For 12 long months, a unique vessel of the round-the-world expedition of the Tomsk Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society has been sailing the open seas of our planet. The crew of the sailing trimaran Russian Ocean Way celebrated the landmark date in Argentina, where Evgeny Kovalevsky and Stanislav Berezkin are preparing to sail around Cape Horn. At a meeting at San Fernando Yacht Club, the Russians told their Argentine colleagues why they were sailing around the world, how beautiful Russia was, and how important friendship was between the peoples inhabiting our common home – the Earth.
The meeting at the club, which took place on July 2, turned out to be very warm. The stage was decorated with flags of Argentina, Russia, and the RGS’ expedition. The representatives of the "marine" community from different cities gathered in San Fernando. The employees from the Embassy of the Russian Federation and Consul Georgy Polin personally arrived from Buenos Aires to congratulate their compatriots.
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Evgeny and Stanislav told in detail about the goals of their expedition: to circumnavigate the globe for the first time on an experimental trimaran that has no analogues in the world, as well as to remind about the achievements and discoveries of the great Russian navigators – Ivan Kruzenshtern, Thaddeus Bellingshausen, Mikhail Lazarev, Fedor Litke, Otto Kotzebue, Vasily Golovnin, and many others. Another task that the Russians set for themselves is the mission of friendship between peoples. One of its symbols is the participation of citizens of different countries in the stages of the RGS’ circumnavigation. The signatures of dozens of residents of the states along the shores of which the sailing route passed have already appeared on the flag of the expedition. Many of them were accepted as shore crew members.
With great pleasure, those present at the meeting listened to the story of Evgeny Kovalevsky and Stanislav Berezkin about their native country, about Siberia, about Russian cities that are always ready to warmly welcome guests. The crew recalled the outstanding deeds of the Russian Geographical Society, under the flag of which the trip is taking place.
“Our team and the coastal center, headed by Yulia Kalyuzhnaya, were also noted. The Tomsk Branch of the Russian Geographical Society is the main organizer of the expedition. Everyone present was invited to Siberia. This caused a lively response from the Argentine sailors,” said Evgeny Kovalevsky.
The crew was asked a lot of questions, including specific "marine" ones. Local sailors understood very well and appreciated the uniqueness of the project, the incredible complexity of navigation and survival on an inflatable trimaran.
“They were surprised at our perseverance, persistence, resilience, and confidence in success. Many people took the floor to express their admiration for our marine enterprise, congratulated on the anniversary of the campaign and wished good luck," Kovalevsky shared.
The meeting ended with a team song, which was performed by Kovalevsky and Berezkin to thunderous applause. All participants will have a shared photo as a keepsake.
“Together with the Argentines and the Russians, we made a short video in which we shouted together: ‘Russia, Argentina – amigos! That is, friends!’” added the head of the expedition.
The crew of the trimaran expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the management of San Fernando Yacht Club – it took over the main part of the organizational concerns.
“Commodore Luis Martinez Castro personally organized everything from start to finish. The representatives of the association ‘Nautico’, represented by Sebastian Lutz, also helped. The club's commodore said that it was a great honor for them to receive us and that what was happening now would become part of the history of the planet. The sailors have already expressed in an informal conversation that what we are doing is simply incredible! They expressed admiration for the maritime glory of Russia!” Kovalevsky confessed.
Evgeny Kovalevsky and Stanislav Berezkin accepted the Russian Consul in Argentina, Georgy Polin, as coastal member of the expedition "Following the paths of Russian explorers".
“The Russian-Spanish translation of the entire meeting was conducted by the Consul of the Russian Embassy, Georgy Polin. Thanks a lot to him!” Kovalevsky noted.
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The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Russian and Argentine press, as well as the press service of the Russian Embassy in Argentina.
On July 1, 2021, Siberian travelers Evgeny Kovalevsky and Stanislav Berezkin set off on the route of the first Russian round-the-world expeditions of the 19th century. The international project of the Tomsk Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society "Following the paths of Russian explorers" is dedicated to the 250th birthday anniversary of Krusenstern and the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica by Russian sailors. You can learn more about the project and provide all possible assistance in its implementation on the website of the expedition.
On June 18, the trimaran Russian Ocean Way of the round-the-world expedition of the Tomsk Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society docked for repairs at the shipyard of the yacht club “Nautico” in San Fernando, Argentina. Evgeny Kovalevsky and Stanislav Berezkin begin to prepare their vessel for the passage around Cape Horn.
Alexander Zhirnov