Argonauts of the XX century

According to one, he is destined to die at the hands of the genus Eolidov. According to another, he must beware of a man wrapped in one leg. Pelias dethroned brother Esono, who, wishing to save his son, hid it from the centaur Chiron. Son named Jason. Upon reaching the age of twenty, Jason went to Iolk. Crossing the river Anavr, he lost a sandal. Appearing to Peliyu, Jason demanded that he handed him the rightful kingdom. Pelias promised to fulfill the requirement of Jason on the condition that he set off on a country populated by Colchians EH to the son of Helios the king Eetu, pacify the soul had fled thither on a golden ram Fricks and bring out the skin of the sheep - the golden fleece. Jason agreed and built to travel with the goddess Athena ship Argo. He gathered to take part in a campaign most illustrious heroes of Hellas - 67 people. And in 33 th century Irish adventurer and explorer Tim Severin decided to repeat the feat of Jason and his team at the new Argo made his way to Colchis. Construction of the ship ended in spring 1984 on the Greek island of Spetses, where in ancient times were built all ships. Creator of the new Argo is a world-renowned shipbuilder Vassilis Delimitros. Sorokachetyrehletny skipper Tim has already managed to make several major trips: swimming across the Atlantic in a leather boat, "Brendan", an Arabic ship "Sohar" in the wake of Seed-Bud Sailor from the coast of Oman to the Chinese city of Canton. But now set out to repeat the journey of the Argonauts. New Argo was very different from the old. He Argo, this was built from pine, which grew on Mount Pelion - on the very same mountain where dwelt the wise centaur Chiron. Thessaly at the time was famous not only centaurs and sorcery works, but the ship's wood. A Pelion Skye pine, as the legend says, will never rot. Check out this difficult, because those pine trees there is no or very little left. Therefore, Tim Severin commanded to make the ship of Aleppo pine from the island of Samos. In March, the ship was fully ready. After the ceremonial launching, he made his first voyage - from the island of Spetses to the city of Volos, a former Iolka - the very city where launched into a full path of the famous unknowns Jason. Start the journey was given in early May. It is no accident. May - last month, when the south wind blows here (the Greeks called it "music"), and therefore a greater extent it was possible to rely on the sail than on the oars. Quickly salable walked Argo on waves of Aegean Sea at a speed of five knots. In late May, the Argonauts passed the Dardanelles and the Marmara Sea (in the past - and Propontiysky Hellespont Strait), and in the Bosporus (in Bosporus Thracian) began complexity. Sometimes the flow velocity in the narrow strait reaches seven knots, the water pulls the court to the south. No wonder that the crew had to pull the boat Severina to the shore and wait. Only on June 16 Argo entered the Black Sea. Just one month remains before the scheduled arrival of Severin in the mouth of the Rioni River, he had to hurry, but the weather did not indulge the Argonauts. By the way, who said that the Black Sea - a light for the mariners? This is a later period it became known as the Pont Euxine - Sea Hospitable, and even in Homeric times it was considered inaccessible to the sailors and was called Aksinsky - inhospitable, because of winter storms and the wildness of the surrounding tribes, especially the Scythians, as the latter sacrificed strangers . Later, Tim Severin, with humor talked about this stage of the voyage: - At first, we planned that each night will carry on the shore - in tents. But when holding a strong wind or when the night it's pouring, it turns out, more than twenty people may well be accommodated overnight in the boat. However, even in good weather, we preferred to spend the night on Argo. If you count footage boats for each crew member, it turns out that the sleeper has such dimensions: less than one meter in length and nine inches in width. But as it turned out, this is not enough violas. How can we be proud of - it's up following myth. We tried to make parking in all those places where stopped and the legendary Jason. Of course, the complete identification can be no question, but still, in my opinion, a five-six cases had been hit in the bull's-eye. " Incidentally, we had more stops: we organized and interim parking. The whole reason - in the wind. If the tailwind - swimming was fine. But often a headwind "lock" on our car parks, however, more than one or two days, we in the Black Sea is not idle. And these are the Argonauts, as you know, stuck in twelve days. So we were lucky anymore. We have tried to buy time, so sometimes acted against the rules: in fine weather and at night went too ... Average speed of the boat while sailing was four knots. For such a move should not much - to do twenty strokes per minute (of course, on calm water). Work hard - monotonous and exhausting. Someone has calculated that each rower for all swimming had to make one million two hundred thousand strokes! The kernel of the crew were twelve Argonauts of Great Britain and Ireland - students, engineers, athletes, doctors, photographers, an Irish fisherman. Of the many volunteers who responded to my invitation, I took away people's strong, healthy patient, but is primarily assessed sense of humor, ability to get along with people, good communication - essential qualities in a long journey. Work at sea was organized as follows: usually rowed ten - fourteen people, depending on weather conditions. Five - Eight people are resting. Plus, I cook, Peter Morrone - in real life hotel manager. Every five minutes, two people have changed. So on average every half an hour after the Argonaut Rowing could quarter of an hour to rest. On board was a replacement team of ten athletes. From hair to Lemnos rowing Greeks in Canakkale, on the shores of the Dardanelles, the ship boarded Turkish rowers, and in Soviet waters Argo took on board a dozen Georgian athletes under the guidance of the wizard sport Vladimir Beraya. Awaiting the arrival of the Argo, they trained for about a month on the lake near Poti, and the first few hours at the oars have shown that men - in great shape, and even high-class professionals. They quickly agreed with my Argonauts. We saw in them a reliable, responsive companions. The boat immediately establish a climate of friendship and trust - that is, in my opinion, the most important result navigation. Representatives from five countries participated in the "hero's journey." From the very beginning, I conceived it as an international project: I think the more people will join us, the better. I think about hundreds of people may well say that they have participated in this ekspedidii. Here's another positive result of travel ... July 21 at 10.45 by Tbilisi time the ship Argo entered Georgian waters. Three-masted barque met him "comrade" - a majestic beautiful ship. It was overcast, the excitement of the sea up to four points. A day later the Argo has already entered the port city of Poti - the ancient Fasisa. The weather cleared up, the sun played on light waves, crowds of thousands dotted the pier and all the floors and stairs marine station, heard the cries and songs of welcome. Ship greeted with fireworks and huge ships, and heavy bulk carriers, and small boats. They hooted, as if a port is not a wooden boat, and some famous liner. The evening before the Argo opened the mouth of the Rioni. Stood fog - to a tee so, what is described in Apollonius Rodoskogo. But it was so bad. On the Rioni ship "Argo" met with a new enemy - over the counter. It was very difficult to go, but still had to make a journey of about forty miles to the village Chkvishi, located near the town of Vani - there was a scheduled finish. Just a few miles did not make it "floats" to a final waypoint. 6 Chkvishi had hosted a welcoming ceremony of the Argonauts: the tree was hung the Golden Fleece, and stood on the shores of two mighty bull, ready to submit to the strong arm of Jason-Severin, a dragon is why it was absent. Argonauts met Medea, and was a wonderful concert, and Severin, solemnly signed the white stone stele, erected in his honor. The inscription reads: "Here anchored expedition Tim Severin, in 33 century, repeating the path of the Argonauts, and safely reached the shores of Colchis»