Russian traveller covers 7,438 miles on solo trip across Pacific

VLADIVOSTOK, April 17 (Itar-Tass) - The rowboat of world-famous Russian traveller Fyodor Konyukhov, who is crossing the Pacific Ocean on a solo rowing voyage, has already covered more than 12,000 kilometers (7,438 nautical miles). Konyukhov’s Turgoyak boat is to cover another 3,300 kilometers to reach Brisbane on Australia’s eastern coast. The traveller has been on his solo trip for almost four months since he started from Chile’s Concon on December 22, 2013. The captain, who expects to reach the port of destination in 200 days, is already a month ahead of his schedule. During the communication session with Moscow on Wednesday, Konyukhov said he was sailing under adverse weather conditions. “Over the past few days, the wind has been from the south, heaving three-meter-high side waves, and the water pours into the boat heavily”. The captain fails to sail west as the wind is carrying Turgoyak northward, and over the past 24 hours the boat has been driven ten miles northward. “It is not critical, but it is always too bad to lose miles. I am waiting for the wind to change,” he said. Konyukhov also said he had witnessed lunar eclipse. “Last night I saw lunar eclipse, when the Moon turned red. Here, in the open ocean, it was an especially impressive view. The eclipse continued for almost an hour, the skies were clear,” he continued. He also shared his joy over successful fishing sessions, saying he had been catching squids on luminous lure, enjoying boiled squids for breakfast. “Surely, April is the most successful month for fishing. The ocean here has more life, and algae attached to the bottom of the boat attract numerous sea inhabitants,” he said. Konyukhov lives on short rations on his solo voyage - sublime food, tea and coffee. Learn more on itar-tass.com