Fedor Konyukhov. Fedor Konyukhov - biography, photo, personal life of the traveler: The Eternal Wanderer

30.09.2019

Instructions: preparing a report on changes in capital Report on changes in capital Word

Loan agreement between a legal entity and a legal entity

Performance characteristics of a student trainee from the place of work, practice - example, sample

Fyodor Konyukhov is the first “professional traveler” in the USSR and Russia, sea captain, free balloon pilot, dog sled rider, mountaineer, writer, priest of the UOC MP. Among Konyukhov’s achievements are five expeditions around the world, 17 crossings of the Atlantic Ocean on sailing yachts and once on a rowing boat.

Fedor Konyukhov was born on December 12, 1951 in the village of Chkalovo, Zaporozhye region. The future traveler spent his childhood on the shore Sea of Azov. Father Philip Mikhailovich often went to sea to fish and took his son with him. Grandfather Mikhail often shared with his grandson the knowledge he gained from communicating with the famous Russian polar explorer. Mikhail happened to serve with him in the same garrison of the tsarist army. The polar explorer left Konyukhov his own pectoral cross, so that it goes to the strongest of the friend’s descendants. My grandfather gave this cross to Fedor.

Even then, the boy began to have a thirst for travel, when Fyodor stood at the helm of his father’s ship and peered into the sea. At the age of 15, the young man took the risk of making his first journey and swam across the Sea of Azov in a boat with oars. True, before this Fedor had to actively engage in rowing and master sailing.

Like any teenager, Fedor enjoyed playing football. Like any village boy, Konyukhov often slept in the hayloft, and also voraciously read adventure novels by Jules Verne and other authors. By the end of school, the young man realized that he wanted to connect his life with the sea.

Fedor entered the Odessa Marine Corps and received the specialty of a ship mechanic. Then he studied at the polar school in Leningrad to become a navigator and served in the Baltic Fleet. For 2 years, Fyodor Konyukhov served in Vietnam as a sailor on a special vessel supplying ammunition to the Viet Cong. During his service he also visited Nicaragua and El Salvador. After returning home, Konyukhov did not leave his studies and received a specialty as an inlay carver at a specialized school in the Belarusian city of Bobruisk.

Trips

The first serious expedition took place in 1977, when a young man sailed in the Pacific Ocean and repeated the route. The first was followed by expeditions to Kamchatka and Sakhalin.

Fedor Konyukhov set a new goal - to conquer the North Pole alone.

Konyukhov prepared for the expedition in Chukotka, mastered dog sledding, learned to build ice huts, and developed other skills for extreme travel - this took several years. Initially, Konyukhov undertook a training trip to the Pole of Relative Inaccessibility. The traveler complicated his task by going skiing during the polar night.

Then Fedor visited Canada, Baffin Island and the North Pole itself as part of a Soviet-Canadian group led by Vladimir Chukov. In 1990, Konyukhov set off on skis, with a heavy backpack and equipment, and after 72 days he reached the North Pole. Overcoming ice holes and hummocks along the road, Fedor almost died during a collision of ice floes. Konyukhov became a pioneer in a solo journey there. In 1995, Fyodor Konyukhov conquered the South Pole, and 59 days later the Russian flag was already flying over the extreme southern point.

There were other routes in the traveler’s biography. Fedor became the first Russian to complete the Grand Slam program, that is, to conquer the North, South Pole and Everest. Previously, in 1992, he climbed Mount Everest alone, in January 1996, Mount Aconcagua, and in 1997, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Among the expeditions in which Fedor Konyukhov participated are the Soviet-American bicycle ride across the USSR Nakhodka - Moscow - Leningrad in 1989, the Russian-Australian off-road rally Nakhodka - Moscow in 1991, a caravan expedition along the route of the Great Silk Road in 2002 and 2009. Fyodor Konyukhov also makes land expeditions, repeating the path of famous taiga explorers.

During his life, Konyukhov made a total of 40 sea expeditions. Not everything went smoothly during such travels. In addition to the troubles created by natural disasters, Fyodor Konyukhov received unpleasant surprises from people. During one voyage, Konyukhov contracted a tropical infection and was forced to stop in the Philippines. Local pirates took advantage of the forced parking of Konyukhov’s yacht and stole it. After recovery, in order to find his own ship in the sea latitudes, Fedor took possession of the robber’s yacht and caught up with his own.

In July 2016, Fedor Konyukhov established new record, on hot-air balloon in 11 days. The Russian traveler was 2 days ahead of the previous record holder Steve Fossett.

While traveling, Fedor Konyukhov studies research work and creativity: writes paintings and books. In total, the traveler created almost 3 thousand paintings and published twenty books. In his own works “My Travels”, “Under Scarlet Sails”, “Alone with the Ocean”, “How I Became a Traveler” Fyodor Konyukhov shares life experience, travel events. The author also has historical works: “ Crimean War. Defense of Sevastopol", "Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov", "How Admiral Ushakov made the Black Sea Russian." In the books “My Path to the Truth”, “The Power of Faith. 160 days and nights alone with the Pacific Ocean”, “The Ocean is my abode” Konyukhov covers issues of faith. The traveler introduces readers to his works from the pages of the official website, where he also posts photos of his own paintings.

Fedor Konyukhov is a current member of the Union of Journalists, the Union of Artists and Sculptors, and the Union of Writers of Russia. With his drawings, Konyukhov decorated the publication of the book “Tao Te Ching”, which he considers second to himself after the “Bible”.

In addition to the main work of his life, service in the Orthodox Church became an important page in Fyodor’s biography. Konyukhov received the rank of subdeacon in 2010 on the holiday, the patron saint of travelers and seafarers. After graduating from a theological seminary in the Northern capital, Konyukhov went to serve in Zaporozhye, without leaving sea, land and air travel.

Personal life

Fedor Konyukhov was married twice. His first wife Lyubov gave Fyodor two children - son Oscar (born 1975) and daughter Tatyana (born 1978). Later, the woman moved to the USA, where she settled with her daughter. Konyukhov’s eldest son heads the All-Russian Sailing Federation.

