Priest eyes world record
A Russian priest is in Dunedin to launch a world record rowing attempt.
Fedor Konyukhov aims to become the first person to row the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn, eventually completing a 27,000km solo circumnavigation of the world.
The 66-year-old chose Dunedin as his launch site, believing it offers favourable conditions for his 9-metre vessel, Akros, during the first leg of 6000 nautical miles.
The British-designed boat will have to withstand expected storms and being capsized in rough conditions.
The vessel has several energy sources, and even features a floor heating system in the cabin.
Konyukhov was ordained as an Eastern Orthodox priest in 2010. He is a well-known adventurer and his latest quest follows a successful world-first row from Chile to Australia in 2014.
‘‘I heard about Dunedin because of the Albatross Centre and for me the albatross is a symbolic bird, always in the air, always where the strong winds are,’’ he said.
‘‘In heavy weather when all birds hide, the albatross is soaring.’’
Each stage is expected to take about 120 days.
The first stage will begin later this month, followed by stage two (Cape Horn to Western Australia) from December 2019.
The final stage will be from Australia to New Zealand in 2020.