Russian–Brazilian Expedition “Brotherhood-2025” Triumphantly Completes Circumnavigation

The crew of the “Brotherhood-2025” expedition aboard the yacht Fraternidade completed their circumnavigation in the port of the Brazilian city of Salvador. The country’s maritime authority organised an official reception. The two captains of the expedition – Russian Sergey Shcherbakov and Brazilian Aleixo Belov – spoke about this via video link at a press conference organised by the Eurasian Media Group, a partner of TV BRICS.

In Brazil, where the circumnavigation set off almost a year ago, thousands of people followed its progress. Many also wished to welcome the returning travellers.

“Within two days, around 500 people registered, then another 400. In the end, by my estimate, more than 700 people came. For me, this was a strong sign that our voyage is important for Brazil as well,” Belov said at the press conference via video link from Brazil.

During the 322 days of the expedition, more than 20 live broadcasts and televised links were organised, including reports from the waters of the Northern Sea Route. The Eurasian Media Group acted as the project’s official information partner.

The route of “Brotherhood-2025” was truly unique. In addition to the classic circumnavigation across 24 time zones, the crew sailed from the northernmost continental point of the Earth – Cape Chelyuskin – to one of the southernmost points of the planet, Cape Horn, off the coast of Tierra del Fuego in South America. Thus, the expedition covered the globe not only around its perimeter, but also from north to south.

Earlier, in an exclusive interview with TV BRICS, Captain Sergey Shcherbakov said that the team also managed to accomplish the earliest-ever passage of Cape Chelyuskin. The expedition was particularly significant for Captain Aleixo Belov as well.

“Siberia is a special place. For me, it was an unusual, unique journey. No Brazilian had ever travelled there before, and no Brazilian sailing yacht had ever passed there. I very much wanted to make this voyage. And thanks to meeting Sergey Shcherbakov, everything became possible. Sergey, as a captain who knows the North perfectly, was our guide. […] I am very glad that we were able to travel this route together with our Russian friends,” Belov admitted at the press conference via video link from Brazil.

Natalia Belyakova, Director of the Expeditionary Activities and Tourism Development Department of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS), who participated in the press conference via video link, underlined the practical significance of the voyage.

“The Russian Geographical Society today has major tasks relating to the comprehensive study of the Northern Sea Route under changing navigation conditions. In this sense, the experience of sailing an ice-class yacht with calls at the main ports of the Northern Sea Route is unique material, which we will certainly compile into methodological recommendations to make this shared asset common knowledge,” she said.

Ivan Krott, Head of the Omsk Regional Branch of the Russian Geographical Society, noted during the press conference from Omsk that the crew carried out work beneficial to science: they collected data on ice conditions, conducted meteorological and hydrological observations, and performed environmental monitoring. Particular attention was paid to biodiversity: on Bennett Island, surveys of seabirds were conducted and observations were made of walrus rookeries. In the ports of call – Dikson, Tiksi, Pevek and Anadyr – the travellers collected ethnographic and folklore materials.

According to Belov, continuous video filming was carried out during the voyage – two professional camera operators worked on board alongside him. A film will be produced on the basis of the recorded material, and the captain himself plans to write his 14th book about the sea and travel: 13 of his books have previously been published in Brazil.

“I sailed through places where the ocean is hot, where the climate is warm, and reached the far North and the distant South. Now I can say: I have been everywhere. I have opened the way for young Brazilians, shown them the path. Of course, one must study, one must know how to sail and prepare a yacht. I am 83 years old; I no longer intend to undertake such voyages. Now let the young read books and follow us. I invite everyone to the sea,” Belov concluded.

The expedition was dedicated to several significant anniversaries at once: the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the 180th anniversary of the Russian Geographical Society, the 20th anniversary of BRICS, and the 200th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Brazil.