The second wife of the famous traveler is professor, doctor of legal sciences, expert on international law Irina Anatolyevna. The future spouses met in 1995. Irina by that time was also divorced and was raising two sons. Fyodor honestly warned the girl about his hobby, but this did not frighten Irina. For the sake of her beloved, Irina Anatolyevna refused to work at the UN and the European Parliament.

Often the wife herself went on trips with her husband. In 2004, while crossing the Atlantic, the ship carrying Fedor and Irina was caught in a strong storm. After returning home, the Konyukhovs erected a chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker near Fyodor’s Moscow creative workshop. For a long time the couple did not have a common child, but in 2005 the long-awaited son Nikolai was born.

Now Fyodor Konyukhov is a happy grandfather, who has four grandchildren - Philip, Arkady, Ethan, Blake and two granddaughters - Polina and Kate, but this does not stop him from doing what he loves.

Traveler, artist, writer, cyclist, climber, navigator - this is all about Konyukhov. Since 1998, the navigator has been sharing his experience with young followers and heading the laboratory. distance learning. In the laboratory he teaches young travelers survival techniques in difficult conditions.

Fedor Konyukhov now

Fedor Konyukhov continues to break records. The latest hobby for the traveler was ballooning. In 2017, Fedor spent 55 hours and 10 minutes of continuous time in the air. The previous record of 50 hours 38 minutes belonged to Japanese pilots Michio Kanda and Hirazuki Takezawa, who set it in 1997.

The tireless traveler will not stop there. For summer rafting on rivers, Konyukhov has already chosen a place at the Sheregesh resort in the Kemerovo region, where he managed to visit in January 2018 with his family.

Awards

1996 – Honorary resident of the city of Nakhodka
1988 – Order of Friendship of Peoples
2014 – Gold medal named after N. N. Miklouho-Maclay of the Russian Geographical Society
2015 – People’s Friendship Award “White Cranes of Russia” and the order of the same name
2017 – Order of Honor

Records

The first person in the world to reach the five poles of the Earth: the North and South geographic poles, the Pole of relative inaccessibility in the Arctic Ocean, the altitude pole - Qomolungma, the yachtsman's pole - Cape Horn
The first Russian to complete the Grand Slam program (North Pole, South Pole, Cape Horn, Chomolungma).
Crossed the Atlantic Ocean alone in a rowing boat with a world record of 46 days 4 hours.
Crossed the Pacific Ocean alone in a rowing boat with a world record of 159 days 14 hours 45 minutes.

Father Fyodor greeted the proposal to talk about the role of the father in the family with a cheerful laugh: “What are you talking about! What a role! You cut me without a knife.”

The famous traveler rarely visits Moscow, and in his workshop there is always a line of people wanting to discuss work issues, receive a blessing, or just get to know each other. But he still found time for an interview.

I put all of myself into my son Nikolai, he is a joy to me. But if I don’t travel, if I don’t move towards anything, don’t strive for anything, how will I differ from the dead? I have to push others, inspire others with my zeal.
I must be an example for my son Nikolai.
I will tell him: “Don’t be ashamed of your father’s actions.”
He won't say that I swam in vain. He will understand me. And I will pray to the Lord about this.

(from the book “Under Scarlet Sails” by Fyodor Konyukhov,

which included diary entries

from solo sailing 2004-2005)

— Father Fedor, what was your first childhood impression of the sea?

- I do not remember. I don’t remember how I learned to swim either. I grew up on the Sea of Azov. Even born on the shore. Mom said: “I went to collect crustaceans in the morning, and gave birth there.” Our family is all priests and sailors. And from the age of 8 I already knew that I would be a traveler, like Georgy Yakovlevich Sedov. My grandfather took part in his first expedition to Novaya Zemlya.

Grandfather said that before becoming a traveler, you need to learn to be a navigator, and I went to the Odessa Naval School. Then he graduated from the Leningrad Arctic School.

— In Soviet times, they probably talked about your traveler relatives, but did they talk openly about your priestly relatives?

— My relative Archpriest Nikolai Konyukhov was killed on December 29, 1918. They poured water on him in the cold, and when he lost consciousness, they shot him. Under Soviet rule, my parents tried not to mention this anywhere - they were afraid. Even when I went to study at the Theological Seminary in 1969, my dad said: “Don’t talk too much about the fact that you had priests in your family.”

Now, of course, I am proud of my ancestors. I pray and ask their forgiveness for the fact that we were embarrassed and afraid to talk about them.

— How did it happen that you went to study at the seminary?

- It turned out very simply. I got in and that’s it. That’s how I knew from childhood that I would travel, and I also knew that I would be a priest. It seemed to me that at about 50 years old I would stop traveling and serve in the parish. Well, at the age of 58 I was ordained.

— When you were little, your mother said that you would be a very lonely person. Why?

- A mother always sees her child. According to my habits.

— So you were a loner as a child?

- Not like being alone. I have always been busy doing what I like. I love to draw, I have talent. Bad, not enough, but there. It is mine. That's why I studied painting. It's the same with travel. No one is forcing me to go swimming. I just like it there, it’s my world. And I did not become a priest in order to make a career in the Church. I am a priest because it is in my blood.

— Were you the “black sheep” in the family? Not like other children?

- No no no! I'm not a black sheep. We are two sisters, three brothers. I'm average, but I've always been a leader. I started it, and the others obeyed me. And even when everyone grew up and moved away, if it was necessary to make some family decisions, the parents said: “Fedka will come. As he says, so it will be.”

— It is believed that in Soviet times there was a very harsh upbringing. The children were not spoiled.

- Why didn’t you pamper? How many children under Soviet rule smoked, drank, and ended up in prison!

-What saved you from a bad road?

“The goal saved me.” Since childhood, I knew that I had to reach the North Pole and continue the work of Georgy Yakovlevich Sedov. Grandfather said: “You must justify the Azov fishermen.” He loved Sedov very much and told me a lot about him. I always regretted that I was not with him on the last expedition. Grandfather died when I was eight years old. All the time that I remember him, he was lying on the bench, paralyzed. In the summer it was rolled out into the garden. It was he who taught me to write diaries. I have his cross. (Takes it out from under his cassock.) It’s already worn out. Silver.

At school they said: “Oh, Fedka Konyukhov, he will be a traveler.” So they made concessions for me in many subjects. But if I was bad at math, I crammed it, because I knew that I wouldn’t get into the naval profession. I had a goal. When you live with purpose, you have it all.

