The participants of the meeting on board the yacht “Fraternidade”. Photo: Denis Moiseev / Murmansk Regional Branch of the RGS
Activists of the Russian Geographical Society met with the crew of the international sailing expedition «Brotherhood 2025–2026» in Murmansk on June 24. Representatives of the Murmansk Regional Branch of the RGS got acquainted with the technical equipment of the yacht «Fraternidade», built by the famous traveler Aleixo Belov according to a special project. The meeting participants also discussed the possibilities of further cooperation in the framework of joint projects.
The large-scale international sailing expedition «Brotherhood 2025–2026» is timed to coincide with several important dates: the 180th anniversary of the Russian Geographical Society, the 200th anniversary of Russian-Brazilian diplomatic relations, the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II, and the 20th anniversary of the strategic partnership between Russia and Brazil. A joint Russian-Brazilian crew led by famous travelers Aleixo Belov and Sergei Shcherbakov intends to sail along the Northern Sea Route. The yacht «Fraternidade» will visit the key points of the route (Murmansk, Dikson, Tiksi, Bennett Island, Pevek, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky) as well as the extreme geographical points of Eurasia and America (Cape Chelyuskin, Cape Dezhnev, and Cape Horn). The ambitious project is planned to take 10 months and will become a symbol of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, opening up new prospects for joint research and cultural exchange.
The yacht «Fraternidade» arrived in Murmansk from the Azores on June 22. With the assistance of the Russian Geographical Society, until July 6, it will take her place at the berth of the Atomflot next to the famous icebreaker-museum «Lenin». Ahead is a voyage through the seas of the harsh Arctic, for which the ship must be carefully prepared. Murmansk craftsmen will provide assistance in preventive maintenance.
The program of the stay, with the support of the Government of the Murmansk Region and the regional branch of the RGS, includes conferences, round tables, excursions, and other events. Local residents will be able to look around the yacht of the circumnavigators. On June 28, members of the expedition will arrive in Murmansk from Omsk. Sergei Shcherbakov has already completed all the necessary paperwork for sailing along the Northern Sea Route. The start of the voyage to Dikson is scheduled for mid-July.
Yacht “Fraternidade” in the port of Murmansk. Photo: Denis Moiseev / Murmansk Regional Branch of the RGS
During a meeting with activists of the Russian Geographical Society, Aleixo Belov told about his voyages on various yachts. Among them are five circumnavigations of the globe and a trip along the Northwest Passage in the Arctic. The captain wrote more than 10 books about these difficult campaigns, which he presented to the Murmansk Regional Branch of the RGS. In response, Denis Moiseev, Chairman of the branch, presented the circumnavigators with books about the expedition to Franz Josef Land and souvenirs with the symbols of the 180th anniversary of the RGS.
Aleixo Belov was also interested in the affairs of Murmansk seafarers. Igor Loginov, the head of the «Arctic Boat Museum» project, told about the traditional vessels of the Murmansk coast that he built with his own hands as well as about their voyages in the Arctic seas.
The meeting participants discussed further cooperation in the framework of joint projects. Following the meeting, the yacht’s crew was invited to a unique excursion to the tundra, prepared by the Murmansk Regional Branch of the RGS and the park-hotel «Expedition».