VLADIMIR HRISTOV AND YACHTS “AQUARIUS” AND “ABERLADY”
Vladimir Hristov’s first steps in sailing were in the Iskar reservoir, and as a competitor he went through the “Pirate”, “Finn” and “Flying Dutchman” classes.
However, his sights were set on the World ocean and he began to build his own yacht. She was completed in 1986 and was named „Aquarius”. On 8 June 1986 Vladimir Hristov, together with Svetoslav Georgiev started in „Carlsberg Transatlantic Race” regatta. This was the first test of “Aquarius”, but during the second violent storm on 17 June, the rudder blade broke. In fact, about 30 % of regatta participants dropped out in this storm. Next was repair in the Azores and on 29 July at 17:30, despite being outside the control time, they crossed the final.
After reworking the deck and mast on 24 October 1988, “Aquarius” set off on a long voyage from Sozopol, which was financially supported by the “Orbita” Youth Tourism Bureau. From Tangier (Marocco) she sailed on 12 January 1989 with a crew of six and was in Cuba in April. There, the crew that continued the round-the-world tour was formed – Vladimir and his wife Georgett, who had arrived from Bulgaria for the voyage. They passed through the Panama Canal and arrived in Tahiti. There on 13 February 1990, their son was born, named with the Tahitian name Virtua (sea traveller). Their 11-year-old daughter Denitsa arrived from Bulgaria, forming a family crew that, after a two-month stay in Papeete, the main port of French Polynesia, continued the voyage. They stayed on the Tonga Island and worked on land to finance the continuation of the journey by sea. There, plans changed and yacht “Aquarius” was left at anchor. The family completed their circumnavigation with the yacht “Aberlady”, which was provided to them by its owner for the voyage and to take her to England. They continued along the classic route – the Torres Strait, the Indian Ocean, South Africa and the Cape of Good Hope and to Lymington – England.
Geographically, the circumnavigation began and ended at a point between Cape Verde and the Azores, It lasted 2 years, 3 months and 17 days (from 14 February 1989 to 30 May 1991). 26 888 miles were sailed.
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Key Details of Yacht “Aquarius”:
project – Ron Holland
length – 11,28 m.
width – 4,72 m.
draft – 1,83 m.
Water displacement – 6 t.
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“Three things are needed to travel round-the world on a yacht: desire, a yacht and little money”
Vladimir Hristov