And we need to cultivate integrity in children. There must be romance, patriotism. Then the person will not think about smoking, drinking, or money.

— What do you think is the first thing children should do? Sports?

— I am Soviet myself, I am a master of sports in many sports. But when they say that everyone should play sports, I listen and think: “You’re saying it wrong! Wrong!" How many honored masters of sports drank themselves to death and went to prison, especially in the 90s. Why? Because you also need to have spirituality for sports. We just teach sports, but what can an athlete do without spirituality? Just hit their faces and that’s it. You don’t just have to teach, you have to understand the child. I have schools for travelers in Miass and Totma, where children enter after a special selection. We give them everything to try: sailing, climbing rocks, going on hikes... The Lord God pointed a finger at each person, gave each person a talent. But not everyone follows this talent. Here at the school of travelers we give a little bit of everything. And take pictures and draw. It is not necessary to become a photographer or an artist, but at least you need to know the basics. The guys keep diaries, write poetry, and play the guitar.

My daughter graduated from art and music school. And now she works as a nurse. You can take it to a variety of exhibitions and concerts. She listens to both classical and rock.

— Is fatherhood a blessing or a burden?

- Children are happiness. Just like grandchildren. You know, I set so many world records, I wrote the same paintings and books. But today is a record, and tomorrow it has already been broken; today books are admired, but tomorrow they have already been forgotten. And children and grandchildren are an eternity, it cannot be compared with anything.

— Have you traveled with your children?

- Certainly. I drove a yacht across the Atlantic Ocean with my eldest son, walked with him around Cape Horn, walked across the Pacific Ocean, across the Indian Ocean. We sailed across the Atlantic Ocean several times. But I wouldn't want my children to be travelers.

- And they?

- They're great. They say: “We understand that we will never be like dad.” They have their own destiny.

— Do they also have a goal, like you did?

- Eat. Not the same as mine. Younger son wants to be a military man. Now he will be admitted to Suvorovskoe. And the eldest is like a manager. Wants to organize expeditions. He was also the president of the Sailing Federation.

— What did traveling together give you?

- Well, they just began to understand me better, there was more confidence. As my wife, son and I were crossing the Atlantic Ocean, a storm began. I understand that the situation is serious, and they are calm. They say: “Well, you’ve walked around the world.” They have this: if dad takes the helm, then everything will be fine. But I know that anything can happen, and it can happen with me.

- If one of the children was offended in kindergarten, at school, did you stand up?

“I tried not to walk.” My wife dealt with this. If I came, I was usually perceived as Konyukhov, as a traveler, and not as a father. With such an attitude, it is difficult to resolve any personal issues. But I always told my sons that they need to be able to stand up for themselves.

— Is life harder for your children now than it was for you at their age?

- Not really. I think it wasn’t hard for me or for them. We must always agree with what is. We had one childhood, they have another. We had some difficulties, they had others. You know, there will never be heaven on earth. Was life easy for our grandfathers? No. Neither do our parents. Life will never be easy! There are wars going on all the time. All the time. My grandfather fought in the First World War, my father in the Second. My uncle fought in Korea in 1953, my brother in Afghanistan. I served in Vietnam. True, he did not fight, he served as a mechanic on a ship. Wars pass through my family all the time.

— What is your favorite children's game?

— As a child, I loved playing Robinson Crusoe.

- How did you play?

— My island was in a swamp.

- So again alone?

- No. I had a team. I am the captain.

Father Fyodor greeted the proposal to talk about the role of the father in the family with a cheerful laugh: “What are you talking about! What a role! You cut me without a knife.”

Archpriest Fyodor Konyukhov - traveler, writer, artist.
Born on December 12, 1951. Graduated from the Odessa Naval School, Bobruisk Art School, Leningrad Arctic School.
Sea captain. He made four trips around the world, crossed the Atlantic fifteen times on sailing yachts, once on a rowing boat "Uralaz".
The first person in world history who managed to reach the five poles of our planet: the Northern Geographical (three times), the Southern Geographical, the Pole of relative inaccessibility in the Arctic Ocean, the top of Everest (the height pole), Cape Horn (the yachtsman's pole).
The first Russian who managed to complete the “7 Summits of the World” program - to climb the highest peak of each continent.
Member of the Union of Artists of the USSR. Member of the Union of Writers of the Russian Federation. Author of fourteen books.
In 2010 he was ordained to the priesthood.
Married. Has three children and six grandchildren.

(from the book “Under Scarlet Sails” by Fyodor Konyukhov,

which included diary entries

from solo sailing 2004-2005)

— Father Fedor, what was your first childhood impression of the sea?

Grandfather said that before becoming a traveler, you need to learn to be a navigator, and I went to the Odessa Naval School. Then he graduated from the Leningrad Arctic School.

— In Soviet times, they probably talked about your traveler relatives, but did they talk openly about your priestly relatives?

Now, of course, I am proud of my ancestors. I pray and ask their forgiveness for the fact that we were embarrassed and afraid to talk about them.

Memorial plaques in the courtyard of Fyodor Konyukhov’s workshop in Moscow. Photo: Vladimir Eshtokin, foma.ru

— How did it happen that you went to study at the seminary?

— When you were little, your mother said that you would be a very lonely person. Why?

- A mother always sees her child. According to my habits.

— So you were a loner as a child?

— Were you the “black sheep” in the family? Not like other children?

Fedor Konyukhov, late 1980s

— It is believed that in Soviet times there was a very harsh upbringing. The children were not spoiled.

- Why didn’t you pamper? How many children under Soviet rule smoked, drank, and ended up in prison!

-What saved you from a bad road?

“The goal saved me.” Since childhood, I knew that I had to reach the North Pole and continue the work of Georgy Yakovlevich Sedov. Grandfather said: “You must justify the Azov fishermen.” He loved Sedov very much and told me a lot about him. I always regretted that I was not with him on the last expedition. Grandfather died when I was eight years old. All the time that I remember him, he was lying on the bench, paralyzed. In the summer it was rolled out into the garden. It was he who taught me to write diaries. I have his cross. (Takes it out from under his cassock.) It's already worn out. Silver.

