The Incredible Story of Yevgeny Gvozdev, Who Built a Miniyacht on His Balcony and Then Sailed Around the World on It

The greatest journeys can begin on a small balcony, if you have a grand vision.

In the world of sailing, few stories capture the imagination quite like that of Yevgeny Alexandrovich Gvozdev, the Belarussian adventurer who turned his dream into a reality from the confines of his apartment’s balcony. This is a tale of determination, resourcefulness, and the indomitable spirit of exploration.

Born in 1934 in the city of Pinsk in what is today Belarus (then Poland and to become part of the Soviet Union five years later), Gvozdev’s early life was marked by hardship and losing his parents at a young age. His journey led him to Makhachkala, the capital and largest city of Dagestan, Russia, where proximity to the Caspian Sea awakened his love for sailing—a passion that would eventually carry him across the world’s oceans.

Gvozdev’s story is not just about sailing; it’s about overcoming the odds. During the mid-1970s, he succeeded in purchasing a retired ferry boat for 600 roubles and, during weekends and holidays, he meticulously converted it into a single mast yacht, according to itboat. Working as a ship mechanic in the fishing fleet, Gvozdev had established himself as a dedicated family man with two children. Combining the initials of each family member’s name, he coined the distinctive name for his first boat – GETAN. Over the following 12 years, he navigated the Caspian Sea extensively, traversing its waters in all seasons and conditions, irrespective of weather. But Gvozdev had a bigger plan: he wanted to circumnavigate the globe solo.

In the early 1990s, the “Field of Wonders” program on Soviet TV featured fiberglass dinghies as coveted prizes, which caught Gvozdev’s attention. Although the boats were primarily designed for family leisure on rivers, lakes, or, at maximum, coastal areas, this didn’t deter the seasoned traveler. It took him 6 months, but in the end he managed to persuade Sovmarket, the manufacturer, to provide him with a boat for testing in ocean transition conditions.

In 1992, the global commemoration of the 500th anniversary of America’s discovery presented an opportunity for Sovmarket to gain significant publicity for its fiberglass shells if successfully navigated along Columbus’s route. Consequently, Gvozdev was given a new boat for three years as well as official test skipper status, albeit without a specified salary.

Despite initial setbacks, Gvozdev embarked on a solo transatlantic voyage in 1992, facing challenges including financial strain, storms, and encounters with armed pirates near Somalia. Undeterred, he persevered, navigating through the Pacific Ocean, enduring mechanical failures, and forging friendships along the way. After crossing the Indian Ocean and facing further trials, Gvozdev navigated through the Red Sea and Mediterranean, completing his first world circumnavigation in Athens in 1994. He returned to Russia in 1996, concluding his epic voyage in Makhachkala after traversing the Black Sea and Volga Delta.

Now, if you thought that was impressive, brace yourself for the astonishing tale of Gvozdev’s second world circumnavigation!

At 62, Gvozdev’s remarkable achievement earned him, well, no more than the title of honorary citizen of Makhachkala, rather than widespread recognition. While one might expect him to retire and document his adventures after such a feat, the call of the sea proved to be stronger. In just three years, he embarked on another round-the-world journey, this time aboard a handmade boat – one he crafted on the balcony of his modest home in a three-storey city apartment block.

Yes, with no funds to purchase a yacht and only a modest pension after 35 years as a ship mechanic, Govozdev decided to build his own vessel to pursue his dreams. His miniyacht, which he named ‘Said’ in honor of the leader of the regional administration who financially supported the upcoming expedition, was a monument to his resourcefulness, constructed on his balcony for the equivalent of roughly 150 US dollars.

The ‘Said’ wasn’t just any boat; it was a micro-yacht, measuring a mere 3.6 meters (11.8 ft) . Using salvaged materials and fueled by a relentless determination, Gvozdev built a boat that, despite its size, was sturdy and seaworthy, capable of navigating the vast and often treacherous waters of the planet.

Once complete, Gvozdev faced the daunting task of transporting “Said” to the water. With the help of friends, he managed to lower the boat down the side of the building, a feat that undoubtedly had his neighbors watching in awe (and perhaps a touch of concern).

