Hawaii Stopover for Circumnavigating Russian Crew Nearly Misses Serious Diplomatic Incident

Created by webmaster. Last modified on 2002-08-19 00:50:58
Contributors: Curtis A. "Bud" Thompson
Topic: Cruising Information
Countries: Hawaii

The 53 ft steel "Apostol Andrey" arrived in Honolulu on a Saturday and checked in with the Harbormaster at Ala Wai Yact Harbor for slip assignment and to check in with Customs. The marina's Customs office is closed on Saturday and they were given the number for Customs at the airport who have nothing to do with marine operations. The person they talked to at the airport did not explain this and the Russian crew of five, thinking they had properly checked in, spent the next 6 days sighting-seeing with a friend. Somehow a TV station found they were in town and got them in for an interview and with that all the government agencies suddenly realized there was a problem as they had no knowledge of the Russian entry. Our five Russian friends handled this all very well and I don't know what was said between them and the Airport Customs but it must have been convincing! These men have called into many ports in their round the world voyage and realize the importance of properly entering and leaving a country. They handled themselves very well under some trying conditions with the Customs people but they eventually filled in the proper forms and the case was closed.

The yacht first sailed out of St. Petersburg down around Africa and Australia and up past Japan. From Hawaii the route should take them over the top back to St. Peterburg. They are now on their way around the other half and should be in Providenya, in the Bering Strait, waiting for a weather-window to get over the top of Alaska and Canada.

Bud Thompson, Staff Commodore, Hawaii Yacht Club