And we need to cultivate integrity in children. There must be romance, patriotism. Then the person will not think about smoking, drinking, or money.

— What do you think is the first thing children should do? Sports?

My daughter graduated from art and music school. And now she works as a nurse. You can take it to a variety of exhibitions and concerts. She listens to both classical and rock.

— Is fatherhood a blessing or a burden?

- Children are happiness. Just like grandchildren. You know, I set so many world records, I wrote the same paintings and books. But today is a record, and tomorrow it has already been broken; today books are admired, but tomorrow they have already been forgotten. And children, grandchildren - this is eternity, it cannot be compared with anything.

— Have you traveled with your children?

- And they?

- They're great. They say: “We understand that we will never be like dad.” They have their own destiny.

— Do they also have a goal, like you did?

- Eat. Not the same as mine. The youngest son wants to be a military man. Now he will be admitted to Suvorovskoe. And the eldest is like a manager. Wants to organize expeditions. He was also the president of the Sailing Federation.

— What did traveling together give you?

— If one of the children was bullied in kindergarten or at school, did you stand up?

— Is life harder for your children now than it was for you at their age?

Priest and traveler Fyodor Konyukhov. Photo: Maxim Korotchenko, maxik2k.livejournal.com

— What is your favorite children's game?

— As a child, I loved playing Robinson Crusoe.

- How did you play?

— My island was in a swamp.

- So again alone?

- No. I had a team. I am the captain.

Fedor Konyukhov with his wife, children and grandchildren. Photo from personal archive

Interviewed by Alexander Gatilin.

This interview is part , implemented by the online magazine “Batya”, the St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation and the publishing house “Nikea”. Full version You can read the interview at

Famous Russian traveler, writer, artist, clergyman, free balloon pilot. Archpriest of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Fedor Konyukhov. Biography

Fedor Filippovich Konyukhov born on December 12, 1951 in the Zaporozhye village of Chkalovo (later Troitskoye) in Ukraine, on the shores of the Azov Sea in a simple peasant family. In addition to Fedor, his parents - Philip Mikhailovich, a descendant of Arkhangelsk Pomor fishermen, and a native of Bessarabia Maria Efremovna there were two more sons and two daughters.

Since childhood, Fedor was preparing to become a traveler: he learned to swim, dive, swam in cold water, went on a boat with a sail and oars, Fyodor often visited the Sea of Azov on fishing trips with his father, who always told his offspring about the Great Patriotic War, urged them to take care of their native land and work honestly.

Realizing that the sea and travel were his life, Konyukhov studied in the Belarusian Bobruisk at vocational school No. 15 (later Bobruisk State Vocational and Technical Art College), receiving a diploma as an inlay carver. He graduated from the Odessa Naval School with a specialty as a navigator. And then he received an education as a ship mechanic at the Leningrad Arctic School. Along the way, he also studied at the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary.

Fyodor Konyukhov’s grandfather, a lieutenant colonel in the tsarist army, once told his grandson about a colleague from his garrison - Georgiy Sedov, who, before his tragic trip to the Arctic, left him an Orthodox cross, asking him to give the memento to the strongest of his descendants, so that he could bring his idea to life. As a result, Fedor fulfilled his promise - he visited the North Pole three times, including with that very cross.

Fedor Konyukhov. Career as a traveler and explorer

In 1966, being 15 years old, he first went on an expedition on a rowing boat and crossed the Sea of Azov, and in 1977 he organized a yacht trip in the North Pacific Ocean - along the route Vitus Bering and other sailors. While traveling, Konyukhov learned how his compatriots discovered lands and bays several centuries ago and founded settlements there.

Fedor's interest in research never leaves him. Scientific activity He also carried out campaigns to Kamchatka, Commanders, and Sakhalin. Wherever Konyukhov appeared, he was always curious about the life of people, learning about how they survive in difficult northern conditions.

Before the assault on the North Pole, Fedor, as part of D. Shparo’s group, made a ski trip to the Pole of relative inaccessibility during the polar night, and also walked along Baffin Island with Canadian travelers. The researcher also has a trans-Arctic ski crossing (USSR - North Pole - Canada) and participation in the first autonomous expedition "Arctic" to the North Pole, led by V. Chukov.

In 1990, having gained experience in polar skiing by that time, Fedor set off on an independent voyage to the North Pole, which he reached after 72 days, thereby realizing his dream and fulfilling his covenant Georgy Sedov.

In 1998, Fedor Konyukhov became the head of the distance learning laboratory in extreme conditions(LDOEU) at the Moscow Modern Academy of the Humanities.

In 1995, Konyukhov single-handedly crossed the ice desert of Antarctica and on the 59th day of a very difficult journey he reached the South Pole, planting the Russian tricolor there for the first time. At the same time, as part of the campaign, he fulfills the instructions of the Ministry of Atomic Energy, measuring the natural radiation field of Antarctica on the way to the pole, and the request of doctors - he evaluates his physical and psychological condition, performs other observations.

Konyukhov makes many of his expeditions alone, but also participates in groups. So, in 1989, he himself organized a Soviet-American bicycle ride along the route Nakhodka - Leningrad, and in 1991 - a Soviet-Australian motor rally - Nakhodka - Brest. However, the leitmotif of a yacht captain's travels is the sea and the ocean.

Konyukhov is the only Russian who has circumnavigated the world three times alone. In 1990-1991: the sailor started from Sydney, where he returned after 224 days. In 1992: he sailed on a large two-masted yacht along the route Taiwan - Singapore - Indian Ocean- Red and Mediterranean Sea- Gibraltar - Atlantic - Hawaiian Islands - Taiwan, visiting all continents and completing it in 508 days. The third circumnavigation, which lasted from September to May 1999, covered the entire World Ocean (50 thousand km) and passed along the route: the port of Charleston - Cape Town - Auckland - Punta del Este - Charleston.

In May 2012, together with the Russian team “7 Summits”, Konyukhov made his second ascent of Everest. In 2013, he had an expedition from Karelia to the southern point of Greenland via the North Pole. From December 2013 to May 2014, he traveled across the Pacific Ocean on the rowing boat Turgoyak and went from the Chilean port of Concon to Brisbane in Australia in 160 days. It was best result for such a single transition.

