Thousands turn out to watch Varna Crew Parade

Crowds lined the streets of Varna, Bulgaria this afternoon (Thursday 1 May) to watch the traditional Crew Parade as it made its noisy and colourful way through the city, ending at the Prize Giving stage, located in the Sea Garden park. Accompanied by military bands and dancing majorettes, the crews entertained the thousands of local people who had turned out to watch and applaud.  

Pictures can be viewed via this Facebook link.

Since arriving in Varna, trainees and crews from the ships have joined together in sporting events, including swimming, beach volleyball, beach football, rowing and tug of war. Prizes were awarded in each category as follows:

Beach Volleyball

1st Mir 1 (Russia)

2nd Kruzenshtern (Russia)

3rd Rah Naward (Pakistan)

Swimming – 50m Freestyle

1st Ivalin Vasiliev (Kaliakra)

2nd Kushnirenko (Kruzenshtern)

3rd Emir Gelikege (Bodrum)

Swimming – 50m Breaststroke

1st Komarov O.G (Mir)

2nd Gonchar Anton (Nadezhda)

3rd Vasiliev Ivalin (Kaliakra)

Swimming – 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay

1st Salnikov, Kushnirenko, Nurguatov, Jugulskiy (Kruzenshtern)

2nd Gurchenko, Komarov, Cshustova, Komarov (Mir)

3rd Gonchar, Timoffev, Ten, Egorov (Nadezhda)

Beach Football

1st Micea 2 (Romania)

2nd Micea 1 (Romania)

3rd Nadezhda (Russia)

Rowing

1st Nadezhda (Russia)

2nd Kruzenshtern (Russia)

3rd Adornate (Romania)

Tug of War

1st Micea (Romania)

2nd Nadezhda (Russia)

3rd Kruzenshtern (Russia)

Most Attractive Scuba Diver (fun prize!)

Peter Frie – Akela (Russia)

Best Class A Ship in Crew Parade

Rah Naward (Pakistan)

Best Class B, C, D Vessel in Crew Parade

Bodrum (Turkey)

Ship making the Best Contribution to Sport Activities

From 300 participants, Nadezhda (Russia) had 46

Ship Furthest from Home Port

Nadezhda (Russia)

Oldest Ship in the Fleet

Sedov (Russia)

The trainees and crews will enjoy the hospitality of the city this evening at the Crew Party, where they will celebrate, eat and dance together – an opportunity to relax and make new friends within the multi-cultural fleet.

Preparations for the first leg of the race from Varna to Novorossiysk (Russia) begin in earnest tomorrow, Friday. The fleet will leave port on Saturday with a Parade of Sail taking place from 13.00 local time, a spectacular sight for people on the shoreline.

Twenty nine sail training vessels entered the SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta, with 17 having arrived in Varna to take part, including one Ukranian and seven Russian ships. Most of them will race from Varna (Bulgaria) to Novorossiysk (Russia) before cruising to Sochi (Russia), from where they will race the final leg to Constanta (Romania).

ends

About Sail Training International (STI)

STI is the international voice of Sail Training, a registered charity (not-for-profit organisation), which has worldwide membership and activities. Its purpose is the development and education of young people through the Sail Training experience, regardless of nationality, culture, religion, gender or social background. It organises the annual Tall Ships Races and other international Tall Ship sailing events. STI members are 29 nati