site.btaFull Arctic Row Crew to Assist Plankton Studies

The world's first rowing expedition, which began the crossing of the Arctic Ocean from end to end, Full Arctic Row - FAR, supports a scientific project dedicated to plankton, the skipper told BTA, shortly after the successful crossing of the 60th parallel. The crew dropped their first floating anchor on the voyage due to headwinds of up to 13 knots.

FAR will not only be the longest voyage across the Arctic Ocean ever undertaken by rowboat, but also the first in human history in which the Arctic Ocean will be crossed by rowboat from end to end.

The expedition supports the "Yes! For Life" campaign (in support of organ donation) and a petition to protect the Southern Ocean.

The tandem Stefan Ivanov - Vladimir Tabutov started rowing from Haugesund, Norway. 

Stefan Ivanov told BTA that they will collect and provide a total of 80 samples to the scientists from the Sofia University. Their research will provide understanding about climate change and global warming, and on a larger scale the information will be useful for future scientists and politicians who will have to make decisions related to the future of society.

The Bulgarian crew is at the beginning of a superhuman effort that lies ahead. The temperature to the north will be dropping further, polar bears swim these latitudes, the waves are as big as hills and there are currents that are treacherous, though Ivanov eloquently described them as "lumps in curly hair".

Sometimes it's nice, Ivanov explained, when you participate in a race or a trek on land, to know how many kilometers you have left to the end, while in the ocean it's not like that, because you don't move in a straight line from point A to point B, you meet headwinds, crosswinds, sometimes they take you back, or sideways by 50-60 kilometers.

Of currents, the skipper said that they are like a surprising enemy, "because you don't see them, you don't feel them, you can only tell by the instruments that you are paddling as usual, but actually you are going backwards, or you are going in a different direction from where you think you are going".

The FAR expedition is supported from the land by Zheni Ivanova, Dr Kalin Dimitrov and Captain Valeri Petrov. 

The Neverest movement can also be followed online at https://my.yb.tl/neverest/14867, as well as on social media - NeverestOceanRow on Facebook and on Instagram @neverestoceanrow.

The petition to designate another four million square kilometres in the Southern Ocean as protected areas is waiting for supporters here.