In the list of 30 states which do not have an outlet to the sea, Armenia is included alphabetically into the first five. It doesn’t prevent us to remember the ancient power «from the sea to the sea» and even to have the fleet. A few years ago on “Cilicia” — the remark of a medieval trading vessel constructed by club of the sea researches “Ayas” — swimming round Europe was made. And in the 2009th the sailing Armenia yacht went to a trip round the world. Research expedition “Mesrop Mashtots” is devoted to the Armenian mothers who have kept in the foreign land the native language. The second, final stage of global cruise approaches end. To the finish there were about 12 miles when the chief of expedition writer-publicist Zory Balayan sent to “Yerevan” the diary records.
I always steadfastly observe of my friends onboard “Armenia” and I wonder to how quickly they are accustomed to any heavy, sometimes an intolerable situation. As accurately keep the watch. As, if necessary, among night unanimously, without waiting a signal, rise on a deck. They not only silence, a man endure the hardships of camp life, variable weather, storms and calms, lack of sleep and pain in the muscles. They feel at ease. They feel like soldiers performing their duty.
We different not only on age, but also on character, by life experience, on a mentality. But we — team. We — crew. Family. These are talented yachtsmen — Musheg Barsegyan and Vaagn Matevosyan’s dexterous, hardy young sevanets. Not reached as early as forty years of able fingers master Gajk Badaljan. The cook not similar to the cook because of the leanness, — Encyclopaedist Samvel Sargsjan. In a moment matured since there was the father and the captain, Samvel Karapetjan. Cheeful, eternally young, as Komsomol, Armen Nazarjan. As to my advantages, I — who has more than children and grandsons on “Armenia”.
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Parting with “Armenia” after the first stage of expedition lasted nearly a year. But during parking in the port of Buenos Aires we were absolutely quiet for the yacht. It was in Caro Arslanyan’s reliable hands, that Caro, which on the own Patagonia yacht arrived from Buenos Aires to Montevideo to accompany “Armenia” from Uruguay to the capital of Argentina. We passed this way together on two Armenian vessels under two Armenian flags. For all time of our lack of Caro and his friends – Arturo Karagezyan,Kirkor Sinasiroglu and Eduardo Karamyan – regularly visited”Armenia”, aired it, charge batteries, run a diesel generator, mainengine, followed pumps, wiped the dust. In short, our ship Caro cherished as his own. He was overjoyed when learned that in Panama preparing for the celebrations to mark theone millionth vessel passing through the channel, and the list of these ships – tiny “Armenia.”
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Just our yacht left the port of Mar del Plata, and I on a habit looked at the card. Approximately defined that to roaring forties it is necessary to pass only hundred twenty miles. These are 222 kilometers. Time still is. Here how many — for anything I will not undertake to tell. It is not accepted. In Mar del Plata anybody didn’t meet us, though we knew that Avetis Saakian — the Armenian who has moved here from Montevideo should organize a meeting. But agreed that it will arrive to the port in nine mornings, and we moored in eight. In an hour the tall suntanned man with a wide smile which on tolerable Armenian told approached to us: «It is the third Armenian flag which has entered into harbor of Argentina yacht-club. Behind it on the shaking mooring people began to approach to “Armenia”. The old man with a red-dark blue-orange flag in hands — a face happy, eyes shining, all proud headed this small column. The Armenian speech was heard. All lifted on the deck. It appeared, in this such small town far from Armenia there live about five hundred Armenians.
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Single-masted sloop “Armenia” under the filled cold wind a three-colored sail in foamy waters of the Southern Atlantic goes south. More precisely, on the southwest. It already depends on anatomy of the South American continent. All east part it as if is bitten off with rough teeth.
Here week in the mornings and to evenings we put on more warmly. At all persons faces became more dark than bodies.
As I was tired of the monotony of this nightmare! One would think that would be tedious than go to dog frost on the tundra, which resembles a frozen winter, frozen lumpy sea. But there’s even stopped, a bonfire,drinking tea … Another thing – not for a moment ceasing rolling on the vessel. This we have not seen before.
Anywhere. And the to the south, the more monotonously. Continually the sailing vessel nose, and sometimes and all case with a roar falls upon water. Twenty blows in a minute. That is each three seconds. Both in the afternoon, and at night. But suddenly you understand that all this kindergarten that waits for us ahead, and in an instant you come back to reality. Here your ship, your friends, your unusual, star sky unfamiliar without the Big Dipper, your storming ocean, your firm route. Here the cook calls crew by a dinner. Festive as he told. Today Christmas and anniversary of our friend Vage Karapetyan. I call it by satellite communication “Iridium” to Los Angeles and I congratulate. To it knocked seventy. It is necessary! Last year, how we departed from San Pedro’s port, it became clear that Los Angeles rats gnawed through all hoses of our vessel. We were horrified. And it is difficult to itself to present that would be with us, if not the kindest and sweetest Vage’s disinterested aid.
