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2003-04-10 Ice Sailors Set Up World Record
International ice yacht expedition finished in Severobaikalsk in April 5 which was the final day of 1st International "Winterniada–2003" — Baikal Nordic Games Festival. Three ice-sailors (Alexander Kopylov, Novosibirsk, Daniel Lehman, Switzerland and Leonid Shubin, Listvyanka) set up a new world record: it had been for the first time ice-sailors crossed the water area of lake Baikal having sailed south to north more then 600 kilometers. The trip took them 7 days. The expedition started form Listvyanka settlement in May 30. Sportsmen tried to organize ice-sailing expeditions at lake Baikal for several times but for different reasons all of them were cancelled. This year Green Express Travel Company organized the expedition. Rescuers from Baikal detachment of the Ministry for Emergency Situations, Swiss journalists and also a guide from Green Express – Eugene Kaplunenko followed the expedition all the way on snowmobiles. Travelers stayed overnight at fisherman and hunting log-cabins and once they even put up a tent right on ice surface for overnight. ”During the first half of the distance we often ran across the cracks on ice – told Eugene Kaplunenko – We were supposed to be very careful because if a boat’s skate got in crack or hole the boat could break and a runner might get hurt“. Alexander Kopylov's ice-yacht broke twice. "Some time I was afraid that I would not finish the expedition on my yacht" – he noted later. Eugene Kaplunenko also emphasized that sportsmen succeeded a lot due to the rescuers from the Ministry for Emergency Situations who not only made the expedition safe for the participants but also assisted in fixing ice yachts. Sailors liked the Small Sea area best. There was everything they came to Lake Baikal for — perfectly smooth ice that seemed like a mirror, broad areas and a fresh breeze. At lake’s north ice was covered with deep snowdrifts so that sailors had to carry the iceboats for several kilometers. In spite of all difficulties ice sailors were happy about their adventure. They had been striving hard to do this and they finally succeeded. Next year Daniel Lehman and Alexander Kopylov plan to ice-sail Lake Hovsgul in Mongolia.
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