St.Iv (Estonia) arrived in Klaipeda yesterday, fresh from her successful
participation in the Tall Ships Races that began in Waterford on 30th
June and finished in Hamstad on 8th August, where she took first place in her class (C) overall.
The family run Bermudan Sloop, built in 1991, has been participating in
Tall Ships Races since 1993, although the Captain, Margus Zahharov, entered his
first race back in 1982.
Due to growing interest in sail training among young people in Estonia
the owners and permanent crew of St. Iv established the non-profit organization
Estonian Youth Sail Training Association which provides sail training, offshore sailing
possibilities and promotes seafaring traditions. Currently St. Iv is sailing
under auspices of STA Estonia.
Such is the spirit of friendship onboard, it is not unusual for crew to
return time after time. One such crew
member is Olga Pelenitsina, who was the liaison officer for the vessel in St Petersberg
in 1996 and now sails as a regular member of the crew and is delighted to be here in Klaipeda.
"We have a lot of friends within the fleet but when we are racing we are very competitive" explained Zahharuv.
The Culture 2011 Tall Ships Regatta is organised by Sail Training International.