By 2016, the famous wanderer had made over fifty unique expeditions and ascents. Experts in the Russian Federation and abroad believe Fedora Konyukhova the most versatile of professional travelers, who has dozens of diverse hikes, including in the mountains. For example, in honor of the 850th anniversary of Moscow, he climbed the Mountain peaks all continents of the Earth, spending five years of hard work on this.

On July 12, 2016, Konyukhov set off on his solo flight around the world in a Morton balloon, starting at the Australian Northam airfield. The route was the same as its predecessor Steve Fossett, which made a record flight in 2002. But Fyodor Filippovich beat this world achievement: he aircraft landed safely in western Australia on July 23, 2016, completing a circumnavigation of 11 days, 4 hours and 20 minutes.

Fedor Konyukhov about the flight on the Morton: For me, the main record is completing a circumnavigation of the world on the first try. It took my predecessor, American pilot Steve Fossett, six attempts in 2002. The balloon flew around the world in a record time - 11 days and 6 hours - on the first try. To finish off I was able to fly over Northam airfield and cross my start line which was unique! Imagine, the ball flew almost 35,000 kilometers and reached the starting point. Moreover, using only wind flows. For balloonists this is the highest class.

Konyukhov assures that there was no moment when he regretted his idea, since such a flight had been his dream for two decades:

I knew it would be difficult and dangerous, but it couldn’t be any other way. More than five thousand people have climbed Everest, but only two have flown around the world alone in a hot air balloon - Steve Fossett, and now me.

At the end of 2016, the Russian traveler received the highest award in the field of aeronautics: the International Aeronautics Association FAI-Breitling named him “Pilot of the Year.” Such a prize was awarded to a Russian for the first time in 110 years of its existence.

Fedor Konyukhov: This is a very big award for me. But I am pleased that it belongs to our country, Russia, for which I always stand.

In December 2016, at the Shevlino airfield near Moscow, Konyukhov began to take his first steps in the field of gliding, because he set himself a new task: to gain experience and knowledge for subsequent preparation for setting a world altitude record on a glider.

Fedor Konyukhov: It’s never too late to learn. I am turning 65 years old, and I am pleased to begin mastering a new type of aircraft for me - a glider. I hope that with the support of the Russian Gliding Federation we will be able to implement several beautiful projects in this sport...

Fedor Konyukhov. Creativity and spiritual activity

The traveler, in addition to the main passion of his life, also writes poetry and music for the organ, composes works of art. While on expeditions, Konyukhov certainly expresses his vision of the world in notes and paintings, of which the author already has over three thousand.

In 1983 he was admitted to the Union of Artists of the USSR, and since 1996 he became a member of the Moscow Union of Artists. Fedor Filippovich is a participant in Russian and international exhibitions. Since 2012, he received the status of academician of the Russian Academy of Arts.

In 2010, on the day of the Holy Trinity, Fyodor Konyukhov was ordained a deacon, and in December of the same year, on the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, he was ordained a priest in his small homeland in the St. Nicholas Church of Zaporozhye.

The traveler was awarded the Order of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, 1st degree - for exemplary and diligent work for the benefit of the Holy Orthodox Church of God.

Fedor Konyukhov. Achievements and awards

Order of Friendship of Peoples - 1988. Order of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, 1st degree, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for exemplary and diligent work for the benefit of the Holy One of God Orthodox Church. Golden medal Russian Academy arts Gold Medal named after N. N. Miklouho-Maclay Russian Geographical Society - 2014. UNEP Global 500 Award for contribution to protection environment. UNESCO Prize for Fair Play. Prize and Order of Friendship of Peoples “White Cranes of Russia” - 2015.

Fedor Konyukhov the first on planet Earth to reach the five poles of the Earth (North geographic - three times; Southern geographic; pole of relative inaccessibility in the Arctic Ocean; height pole - Chomolungma; yachtsmen's pole - Cape Horn). In addition, he is the first Russian to complete the Grand Slam program and the first in the CIS to complete the Seven Summits program.

In 1990-1991, the traveler made the first non-stop circumnavigation of the world on a yacht in Russian history alone. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean alone on a UralAZ rowing boat, setting a world record - 46 days and 4 hours, as well as the Pacific Ocean (world record - 159 days 14 hours 45 minutes).

Fedor Konyukhov - Honored Master of Sports of the USSR in sports tourism; honorary resident of Nakhodka (since 1996), the village of Bergin, the city of Miass, Terni (Italy).

Fedor Konyukhov. Personal life

Spouse famous traveler - Irina Anatolyevna Konyukhova - Doctor of Law, Professor. The couple has two children: a son Oscar Fedorovich(b. 1975) and daughter Tatyana Fedorovna(b. 1978).

In the fall of 2015, it became known that Konyukhov acquired 69 hectares of land in the Zaoksky district of the Tula region, on which he planned to build an entire village, nine chapels, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, a children's travel school and a sports and tourist camp, as well as a travel history museum, a hotel complex, library, etc. The site where it was decided to create the village of Fyodor Konyukhov is located three kilometers from the Oka River.

Fedor Konyukhov: It’s a pity, of course, that there is no longer a single free area along the banks of the Oka. If the village overlooked the water, we would set up a children's sailing school or open a rowing section.

The goal of the project is, first of all, to create a unique and cozy place for the life and communication of like-minded people, including travelers, writers, artists, tired of the “concrete jungle”, people who value an active lifestyle and love wildlife and so on. The village itself is conceived not only as a place of residence Fedora Konyukhova, but also as a museum of the great traveler.

