City of Gdask Invests in Sail Training
Pictured: General Zaruski
The Baltic harbour of Gdansk has been an operating harbour for over 1,000 years, featuring as one of Poland’ most important gateways to the world. Now the city is demonstrating its ongoing commitment to sail training having stepped in to save the wooden gaff ketch General Zaruski from decay.
The ship was launched in 1939 in Ekení_s, Sweden and was taken to Poland in 1946, just after the Second World War. For 57 years successive generations of young people had the opportunity to experience traditional sailing and racing on board the vessel. Their work and training aboard perfectly fulfilled the ideals of General Mariusz Zaruski, the initiator of the ship’ construction.
In 2003 the vessel ceased operations and gradually fell into decay. A number of subsequent initiatives to rebuild this monument to the art of boatbuilding all ended in failure.
However the city of Gdask finally stepped in, having decided to restore the vessel to its former splendour and purpose. General Zaruski will be used once again for sail training for young people. With its traditional rigging the ship demands teamwork and physical effort from the crew and is perfectly suited for sail training activities. It is also intended to use the General Zaruski as a floating ambassador of the city as it will regularly sail with its trainee crews between Baltic cities.
Once the vessel renovation is completed the ship will become a showpiece of the city and will be moored in the centre of Gdask, from where it will set out on its successive voyages.
There remains considerable work still to be completed before the General Zaruski is fully fit for its new lease of life in sail training and the city is encouraging local young people to become personally involved by volunteering to assist in the work.
For more information visit http://zaruski.pl
General Zaruski before work begun
Working on the hull
The General Zaruski crew taking part in The Tall Ships Races c1992