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The whole day from morning till night six people, including the captain and the watch, leaving behind the wheel, take off those black and white, like a suit groom, cuties, very similar to penguins. At the same time thirty or forty at breakneck speed dolphins accompany us, as an escort. That dive, shoot it from deep. At night, three dolphin tagged along for the “Armenia” and, as if competing, subscribed fantastic shapes. At night, plankton, as you know, lit by friction, and their trajectories were an exciting spectacle.
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We were at the center of the Drake Passage. There is only one sail.Staysail. Of course, not the biggest or the sail flag. Large sail when winds just overturn the ship. We crawl like a turtle. While you look to the side of the giant waves that move on both sides, giving the impression that the speed is great. Actually, the speed is really great, but not the ship and the oncoming flow. I’m standing next to the captain, his hands in black gloves, warm compress wrap steering wheel, catching a counter-movement of waves. Just under the steering wheel down a steep stairway leading to the cabin of Hayk Badalian, who leaned over the map, and appliances. “The three node”. That is three miles, or about five and a half miles an hour.”Two and a half node”, “two units!” It keeps for a long time. “One node”. “Speed – zero.” And finally, the worst: “Speed – minus one.” I write about it in a notebook with the wind, fugitive at me with the crests of waves. We walked not forward but backward. The captain turned the ship overhaul one hundred eighty degrees.
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Rush – it’s not just the wind, which is the movement of air relative to the surface of the ocean. Rush – it’s a real mystery. Energy and power. A gust of wind in the weather forecast is separate from the force of the wind line. And most often it is two or even three times stronger than the wind itself. Exactly at that moment, and something happens, a catastrophe. I would not say that I love the rush. But I respect him as a living creature. And therefore considered it.

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At 14 hours 30 minutes bypassed Cape Horn. More precisely, we have passed the point with coordinates 55 degrees 59 minutes south latitude and 67 degrees 16 minutes west longitude. The eastern side of this point – the Atlantic Ocean, Western – Pacific.
Only that our flags are crossed that line. In a moment yacht Mesropian letters on the sides was in a position where half of the letters were in the same ocean, the other – in another.
*** “The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan
His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Garekin II
His Holiness the Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I
January 8, 2011 the yacht “Armenia” under the flag of the Republic of Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as well as the Armenian Apostolic Church has reached Cape Horn. The crew of the yacht landed on the island and set in the chapel Stella Maris (Star of the sea), Armenian cross in the cherished memory of innocent victims on Planet Earth. Cape Horn in the hierarchy is on a par with the world’s highest peak Mount Everest and is home to a planetary level. January 9th, 2011 at 13:30 local time the yacht “Armenia” rounded Cape Horn, passing through the southernmost point of his voyage. Expedition “Saint Mesrob” fulfilled one of the most difficult tasks facing it. From this point marked the beginning of the way home to Armenia.
On behalf of the members of the expedition, “Saint Mesrob”
Zori Balayan
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans “
***
Chile. So long and so “long” we have not traveled along the borders of the country to a place where they were supposed to meet with our fellow countrymen, as in the case of Valparaiso. I never had so many obstacles. And all this for a meeting with a handful of Armenians, who almost did not speak Armenian. Actually, I noticed that when accused of an Armenian, that he does not speak the native language, he soon comes a sense of alienation. This is far worse than the infamous inferiority complex. What ever happens to the Jews. I have not seen a single Jew (and I was among them, and have many friends) who would have known Hebrew or Yiddish. And do not worry. They were considered the realities of life and remained faithful to its traditions, history, proud of the successes of their countrymen. And serve the people, his homeland. The easiest way to throw up your hands and fatally with undisguised sadness state the fact that, say, a few more years, and darkened the national home in the Diaspora. Thus, by the way, was considered in ancient times. But, fortunately, the diaspora is alive and well. And we do not accidentally included in the Chilean expedition route name Mashtots.

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We simply can not sit at a table in the mess hall and eat. Lookouts stand for four hours, day and night. Day and night work on. At this point it is not only to maintain the course and to use the movement of the waves themselves. And I must pay tribute to a young cook, who still manages the weather is something to prepare and distribute in the form of rations, even mashed potatoes. This morning, the cook decided to regale us Sako hard-boiled eggs. And to look aesthetically pleasing, and gave them each a plate. And so we can sit down for a while, Captain Sam, whose plate was already in hand, said that the watch changed the course of five minutes – that means going incidentally. But before he could finish the sentence, as a sharp roll throwI it together with a chair. Holding fast to the seat of the iron folding chair, he flew a bullet to the right side, and the eggs flew like birds. A broad smile on the face of Samvel mean that everything is in order. “Thank God, the eggs are safe!” – He said to general laughter.
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Once when I was admiring the bright starry sky somewhere in the forties latitudes, I was suddenly struck by a thought: after all, in the north of this latitude corresponds to the location of Armenia! I remembered how long looked to the back side of Mount Ararat, and it seemed to me ugly. I felt ashamed, even from the most horrified at the thought. How can that be! And anyway, how can I say or even think! Ararat – Ararat always. And it only in the fact that the opposite of you unfamiliar with. The same thing now, right here, on board a sailing yacht “Armenia.” Here, alas, does not have its North Star, and therefore there is no “living” guide that shows direction. But there is the famous Southern Cross. This is not a very large constellation, and it really looks like a cross. The longer crossbar of his points directly to the South Pole in the world. In Armenia, this constellation is not visible. But with the “Armenia” can be seen very well. Although because of the weather we do not often observed southern starry sky.