Fedor Konyukhov. Books

"My spirit is on the deck of the Karaana"
"All birds, all winged"
"Oarsman on the Ocean"
"Road Without Bottom"
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth...”
“How Admiral Ushakov made the Black Sea Russian”
"Antarctica"
"How I became a traveler"
"Sails knock the stars out of the sky"
"Alone with the Ocean"
"The ocean is my abode"
"Under Scarlet Sails"
"My travels"
"Pacific Ocean"
"The power of faith. 160 days and nights alone with the Pacific Ocean"
"My travels. The next 10 years"
"My path to truth"

Fedor Konyukhov. Expeditions

1977 - research expedition on a yacht along the route of Vitus Bering
1978 - research expedition on a yacht along the route of Vitus Bering; archaeological expedition
1979 - the second stage of a research expedition on a yacht along the route Vladivostok - Sakhalin - Kamchatka - Commander Islands; climbing the Klyuchevsky volcano
1980 - international regatta “Baltic Cup” as part of the DVVIMU crew
1981 - crossing Chukotka by dog sled
1983 - scientific and sports ski expedition to the Laptev Sea. The first polar expedition as part of Dmitry Shparo's group.
1984 - international regatta for the Baltic Cup as part of the DVVIMU crew; rafting on the Lena River
1985 - expedition through the Ussuri taiga in the footsteps of Vladimir Arsenyev and Dersu Uzal
1986 - ski crossing into the polar night to the Pole of Relative Inaccessibility in the Arctic Ocean as part of an expedition
1987 - ski trip to Baffin Island as part of a Soviet-Canadian expedition
1988 - trans-Arctic ski expedition along the route USSR - North Pole - Canada as part of an international group
1989 - the first Russian autonomous expedition "Arctic" under the leadership of Vladimir Chukov to the North Pole; Soviet-American transcontinental bike ride Nakhodka - Moscow - Leningrad
1990 - solo ski trip to the North Pole (the first in Russian history) in 72 days
1990-1991 - solo circumnavigation on a yacht without stops along the route Sydney - Cape Horn - Equator - Sydney in 224 days (the first in Russian history)
1991 - Russian-Australian motor rally along the route Nakhodka - Moscow
1992 - climbing Elbrus (Europe); climbing Everest (Asia)
1993-1994 - around the world expedition on a two-masted ketch along the route Taiwan – Hong Kong – Singapore – We Island (Indonesia) – Victoria Island (Seychelles) – Yemen (port of Aden) – Jeddah ( Saudi Arabia) – Suez Canal– Alexandria (Egypt) – Gibraltar – Casablanca (Morocco) – Santa Lucia (Caribbean Islands) – Panama Canal – Honolulu (Hawaii Islands) – Mariana Islands – Taiwan
1995-1996 - autonomous solo trip to the South Pole (the first in the history of Russia; in 64 days)
1996 - January 19: ascent to the Vinson Massif (Antarctica); March 9: Climbing Aconcagua (South America)
1997 - February 18: climbing Kilimanjaro (Africa); April 17: climbing Kosciuszko Peak (Australia); May 26: Climbing McKinley Peak ( North America); European regattas Sardinia Cup (Italy), Gotland Race (Sweden), Cowes week (England) as part of the crew of the maxi-yacht Grand Mistral
1998-1999 - American solo round-the-world race Around Alone on the yacht Open 60 (third solo round-the-world race)
2000 - The world's longest sled dog race, the Iditarod, crosses Alaska from Anchorage to Nome.
2000-2001 - French single round-the-world sailing race (non-stop) Vendee Globe on a yacht (the first in Russian history)
2002 - caravan expedition on camels “In the footsteps of the Great Silk Road (the first in history modern Russia); crossing the Atlantic Ocean by rowing boat (the first in Russian history; world record - 46 days 4 hours) along the route Canary Islands - Barbados
2003 - Russian-British record transatlantic passage with a crew along the route Canary Islands - Barbados (world record for multihull ships - 9 days); Russian-British record transatlantic passage with a crew on the route Jamaica - England (world record for multihull ships - 16 days)
2004 - single transatlantic record crossing from east to west on a maxi-yacht along the route Canary Islands - Barbados (world record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean - 14 days and 7 hours)
2004-2005 - solo circumnavigation on a maxi-yacht along the route Falmouth - Hobart - Falmouth (the first solo circumnavigation in the history of world sailing on a maxi-class yacht via Cape Horn)
2005-2006 - project “Around the Atlantic Ocean”. As part of the Russian crew, sailing on a yacht along the route England - Canary Islands - Barbados - Antigua - England
2006 - tests of an experimental polar iceboat on the east coast of Greenland
2007 - crossing Greenland by dog sled from the east to the west coast (record 15 days 22 hours)
2007-2008 - Australian race around Antarctica along the route Albany - Cape Horn - Cape Good Hope– Cape Luin - Albany (102 days; solo yachtsman, non-stop)
2009 - the second stage of the international expedition “In the footsteps of the Great Silk Road” (Mongolia - Kalmykia)
2011 - expedition “Nine Highest Peaks of Ethiopia”
2012 - May 19: climbing to the top of Everest along the Northern Ridge (Konyukhov became the first priest of the Russian Orthodox Church to climb Everest)
2013 - crossing the Arctic Ocean on a dog sled along the route: North Pole - Canada
2013-2014 - Pacific crossing on a rowing boat without calling at ports in a record 160 days (Chile (Con Con) - Australia (Moololuba)
2015 - Russian record for flight duration on an AX-9 class hot-air balloon (19 hours 10 minutes)
2016 - world record for duration of flight in a hot air balloon (32 hours 20 minutes); dog sled expedition “Onega Pomorie”; solo round-the-world flight in a Morton balloon (the fastest round-the-world flight for any type of balloon: 11 days 4 hours 20 minutes - an absolute world record)

Domestic and foreign experts consider Fedor Konyukhov the most versatile of professional travelers. He has about forty different types of hikes to his credit, including in the mountains. Having no special mountaineering training, but possessing great physical endurance and perseverance in achieving his intended goal, he decided, in honor of the 850th anniversary of Moscow, to climb the mountain peaks of all continents of the Earth. It took five years of persistent work. As a workout, I ran to Klyuchevskaya Sopka, 4750 meters high, and believed in myself. Then there were the Caucasian peak Elbrus (5642 m), the Asian Everest (8848 m), the Australian Mount Kosciuszko (2230 m), and the South American Aconcagua (6960 m). Of course, Everest was the most difficult to climb, but the three peaks were interesting, mysterious and difficult in their own way. The long-extinct African volcano Kilimanjaro (5895 m), glorified by Ernest Hemingway, especially attracted the attention of the Russian traveler. Rising upward from the tropical zone, he gradually experienced a change in climatic and weather conditions. If at the foot there was vegetation scorched by the sun, then from 3-4 kilometers the evergreen begins a tropical forest, even higher - alpine meadows, then rocks and, finally, the kingdom of ice and snow. As an artist, he could not stop admiring the beauty of nature, made sketches, and took a lot of photographs. But the most difficult and dangerous for the climber were the ice-rocky mountains: the North American McKinley (6193 m) and the Antarctic Vinson Massif (5140 m). There is deep snow, treacherous cracks in the ice, and a fierce cold wind that chokes your breath. And having safely descended (in some places he had to crawl) from the massif, he almost died from cold and hunger - for more than three days the plane could not fly for him due to a severe blizzard.

