“Figure-8” of “Apostle Andrew”. Special interview of captain Nicolas Litau to BASK

On the 14th of October 2001 a sailing yacht ‘Apostle Andrew’ started its second circumnavigation. On leaving Saint Petersburg ‘Apostle’ crossed the Atlantics and reached the Antarctic. After it the yacht crossed the Pacific Ocean and arrived to Kamchatka on the 5th of June 2002. On the 14th of July the crew continued the voyage from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski to finish a circle around the Eastern hemisphere in Saint Petersburg.
A captain of the yacht, Nicolas Litau, has visited BASK and has shared his plans and ideas with us.

Larisa Martynkina, BASK (LM): For the latest eight months ‘Apostle Andrew’ has sailed a distance almost equal to an equator length. How many more miles are lying ahead? When will be the end of your voyage?

Nicolas Litau (NL), a captain of ‘Apostle Andrew’ yacht: We’ve sailed the best part of the lane: 21,000 sea miles what makes three-fourths of the great circle around the Eastern hemisphere that we planned. To complete the voyage, we have to pass North-west Passage coastwise Alaska and Canadian Arctic Islands. We hope to finish the navigation in four months.
When we dropped an anchor at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski, we tied a knot in an imaginary ‘figure-8’ formed with threads of our both circumnavigations. If we succeed, ‘Apostle Andrew’ will be the first yacht that has sailed all along the perimeter of Artic Ocean just for two sails.

LM: North-west Passage is a hardest way for a sailing yacht. Your second circumnavigation is no less dangerous and no less difficult than the previous, but it takes less time. Why so?

NL: Our first circumnavigation lasted since the November of 1996 till the November of 1999 – three round years. We spent two winters on-land. First time it happened in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski, when we came there too late to start for the Arctic. Second time it was in Tixi because of a break in weather and a severe damage of the ship, including a broken helm.
Now we have eliminated some bugs in design of our ship paying special attention to peculiarities of high latitudes navigation. So this time we spent eight months to sail the distance we needed a whole year before. Besides, we were fortunate with winds: last time we were calming in the Atlantics while now we were sailing all the time round.

LM: You have crossed Antarctic Circle and reached the record for yachts 69th parallel. Your sailing in the Antarctic, in the most severe weather, may be called a feat –

NL: Truly speaking, high altitude sailing proved to be a real trial for our crew. Near Antarctic Circle iceberg density rose to 6-7 grade as measured by 7-grade scale. Though, we left to sea especially to accomplish feats  The same feat was repeated each day: we had to leave a warm BASK sleeping bag that was the most comfortable place at our yacht.
In general, BASK equipment had very often relieved us in difficult situations. Storm suits were specially designed following our recommendations. The main problem was to keep our feet warm and we found a decision: yacht shoes were put over warm socks and above all these -– warm BASK overshoes. That worked.
LM: I know that your first circumnavigation made the Russian yacht very popular and brought you the highest international awards –

NL: Well, Kings Cruiser Club of Great Britain called our circumnavigation ‘the most distinguished achievement of world yachting in year 1999’. We were awarded a medal ‘For art of sailing’ and in January of 2002 American Cruiser Club presented us a ‘Blue Water Medal’. It’s the unique case in a world history when both these prestigious prizes were adjudged to the same ship. But our best award consists in love and applause of our compatriots.

26.08.2002