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“Armenia” has entered the bay of Hanga Roa – the only town and capital of Easter Island. Officially, he is a part of the Chilean province of Valparaiso. While I do not know exactly how many people live there. One source says two thousand people in the other – three thousand seven hundred. Natives call their island Rapa Nui, which is known to the world famous moai – stone statues of the soft volcanic tuff. So here is a look at that. But, stepping on the ground, we still will have some time to re-learn to walk, keep balance.
Morning on February 25, 2011. Arik rented a seven-seater jeep for all day. It made in advance routes on which we will pass across Easter Island in search of the lost civilization.
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Here it is not authorized to remove professional equipment. More precisely, it is possible, but only with the permission of the City Council of Hanga-Roa. City Council. And the city hall is called. Council consists of six people elected by the people for four years. In a word, here Soviet power. However, we also didn’t doubt that the captain-governor standing nearby in a peak-cap with a cockarde and distinctions by all means will allow to carry out to us shooting. Also weren’t mistaken.
I think, Armen Nazaryan — the first Armenian, who dashingly drove a jeep (as I understood, for the first time in life) across Easter Island. Arik assumed a ship role of the pilot. However, first often lost the road and came back to the same place. But it lasted not for long. By the way, if it didn’t lose the way, we wouldn’t meet on a way shop where sold water — our cook forgot to be reserved by it.
Later Arik not so simply drove another’s car as the real racer, but also made comments seen, how the skilled guide. But as soon as it took us to the first group of stone statues, Samvel Babasyan became the chief immediately. A pier, you will think, the chief of expedition, you will think, the captain! Who you are such on Easter Island which can be immortalized for the Armenian viewer only by Samvel Babasyan! He should look narrowly at first. Then long to look at idols, on the sun, on a point where he will stand together with the cook who drags behind it a support. And we with surprise look meanwhile at stone giants, trying, as well as all throughout centuries, to understand, how moved these volcanic giants in weight from 20 to 80 tons? We have an opportunity to meet the remote past of mankind and caught myself that we think of the future.
Penultimate day of stay on the island. We, by tradition, established on a column with plates (indexes of the directions and distances to the large cities) the — distance to Yerevan and Stepanakert. The column costs near a captain’s cabin and the inhabitant who made and has ornamented this plate, promised to support it in proper condition.
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Melbourne. In this port at the junction of Tihogo and Indian Ocean is home to around four million people. Including ten thousand Armenians. There is also the Armenian community and church Astvatsatsin. But personally I Melbourne is associated primarily with the Olympics. Machines have brought us to the Olympic stadium across the net, as if washed town. Between the fourth and fifth inputs – a huge wall, lined with black marble. Left on the white wall – the data on the sixteenth Olympic Games, the names of the organizers. Next – a huge black marble panels, which has been fifty-five stores the names of champions. Only the first. The ancient Olympics had been done differently. Cast gold busts with their names. Gold is now preserved only in the common phrase, “written in golden letters.” Although in fact letters carved just do not leave the anxious feeling of tangible happiness to see so far from the homeland of compatriots names, real men. Priority goes to the Latin alphabet. So first we found Volodya Yengibaryan. Boxing.The first boxers in our long history have been the king Varazdat and Vladimir Yengibaryan. Both stepped into immortality.Such is the magic power of the sacred Olympic Games. The second was in the “gym” is another crowned head – “King of the Rings” Albert Azarian. He not only Olympic gold biography, and geography. His name in I960, it was carved in Rome Olympics.

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Our steering Vahagn Matevosyan news of great importance – it has a baby. Voobscheto he hoped that the wedding will play only after the circumnavigation. But during an involuntary pause between steps ahead of his countryman idle Sevan – the boatswain, “Armenia” Mushegh Barseghian. We learned this by accident. I remembered the great gray from Zangezur Khanzadyan and all the crew said, referring to Vahagn, “In such cases, N. Gray said, but has not got a mouse in the Karas?” Vahagn blushed, then laughed: “priest”. Naturally, all were interested in, waiting for someone – boy or girl? After all, now, alas, of this great mystery known to all in advance. And Vahagn, head down, quietly squeezed out of himself: “At first, said the boy, and then said – a girl.” Mess-room laughed. While it calmed, they say, very well when first born child. They say it is better if the second will be a girl. Then, apparently in anticipation of a boy born the third, and suddenly, the fourth child. In the meantime, I’m standing in the stern, said the head of the Center of Maternal and Child Health George Okoev. He talked about the current situation on the ship. At noon the next day, when we had an early morning phone call Okoev and proclaimed: “I declare officially vouch for one hundred percent, a sailor,” Armenia “Vahagn Matevosyan’s a boy!” What’s eyes were at that moment with Vahagn!