site.btaRower Stefan Ivanov Plans Crossing of Indian Ocean

Bulgarian ocean rower Stefan Ivanov, known for his superhuman endurance and achievements, said on social media Wednesday that he is preparing to conquer the Indian Ocean.

“I can't wait to embark on a fourth ocean crossing by rowboat. After the rowing expeditions in the Atlantic, Southern and Arctic Oceans, it is time to share that we have organized the next, fourth expedition - this time in the Indian Ocean,” Ivanov wrote.

There will be a total of four rowers in the crew, from Bulgaria, Norway, Ukraine and China. The expedition is starting in May from the west coast of Australia to the east coast of Africa.

"We expect it to take about 75 days, maybe a little less, I hope," Ivanov said. 

He shared with BTA his excitement from being accepted at the prestigious Explorers Club. It was founded more than a century ago in New York to support scientific expeditions, such as reaching the North Pole in 1909, the South Pole in 1911, climbing Mount Everest, descending the deepest below the surface of the ocean and reaching the bottom of the Mariana Trench, stepping on the Moon, etc.

The first Bulgarian to join the club announced that after a long process of application and examination "under a magnifying glass" of the upcoming expedition through the Indian Ocean, it was finally approved and will be held under the flag of the iconic club.

“We now feel like explorers and not so much like adventurers,” Stefan said. He clarified that they will continue to collect samples from the ocean and provide them to the scientists from the Faculty of Biology at Sofia University for their research on climate change and global warming.