Russian adventurer-sailor Fedor Konyukhov is confirmed as the first competitor in the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race (ACYR).

Starting in December 2007, Fedor will attempt to sail his 27 metre (85’) boat “Alye Parusa” around the challenging 14,500 nautical mile Antarctica Cup Racetrack and in doing so claim the inaugural world record for sailing solo, non-stop, around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack and become the first ocean racing sailor to circumnavigate Antarctica.

Chairman of Antarctica Cup Events Management, organiser of the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race, Bob Williams is confident that this inaugural event will inspire future competitors and establish the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race as on ongoing event attracting worldwide participants, “We welcome Fedor in his historic quest. Now that the Volvo Ocean Race has deleted the great Southern Ocean from their future events the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race offers blue water ocean sailors the supreme yachting challenge”, he said.

Commenting on his decision to select the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, Fedor Konyukhov commented, “Sailing around Antarctica is one of the greatest challenges in offshore sailing. With several circumnavigations completed I have always treated the Southern Ocean leg as the most extraordinary, risky and beautiful part of the voyage. I have considered previously the historic challenge of rounding Antarctica non stop and the Antarctica Cup Yacht Race offers this opportunity.”

“To me racing around Antarctica is about sport, adventure and history. This is also a great moment in Russian sailing heritage. To commemorate this event I am dedicating my participation in the ACYR to the historic discovery of the Antarctica by my country-mates.”, Fedor said.

Fedor Konyukhov’s participation in the ACYR is sponsored by the leading retail chain of supermarkets in Moscow “Trading Network Alye Parusa” (Scarlet Sails). TN Alye Parusa has been the main partner for several of Fedor Konyukhov’s offshore sailing record attempts including single-handed round the world sailing on Open 85 maxi yacht in 2005.

The event will be based out of an Australian port yet to be announced.

For more information contact:

Bob Williams

Chairman, Antarctica Cup Management

http://www.antarcticacup.com/

The never before sailed Antarctica Cup Racetrack is a new innovation in ocean racing designed to heighten sports-fans, public, and media interest as boats racing the track traverse the 18 Sectors and Gates of the racetrack. World sailing speed records will be established for the whole track as well as Sectors of the track. Sixteen Antarctic Islands inside the inner and outer boundaries of the racetrack form hazards of the course.

Eligible competitors include solo and crewed eligible monohull and multihull circumnavigation racing yachts.

The Antarctica Cup Racetrack also acknowledges the heroic achievements of historic explorers via the naming of Racetrack Sectors.

The Russian explorer Captain Fabian (Fedor) Gottlieb von Bellinghausen is recognised as the leader of the first vessels in history to discover and circumnavigate Antarctica when in 1820 with the two Russian ships “Vostok” (East) and “Mirniy” (Peaceful).

When Fedor sails across Legs 8 – 13 on the Antarctica Cup Racetrack he will also become the first racing sailor ever to sail from south of Cape Horn to south of Cape of Good Hope across the South Atlantic Ocean below 45 degrees south.

About Fedor – (www.konyukhov.ru)

Fedor Konyukhov has sailed four times around the world including participation in BOC Challenge and Vendee Globe. He has climbed the seven summits of the world, including Mt. Everest. Skied to the North Pole – three times and he is the first Russian who reached the South Pole unsupported by ski.

He has rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in record time of 46 days.

Fedor Konyukhov’s participation in the ACOR is patronized by the speaker of the Russian Senate – Sergey Mironov.

Open 85

Year: 2000 / Refit 2007 (Pendennis)

Builder : MAG (France)

Designer : Alexander SIMONIS/ Maarten VOOGD

Type : Open mono hull

Material of the hull: Aluminium

Length overall : 27,00 meters (with bowsprit)

Length on deck : 25.35 meters

Maximum beam : 7,03 meters

Displacement : 30 tonnes

Boat draught: 5 meters

Keel weight: 6,9 tonnes

Water ballast: 6 tonnes on each side x (3 x 2 000 liters).

Mast : 35 meters carbon mast

Boom : 12 meters carbon boom

Standing rigging : PBO rigging

Front stays : PBO stays with Facnor furlers

Sails : North Sails (France)

260 m2 mainsail

200 m2 genoa

120 m2 solent jib

70 m2 stay sail

530 m2 asymmetrical spinnaker

Boat history:

In 2004-2005 Fedor Konyukhov sailed single-handed around the world: Lizard (UK)

- Tasmania (Hobart) - Lizard (UK) and for the last 3 years has clocked more than 50.000 nautical miles.

The boat is currently based in Falmouth, UK where she is undergoing main refit at Pendennis Shipyard. The boat will arrive in Australia at the beginning of December 2007.

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