The first captain of the legendary sailing ship Mir, Viktor Antonov, has died.

Viktor Antonov, the first captain of the Mir training sailing vessel, has died at the age of 88. This was announced on February 18 on the website of the Admiral S.O. Makarov State University of the Marine and River Fleet.

"The condolences have stirred up the international sailing community and the world. The words about the kind memory that Viktor Nikolaevich Antonov left to the whole world come from various countries, from sailing captains and yachtsmen with whom he conquered the seas," the university said in a statement.

Under his command, the ship won dozens of international regattas, including the transatlantic Columbus 500 in 1992 and the Cutty Sark race. Mir has received the unofficial status of the fastest sailing ship in the world.

Antonov began his naval career as a sailor on the barquentine Sirius, sailing under the command of Captain Alexander Chechulin. In 1978, as part of the crew of the yacht "Ritsa", he won silver in the international races "Operation Sail", and in 1980 he led her to victory as captain.

The farewell ceremony will take place on February 20 at 12:00 Moscow time at the crematorium on Shafirovsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg.

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