Mi.No. 2684 Bulgarien
1978, 19. Mai. Weltumsegler Georgi Georgiev. RaTdr.; gez. K 13.
cxb) Segeljacht "Kor Karoli", Weltkarte
Auflage: 100 000 Stuck
PAINTER - ST. KANCHEV
Transport, Ships, FIRST BULGARIAN AROUND THE WORLD CAPT. GEORGI GEORGIEV DEC.20 19 76-DEC.20.19 77 , YACHT COR CAROLI AND MAP OF VOYAGE
The Circumnavigation
The Circumnavigation After the OSTAR George moved his boat to New York in order to inspect the hull, mast and rigging and to refurbish its electronics (especially the autopilot). Here he awaited for the permission of the yacht club and higher authorities to continue his way and to circle the globe. His intention was to sail around the globe the harder way - around the Cape Horn, but the skippers´ council of the yacht club prudently decided that this was too risky for him and, especially, for the tiny boat. So, on the 20th of December 1976 Cor Caroli and George left Havana to begin their circumnavigation.
The route which was recommended from Bulgaria was described by George as "Only for ladies". But he was determined to make it hard even for a professional and tough sailor as he himself was. He did not lose time for the beauties of Nuku Hiva, Tongareva, Suva and other Pacific islands and places. He wanted to sail as fastest as possible - in fact he never stopped racing: racing with time, with the Ocean, with himself. Only two stops during his circumnavigation were longer than several days - in Suva and in Port Darwin, Australia. The reason: serious damages of the boat which needed repairs. Captain George crossed the Indian Ocean during the winter season in 54 days, which at that time was fantastic crossing.
The second fastest crossing was from Capetown to Cuba (7138 nautical miles), which George made in just 50 days. Because of that frenzy rhythm, he suffered several critical moments during his sailing around the world. He was grounded in the infamous Torres strait but managed to continue with practically no damage, and two days before his finish in Cuba - this time the grounding was due to extreme fatigue, and again he managed to take his boat from the reef alone with minor damages and to enter Havana on the 20th of December 1977 - exactly one year after he had left the Cuban capital. His pure sailing time was just under 202 days, the average day´s passage - 121,03 miles, and the average speed - 5,04 knots. The total distance covered during his circumnavigation was 24,435 nautical miles. George himself felt that this achievment was some kind of a record, but nobody in the country bothered to make the necessary inquiries.
This was done after George´s death and it turned out to be true. Cor Caroli´s circumnavigation was nominated as world record for that route, was entered in the Guiness Book of Records´s edition in 1982 and remained there for nearly 10 years! And that was the best international acknowledgment for the achievment of the humble Bulgarian sailor. George Georgiev died in 1980, just a fortnight before his 50th anniversary. Although he received the highest state honours and decorations, his main award is that he always will be remembered by the nation as "The Captain" - i.e. that Captain who represents the universal strive for the Sea.
ART DOLPHIN
