World's largest sailing ships start trip around the globe
The crew is scheduled to change twice during the seven-month journey.
RUSSIA (Reuters) - World’s largest traditional sailing ships started a trip around the globe from their homeport of Russia’s Kaliningrad.
During their voyage, Russian four-mast barques Kruzenshtern and Sedov will later be joined by frigate Pallada.
Together they celebrate the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica by Russian sailors and the 75th anniversary of the WWII victory.
The journey is expected to cover more than forty ports in the Americas, Africa, Europe and Oceania accruing a total of around 100 thousand nautical miles.
Sailboats had to undergo preparations for several months at a shipyard in Kaliningrad region for such a long voyage.
The crew is scheduled to change twice during the seven-month journey.
All cadets underwent a special selection: a combination of crew who excelled at the theory as well as the practical preparedness for any difficulties that may be encountered on board.
"There are no difficulties for a girl who loves the sea and willing to become a professional in her business," cadet Daria Ulianova, whose dream is to become a captain, told Reuters.
Each sailboat will go its own route, but all three barges will meet in the Antarctic part of the Atlantic, where they will have joint manoeuvring and a friendly race. Kruzenshtern will return to Kaliningrad in early September 2020, and Sedov is expected almost a year later.
Tall ships "Kruzenshtern" and "Sedov" were built Germany in 1920s and were transferred to the Soviet Navy as part of the war reparations. "Sedov" bark is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest training sailing ship that has survived to this day.