The traveler makes most of his trips alone, but he also willingly takes part in collective expeditions. And he himself organized and led two interesting transcontinental runs: the Soviet-American bicycle race along the route Nakhodka - Leningrad (1989) and the Soviet-Australian automobile race - Nakhodka - Brest (1991). On a long journey across the Russian expanses, Fedor showed his foreign fellow travelers many natural attractions: cedar forests, Lake Baikal, mighty Siberian rivers, the Ural Mountains, new cities. The results of these runs were reports, documentaries, photo albums released in our country and abroad.

And still main line A yacht captain's travels include the sea and the ocean. And he, the only Russian, made three circumnavigations of the world alone. The first of them was in 1990 - 1991 on the yacht “Karaana”. It took off from the Australian port of Sydney and returned there after 224 days. Moreover, he chose the most difficult route: between the “roaring” forties and the “furious” fifties latitudes, where the wind was predominantly favorable and where the first Russian circumnavigators Ivan Kruzenshtern, Mikhail Lazarev and others sailed. But at the same time, the route was cold and then and storm wind with snow or rain, dangerous encounters with whales and icebergs, especially in the Drake Passage, off Cape Horn. But the sailor overcame everything, although he lost 11 kilograms.

A year later, Konyukhov set off on a second circumnavigation of the world along a different, equatorial route: Taiwan - Singapore - Indian Ocean - Red and Mediterranean Seas - Gibraltar - Atlantic - Hawaiian Islands - Taiwan, calling at all continents. The solo voyage on the large two-masted yacht Formosa lasted 508 days and was associated with a dramatic and at the same time heroic event. In the Philippines area, the captain became very ill and was hospitalized. Meanwhile, pirates stole his yacht to another island. But Fedor is not a timid person. After all, he served in the Baltic landing ship, carried out command assignments in the jungles of Vietnam and Nicaragua. To find the Formosa on a distant island, they had to steal a boat from other pirates. And the daredevil tied up the drunken robbers found on board the yacht and loaded them onto their rubber boat.

Taking part in the international sailing race "Around the World - Alone", he completed his third circumnavigation of the world, sailing the yacht "Modern Humanitarian University". At first, 39 applicants from many countries signed up for the competition, but only 16 ships took the start, the rest were eliminated by various reasons, including those who did not pass the qualifying run of 2 thousand nautical miles. Fedor passed the test, but was hit by three hurricanes. It was especially difficult for him in the fight against Hurricane Daniel in the Bermuda area. For three days the yacht lay on board, and the captain had to make incredible efforts to straighten it.

The race covered the entire World Ocean with a length of 27 thousand nautical miles, i.e. 50 thousand kilometers, and passed along the route: the American port of Charleston - Cape Town (South Africa) - Auckland ( New Zealand) - Punta del Este (Uruguay) - Charleston. (It’s interesting that all these points were flown by supra

ha Irina, son Oscar - for moral support of Fedor. And they helped him eliminate technical problems on a yacht).

In total, the yachtsmen were on the road for eight months, from September 1998 to May 1999. We experienced the tropical heat and piercing wind of the Antarctic, dodged steel ships and icebergs and constantly drove forward, not knowing sleep or peace. Some ships had up to 15 different breakdowns, and Konyukhov’s yacht did not escape this. IN dark time day he collided with a sleeping whale, as a result of which the steering wheel was bent. When approaching Cape Horn, a dolphin jumped on board, which rarely happens in sailing practice; the skipper barely managed to push the heavy and slippery body of the sea guest into his native element. And off the coast of Brazil, he barely fought off modern filibusters with the help of a flare gun.

Unable to withstand the conditions of the extreme race, seven participants left the race. Fedor Konyukhov finished third. A government telegram from Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov arrived in America addressed to him. “We are pleased,” it said, “that such a legendary traveler lives in Moscow and continues the traditions of our compatriots in exploring the planet.”

At the request of F. Konyukhov, he is registered to participate in the international sailing race “Windy Globe 2000”, the start of which is scheduled for November 5, 2000. main feature this global competition - it is held non-stop, without a single port call! And another thing that attracts Konyukhov here: he needs to go around Antarctica, and he has long wanted to go the way of the discoverers of the sixth continent, Russian naval officers Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev. This will be the fourth circumnavigation of the courageous navigator. And before that, he managed to take part in the international Iditarod 2000 sled dog race through snowy Alaska, along the path of gold miners of the 19th century.

The hikes and expeditions of this wonderful traveler give a lot to our science, sports, tourism, and the whole society. They show what can be achieved by a person who is well prepared physically and mentally, who knows how to maintain health and efficiency, sometimes in difficult situations. And it's no surprise that the 48-year-old explorer plans to travel until 2020.

Replenishing his knowledge, he studies Faculty of Law Modern Humanitarian University, where he also runs a laboratory for distance learning in extreme conditions.

Fyodor Konyukhov always writes and draws a lot, even during hikes. He is a member of the Union of Artists and a member of the Union of Journalists of the Russian Federation. In 1999, three of his books were published: “And I saw a new sky and a new earth”, “Le Havre - Charleston” and “How Antarctica was discovered”; The almanac “Russian Traveler” was previously published. These are basically the author's diary entries, but they are perceived as adventure stories.

The name of Fyodor Konyukhov is among the outstanding figures of science and technology in the international encyclopedia “Chronicle of Humanity”. The traveler was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples and a UNESCO diploma for his contribution to the cause of ecology. He is an Honored Master of Sports, a yacht captain.

Name Fedora Konyukhova everyone in Russia is familiar with it. However, his future wife Irina Umnova I first learned about the existence of the famous traveler at the time of their personal meeting in 1995.

