to Oskar Konyukhov, the final 200 miles of the expedition are going to be the hardest ones. "Fyodor Konyukhov has crossed the Southern Ocean and is on the last stretch to Cape Horn. The final 200 miles (321 kilometers - TASS) are going to be the most difficult," he said.