Over a year ago, three-men crew of the cruising yacht Ivanois sailed from the port of Odesa to circumnavigate the world. They dedicated their journey to the 215th anniversary of their native city’s founding. It started on September 2, 2009, and recently, on October 12, the voyagers have returned home. By the way, the arrival of the yacht was expected on October 8, but it came late due to weather conditions. Crew members were met as real heroes, because no Odesite before dared to embark on a circumnavigation.
As the yacht captain Stanislav Tryzna told, the crew rounded under sail Africa, Australia and South America, visited Genoa, Marseilles, Valencia, Varna, Constanta and other cities. He said the sailors aimed to promote sailing, strengthen the image of Odesa at the international level as well as establish partnerships with foreign port cities. The municipal authorities praised the seafarers’ exploits and presented them with awards. Accordingly, the captain was given the honorary award For Services to the City for significant personal contribution to the development of physical culture and sports in Odesa, as well as successful completion of the circumnavigation on the yacht Ivanois. Other members of the crew, mate Anatolii Tolchynsky and helmsman Oleksandr Savytsky, also received honorary awards from the mayor. In addition, the Odesa City Council has allocated UAH 20,000-worth bonuses to every member of the crew.
Although the journey itself has remained in the past, memories of it abound. For the yachtsmen spent 13 months offshore. The expedition itself was called successful by the participants, and this despite the fact that they had to repair the boat several times during the voyage. They, however, did not experience any financial difficulties.
“In the sea all things are important, there are no inessential niceties. Of course there were difficult moments. Odesa seemed so close, but we just couldn’t go into port because of the weather. We were in the French southern territory, that’s two islands. It is such a harsh land! The sea is, of course, the waves in the ocean. During the fourth storm, waves were very high and it was just very scary. But when the waves went to become even higher, our fear was transformed into fascination. However, the main danger in the sea is the same as everywhere, that is, people. We had two incidents when a ship nearly collided with us in dark. As we were going under sail, we had limited maneuverability. It was off the coast of Argentina – first a fishing boat, and then a Chinese dry cargo ship, which tried to outrun us, constantly changing course. And what we were to do, on which side were we to lay the sail? It was unclear how to go away from him. We contacted it by radio, set all the navigation lights prescribed in the rules. Only at the last moment they departed.
After the voyage, the sailors are returning to the normal rhythm of life. However, fascination with the sea and the desire for another adre-nalin adventure is as strong in them as before the journey. This is why it is doubtful that their first circumnavigation will be the last.
