Bulgarian father and son row throughout Arctic Ocean to guard endangered species

Stefan Ivanov, banker and adventurer, and his son Maxim pose for {a photograph} on their boat “Neverest” earlier than setting off on an expedition in Haugesund, Norway, August 19, 2024. | Photograph credit score: Reuters

Stefan Ivanov, a 52-year-old Bulgarian banker, and his son Maxim, 21, celebrated their birthdays in August by rowing throughout the Arctic Ocean with their son to name for the safety of endangered ocean species.

After 33 days, the ship crossed the Arctic Ocean on Sunday (September 8), hoping to set a document for being the primary rowing vessel to realize the feat.

“We needed to be the primary rowing expedition to cross the whole Arctic Ocean and we began from Haugesund (Norway), which is south of the ocean’s southern border,” Stefan informed Reuters. “I feel we will obtain the document.”

Footage from the crusing journey reveals waves and robust winds, because the small boat rocks within the ocean. Stefan spent 33 days on the boat, whereas Maxim, a pupil at Stanford College, joined later after ending his internship in New York.

“It has been an enormous battle with the Arctic Ocean. There hasn’t been a lot cooperation, it was sending us crosswinds, head currents that pushed us in a single path or one other,” Stefan mentioned.

“It is virtually like being in a washer for weeks.”

Stefan and Maxim began constructing their very own boat in 2019 to cross the ocean. They named it Neverest. “It is a play on phrases: ‘By no means relaxation till you attain Everest,'” Stefan mentioned.

In 2020, Maxim, on the age of 16, turned the youngest rower to cross the Atlantic Ocean together with his father.

“It is a interest of ours, however we did not need it to be an finish in itself. We needed to have some constructive impression on the world, if attainable,” Stefan mentioned, including that they did this to advertise a petition to designate new protected areas within the Southern Ocean to preserve marine biodiversity.

“Journeys like this are a reminder that even small wins are wins and when occasions get powerful each step is a step ahead regardless of how small,” Maxim mentioned.

“However typically these steps are very restricted.”