At that time, I worked in the Federation Council, wrote my doctoral dissertation and collected material for the book “Power and the People”, communicating with well-known representatives Russian intelligentsia. This led me to visit the operator Anatoly Zabolotsky, who made films Vasily Shukshina“Red viburnum”, “Stoves-benches”. As we finished the interview, the phone rang. After talking, Anatoly Dmitrievich joyfully said: “Irina, you should definitely stay! God Himself sends you Fedor Konyukhov! He's coming now!"

As soon as Fedor entered, I was struck by his face. Remember the movie Tarkovsky"Andrei Rublev" and the image created Solonitsyn. I was embarrassed when our eyes met, and I noticed that Fyodor was also embarrassed. He suddenly winked, as if saying: “Don’t be shy, I belong!” For both of us it was love at first sight. That same evening Fyodor went to see me off, and the next he invited me on a date. We met at the monument to Pushkin. He stood with a large backpack on his back and a rose in his hand.

Fruit of love

We went to the studio of his artist friend, where there was no furniture - only paintings on the walls. We sat on the floor, drank tea with cookies and grapes. We talked all evening, all night and all morning. “Irochka, I don’t promise you any apartments, no cars, no prosperity, no peace,” admitted Fedor. “I only promise that I will love you all my life.”

Shortly before meeting Fedor, I fervently prayed to God in church that He would send me loved one. At that time, I was raising two sons alone. In marriage, I was looking primarily for a spiritual union. Therefore, I was not scared off, but, on the contrary, I was pleased by Fyodor’s words that he eventually dreams of becoming a priest (this happened in 2010 - Ed.). “Well, you will be a mother,” he said.

I felt God’s help and the power of sincere prayer especially acutely during our second journey together. Fedor was supposed to go on a yacht from Barbados to Newport (USA). And I planned to give lectures in America, and I had the opportunity to join him. Soon after setting out to sea, we were hit by a storm, the yacht's right rudder broke, and we began to drift not towards America, but towards Europe. “Surprises” rained down one after another: the mainsail tore, the mast rigging began to break, the keel cracked, and we were flooded. We spent days bailing out water. How we prayed to the Lord God and Nicholas the Wonderworker! When we were already in life jackets, ready to be overboard, I said to Fedor: “We have loved each other as husband and wife for so many years, we are married, but we do not have the fruit of our love - a common child.” And we made a vow: if the Lord leaves us alive, we will ask Him for a child.

Instead of the planned two weeks, the journey lasted 44 days, during which we crossed the Atlantic Ocean during the most turbulent time - in February-March, when only large ships sail there. And instead of the American shore they landed on the English shore.

The first thing we did when we returned to Moscow was to erect a chapel in honor of St. Nicholas next to Fyodor’s art workshop. And after a few months it became clear that I was pregnant. Without any ultrasound, I knew that it would be a boy and we would call him Nikolai. Fedor soon went on a voyage around the world and returned shortly before the birth of his son. My husband was present during the birth and held my hand the whole time. He was the first to see his son's head and cried with joy. Fedor cut the umbilical cord himself and is very proud of it. The first two nights that my son and I were in the maternity hospital, Fyodor spent the night with us in the ward. We wanted to preserve this amazing atmosphere so much when it was just the three of us that our discharge from the hospital was quiet. Relatives and friends visited and congratulated us a little later when we were at home.

Irina and Fyodor begged God for their youngest son Nikolai. Photo: From the family archive

“My thoughts are with him”

We didn't have our own home for a very long time. At one time we lived in a semi-basement workshop, where I fell ill due to the dampness. Fedor could have up to 40 guests there per day. There was no peace. And we bought two-room apartment in Lyublino. Our Kolya grew up in it. But the main family nest is a modest panel house, which we built several years ago, 120 km from Moscow, in the Svyato-Aleksievskaya Hermitage. Here our middle son Semyon studied at the Orthodox gymnasium and graduated primary classes younger Nikolai. Father Peter, the creator of this unique place, baptized Kolenka. There is a temple 300 meters from our house. Opening the windows, we hear the monks singing.

Since childhood, we have taken Kolya with us on trips. He was two months old when we flew to England to accompany Fedor on his voyage. At the age of two, Kolya accompanied his dad on a circumnavigation in Australia. When he was three years old, in two months we traveled over a thousand kilometers on camels across Central and Western Mongolia. Now Nikolai is 10 years old. This year he entered the Moscow Suvorov Military School.

Looking back over the years, I understand that family life is a lot of work, with 99 drops of sweat and 1 drop of pleasure. At first Fedor was afraid that I would not accept him for who he was. He honestly said: “Irochka, I put travel first in my life. Neither my parents, nor my children, nor my wife will stop me.” And I asked myself: “Why stop if this is a calling for a person?” The biggest challenge was those 9 months that I was waiting for Kolya, and Fedor was at sea. This coincided with the purchase of housing, renovations, and the purchase of furniture. There wasn’t enough money, I had to earn extra money and sit at the computer at night. I could cry. But when Fedor called, she didn’t show it.

When we got married, Fedor said: “When I’m on an expedition, your thoughts should be with me.” This is what happens: during Fyodor’s travels, my thoughts and prayers for him are always with my husband. For his peace of mind I had to give up many business trips and interesting offers. After working for a year in Switzerland, where English language My book on the problems of federalism was published, I refused to renew my contract. I understood that in pursuit of a career I could lose the person whom God himself had sent me.

And we got married in the USA during the break between his voyages around the world. The Greek priest Father Anastasis told me: “Remember, you are the guardian family happiness“After all, it is the woman who preserves the family with her patience.

We are grateful to God for allowing Fedor to become a priest and me to become a mother. When Fedor landed safely in Australia this summer after trip around the world in a hot air balloon, the first words he said to me in private were: “You know what helped me - faith and prayer!” A lot of Orthodox people in Russia, Australia and other countries prayed for Fedor. Low bow to you all, dear ones!

Now is the rare period when Fedor is at home. It is important for him that I make him coffee in the morning. And in the evening - for the two of us to drink herbal tea. We still hold hands all the time. Even in a dream. Father Fyodor fulfilled his promise: may we have no peace, but we have Love.