Missing Russian Yacht Crew Alive
By Ria Novosti
The Russian-Ukrainian sailing crew of Scorpius yacht that went missing off the Antarctic coast while performing a polar circumnavigation voyage is alive, Canada.com reported on Saturday.
Yesterday it was reported that the Scorpius crew performing a double round trip around the North and the South Pole did not make contacts.
“They contacted us with an email last night. The ice conditions were very severe, and currently they are going toward the mainland because they are running out of fuel and other supplies,” the expedition’s spokeswoman Anna Subbotina said.
According to Subbotina, nobody has been hurt, crew is in good health and team is in good spirit.
“They are forcing their way through the ice, travelling very slowly. They are not asking for help,” she added.
Captain of the 29-meter (97 foot) yacht Sergei Nizovtsev explained that the boat got into ice and because of strong head wind they are able to make only 15-20 miles per day. The captain hopes to get to Bellingshausen (Russian Antarctic station) on Saturday evening.
The Scorpius left the Black Sea port of Sevastopol in September last year for a voyage around the South and the North Pole. The team’s crew comprises four Russians and four Ukranians. The voyage is planned to be concluded in early 2014.