For nearly two months, customs and other formalities delayed Gvozdev’s departure, but on July 2, 1999, he bid farewell to his homeland once more and sailed towards the Bosporus – with hope set solely on sails, as the weak motor had to remain in Astrakhan. Gvodzev later recalled that his boat averaged a speed of 2 knots, and that at the beginning of long voyages he crammed so much food and water into the boat that there was hardly any space left to get in.

His navigation aids were limited to a sextant and a set of maps before him entering the Atlantic—no autopilot, radar, echo sounder, or satellite navigator. Like the sailors of ancient times…

After navigating a stormy Black Sea, Gvozdev swiftly passed through the Mediterranean to Gibraltar, where he received a GPS navigator as a gift. He then sailed to the Canary Islands, where he received further gifts and support, welcoming the new millennium in the Atlantic, and then embarking on a 60-day solo journey to Brazil.

Preparations in Salvador and Rio de Janeiro preceded his Strait of Magellan passage, assisted by an engine gifted in Argentina. Battling harsh conditions, he spent 38 days in the strait – as much as Magellan himself – before entering the Pacific Ocean. Facing gusty headwinds, snowy conditions, and relentless cold, relief was only found briefly in his dreams, while hugging a hot water can in his sleeping bag.

After departing from the challenging strait, Gvozdev journeyed north along Chile’s coast for 4.5 months, making numerous stops. Authorities in Chilean ports varied in their treatment: he was mistaken for a smuggler, subjected to searches, and hailed as a hero, receiving assistance. However, Chilean police uniformly deemed Said unfit for high-sea travel, confining him to coastal waters. In mid-July, Gvozdev finally managed to elude surveillance and boldly redirected west towards Tahiti instead of continuing north along the Peruvian coast.

During a 120-day transition, Yevgeny Alexandrovich faced challenges in the middle of the ocean, enduring a water shortage and encountering sharks while sailing to Tahiti. Arriving on November 13th, he enjoyed a four-month holiday in Papeete, waiting for the hurricane season and exploring neighboring islands. He also acquired a manual desalination plant, crucial for water supply and fitness. Resuming his journey to Australia in February 2002, Gvozdev reached the continent after five months, with a brief stop in Samoa.

Departing from Darwin in late July, he crossed the Indian Ocean to Ceylon, and then cautiously navigated towards the shores of Africa. Recalling his previous encounter with Somali pirates, he opted for an indirect route through the northern Arabian Sea, avoiding direct passage and arriving in Djibouti by January 2003, safe and sound, after a 50-day journey.

Gvozdev swiftly moved on from Djibouti due to the challenging Red Sea route ahead, where he previously struggled against relentless headwinds for 90 days. However, his journey encountered a setback when Said’s rudder failed just days after departure, causing the yacht to run aground at low tide and end up nearly 100 meters (330 ft) from the shore. It took three days to refloat the boat, luckily without any hull damage.

The transition to Suez took two and a half months, with various challenges, before crossing into the Mediterranean and reaching Cyprus on April 20 and Rhodes on June 24, officially completing his second round-the-world voyage. Finally, on August 9, 2003, Gvozdev returned to his hometown of Makhachkala, completing his remarkable journey.

Once back from his second round-the-world tour, 73-year-old Gvozdev, affectionately dubbed “grandfather” by Makhachkala residents, wasted no time in preparing for his third voyage, not for record-breaking purposes but to relive the experience. Despite financial constraints, he embarked on constructing a new yacht, “Project Three,” again in his city apartment. However, fate intervened when, in 2007, a generous admirer gifted him a yacht for his upcoming journey, which he named “Getan II.” Soon, he was out at sea again.

But alas, tragically, Gvozdev’s life and his third attempt at circumnavigating the globe ended abruptly while still in the Mediterranean Sea. At the age of 74, he was found dead, after a fierce storm, on an Italian coast, not far from his latest creation, the ‘Getan II’, another materialization of his lifelong dedication to sailing.

Yevgeny Gvozdev’s legacy is one of inspiration. He proved that with enough determination and creativity, even the loftiest dreams could take flight—or, in his case, set sail—regardless of one’s financial situation. Indeed, the greatest journeys can begin on a small balcony if you have a grand vision.