BRICS United: round-the-world voyage on sailboat to become film

Expedition set out from Salvador and pushed all the way to Siberia, covering 24 time zones in 322 days. Journey marks 20th anniversary of BRICS with adventure, science, culture and diplomacy.

Brazil and Russia have together written a new chapter in the history of global navigation.

After crossing oceans and braving the planet’s extremes, sailboat “Fraternidade” (Fraternity) has returned to Brazil following its triumphant circumnavigation of the globe. The vessel arrived in Salvador (Bahia) on February 28, 2026 – same point of departure from which this historic crossing began in April 2025.

The crew received a hero’s welcome in Salvador

“I believe more than 700 people showed up. For me, that was a powerful sign that our voyage was important for Brazil”, said captain Aleixo Belov, one of the members of the adventure alongside Sergei Shcherbakov.

The expedition celebrates 20 years of BRICS and also looks ahead to the 2028 bicentennial of diplomatic relations between Brazil and Russia.

Warm welcome in Salvador, Bahia

Route challenged the planet’s limits

In addition to the classic circumnavigation across 24 time zones, the crew of Fraternidade sailed from the Earth’s northernmost continental point — Cape Chelyuskin (latitude 78° North) — to one of the planet’s southernmost points, the legendary Cape Horn, off the coast of Tierra del Fuego in South America.

Thus, the expedition explored the seas not only along its perimeter but also from north to south.

“On board, we carried over 6,000 liters of water and about 7,000 liters of diesel fuel, two 240-horsepower engines, along with sails. Throughout the entire expedition, we tore only one sail, during a strong storm, but we hoisted another and continued on our way”, revealed captain Aleixo.

The captains

Captain Aleixo Belov is a Brazilian navigator born in the Soviet Union who immigrated to Brazil as a child. He shared the dream he had of traveling to Siberia:

“Siberia is a special place. For me, it is an unusual, unique voyage. No Brazilian sailboat had ever sailed there before. I really wanted to make this trip. And thanks to my contact with Sergei Shcherbakov, everything became possible.”

Captain Aleixo Belov

He admitted that his greatest fear was the ice on the Northern Sea Route:

“We were constantly worried: would the ice let us through? I was so worried that I took much more food on the yacht than we needed: chocolate, biscuits, dried fruit, milk — everything that did not need cooking, in case we got stuck in the ice. Thank God, we managed to get through. It was the only place in the world I had never been before – and now I have“, he celebrated.

Aleixo Belov and Sergei Shcherbakov

Captain Sergei Shcherbakov shared his impressions upon completing the voyage:

“We sailed around the world, from the far north to the far south of our route. This is a great achievement: we made it. And frankly, on one hand, there is the joy of accomplishment and, on the other, a sense of emptiness. Today is essentially our last day in Brazil; everything is behind us, the goal was achieved. This was our life’s purpose during this period. And when a goal like that is achieved, the moment comes when we need to think of something new. I am sure Aleixo and I will think about the next steps.”

Captain Sergei Shcherbakov

Adventure to be immortalized in film and literature

Aleixo Belov is preparing a documentary, with footage recorded by two professional cinematographers who worked constantly on board.

Cameramen on board recorded the entire adventure

Furthermore, the captain himself plans to write his fourteenth book about the sea and voyages. He emphasized that he sees the expedition as a path opened for the next generation of Brazilian sailors:

“I sailed through places with warm oceans, with mild weather, and I reached the far north and the far south. Now I can say: I have been everywhere. I opened the way for young Brazilians, I showed them the path. (…) I am 83 years old, I do not plan to do any more expeditions like this one. Now I wish for young people to read books and follow us. I invite everyone to the sea.”

Aleixo Belov

Fraternidade: a custom-built vessel

Aleixo also described how he prepared for this journey and his sailboat, Fraternidade, which gave the expedition its name:

“I designed and built this sailboat myself. I traveled extensively around Europe, observing projects, talking with designers, but I could not find a single boat that truly pleased me. So I decided to build my own.”

Aleixo Belov

Fraternidade is 21.5 meters long. It is considered an ideal yacht for strong winds and large waves, besides featuring a heating system and specialized insulation to mitigate the cold.

Science, culture and legacy for humanity

Far more than an epic adventure, the expedition collected valuable data on ice conditions, meteorological patterns and the hydrology of the Northern Sea Route, in addition to carrying out environmental monitoring and fauna censuses. This material will be developed into practical recommendations to help plan future navigation in the region.

The experience also strengthened international collaboration: Russian scientific laboratories are open to receiving researchers from around the world, and the Expedition and Tourism Center of the Russian Geographical Society — housed at the Fundação Aleixo Belov in Salvador — is already a support point for new projects.

In parallel, the voyage had a human and cultural side. In the ports where the vessel stopped, the crew was welcomed with festivities, typical foods and visits to museums, gathering ethnographic records and stories from each community.

At the end of it all, the crew was deeply moved by the warmth of the local people and discovered deep affinities between the cultures – proof that science and adventure also bring people together.