Eugene Smurgis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eugene Smurgis
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| Born | 19 August 1938 Orenburg, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
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| Died | 15 November 1993 (aged 55) |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Occupation | Ocean rower |
| Known for | -First polar ocean rower -First to row the Northeast Passage |
Eugene Smurgis (born August 19, 1938 – died November 15, 1993) was a brave Russian explorer. He was known for rowing incredibly long distances, especially in the cold Arctic. From 1967 to 1993, Eugene rowed a total of 48,000 kilometers. This distance is longer than going all the way around the Earth! He rowed more than anyone else by himself.
He was the first person known to row in the polar oceans. Other famous explorers like Ernest Shackleton mostly used sails, not oars, on their trips. Eugene often rowed in a simple open boat. It had no cabin or small space to hide from the weather.
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How Eugene's Passion for Rowing Began
Eugene Smurgis used to be a physical education teacher. He lived in a place called Perm Oblast in Russia. One day, he decided to try a long rowing trip. His first big journey was to Lipetsk.
In the summer of 1967, he built a new boat called "MAX-4". He rowed this boat with a friend, Valery Lyutikov. They traveled down the Kama and Volga Rivers. Then they went up the Don.
After this trip, Eugene realized something important. Being a full-time teacher didn't let him do his new passion. He loved these super long endurance trips. So, he quit teaching. He became a hunter and woodcutter instead. This job allowed him to row in the summers and work in the winters. He followed this pattern for the rest of his life.
Rowing on Rivers and Lakes
For the next twenty years, Eugene Smurgis kept rowing. He covered 36,700 kilometers on rivers and lakes. He explored all the main waterways in Russia and later in Siberia.
In 1971, he rowed alone across part of the Caspian Sea. This trip took him thirteen days. Five years later, in 1976, he went solo again for twenty-six days. Two years after that, he rowed north to the Kara Sea. This solo trip lasted 40 days and 40 nights. He did all this in his open boat, which had no shelter.
First Ocean Rowing Adventures
In 1986, Eugene started an even bigger adventure. He rowed with his 15-year-old son. They traveled 4,800 kilometers in 44 days. The Smurgis team rowed the Amur River, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Sea of Japan. They finished their journey in Vladivostok.
In 1987, he rowed another 1,400 kilometers. This time, he explored the White Sea and the Onega River.
Exploring the Arctic Waters
In 1988, Eugene went to a northern Siberian town called Tiksi. This place is very far north, at 72 degrees latitude. He wanted to start an around-the-world expedition from there. His boat was now named Pella-Fiord.
He often had to pull his boat over thick ice. But he reached Khatanga, which was 1300 kilometers away. He did this amazing journey in just 30 days.
More Arctic Journeys
In 1990, Eugene rowed around Cape Chelyuskin. He reached 77 degrees north latitude. This was the farthest north any rowing boat had ever gone. He finished this part of his trip at Dikson. This place is known as one of the coldest spots in Asia. His second Arctic journey covered 2,100 kilometers in 65 days.
On September 30, 1992, Eugene and his son, Alexander, reached Murmansk. This is a port city that doesn't freeze, and it's the biggest city above the Arctic Circle. Since leaving Dikson, they had rowed 2,500 kilometers in 43 days.
Next, they decided to row from Murmansk to London. This was a distance of 4,000 kilometers. Much of this journey was above the Arctic Circle. The whole trip took them 88 days.
Eugene's Thoughts on His Journeys
When Eugene arrived in London, he spoke to an interpreter. He said, "It has been a constant battle against the weather." But he added, "at no time did we allow ourselves to feel afraid." He was proud of his boat, saying, "The boat was made by craftsmen from the Urals, so we knew it would get us through even the worst storms."
His son, Alexander, was held by English authorities. He was considered an illegal immigrant. Before this happened, the BBC asked Eugene about his trip. They asked, "How tough was it?" Eugene just shook his head and quietly said, "Very difficult."
Eugene was now alone. He still planned to continue his journey west. The coast guard told him to stay on inland canals. But Eugene replied, "I don't want to soak my oars in fresh water anymore. I am an ocean rower now."
Kenneth Crutchlow, who leads the Ocean Rowing Society International, studied Eugene's life. He said, "His diary supports the impression of a man lacking the gene for fear." Crutchlow also mentioned that Eugene often had to save his food because he didn't have much money.
In one of his last diary entries, Eugene wrote: "my spirits are usually high. But once it gets dark, my spirits go down with the temperature. But it will be fine. The biggest ventures in life are hard, but you must do them all the way to the end." Crutchlow said that "Eugene had a bulldog grip on his expeditions."
Eugene rowed into a big storm in the Bay of Biscay. He was 55 years old. For the first time in his life, he lost a fight with a storm. He had often written in his journals that storms were sometimes his only companions celebrating his birthdays. This happened during his 20 years of summer rowing expeditions.
Eugene Smurgis's Legacy
Eugene Smurgis's boat is now on display. You can see it in the garden of the Maritime Museum of La Tremblade, in Charente-Maritime, France.
A library in Lipetsk, Russia, is named after Eugene Smurgis. It also has a small museum. This museum shows his photographs and maps from his expeditions.
There is a memorial stone in honor of Eugene Smurgis. It is located in Kilkee, Ireland.
In 2010, a French writer named Annie Héral-Vieau wrote a book about Eugene. It was called "Eugene Smurgis, the ocean rower."
Twenty years after Eugene's Arctic rows, another team tried a similar trip. This expedition was called "Old Pulteney Row to the Pole." A team of 6 rowed 202 nautical miles. This distance was 26 times shorter than Eugene Smurgis's Arctic rows. They took 40 days, which was much slower than Eugene's solo trips.
