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BRAMA, June 16, 2000, 11:00pm EST


Ukrainian Tall Ship makes its way to New York Harbor
- H.K.

New York - Carl Briseno, who works for OpSail 2000 - New York (212 435 2665), has been vigilantly preparing for the arrival of the 'Batkivshchyna.' After a trouble-filled voyage from Kyiv through the Black Sea and Mediterranean, and then across the Atlantic he is looking forward to seeing the Ukrainian schooner in the Parade of Sail in New York on July 4th. The ship is currently in Norfolk, VA. Dmytro Birioukovitch is the Captain of the 'Batkivshchyna' and head of support team is Roy Kellog. They can be reached at discoverukraine@hotmail.com.

According to Roy Kellogg, who not only heads the support team but is also Captain Birioukovitch's son-in-law, the 'Batkivshchyna' hit several snags on its journey to the U.S. Its troubles began even before departing from Kyiv on April 7th. The trip was delayed 5 days because of ice in the harbor. Ice floes slowed the schooner's progress along the Dnipro River and the schooner got stuck on sandbars in a few locations. Equipment failures (the toilet broke and had to be repaired), no lights or markings along the river banks, and outdated charts made passage extremely difficult. Because of a political disagreement with Turkey, the schooner had to quietly steal through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles at night in order to make its way to the Mediterranean.

The crew encountered major storms in the Mediterranean Sea, and the mainsail was ripped in the process. After making necessary repairs, they departed from Cadiz, Spain on May 5th. By May 15th, their radio went out. Low on fuel, no radar, and the lack of string winds made the Altantic crossing a chore as well. Without a radio, there was no way to send out communiqués while the support team awaited the ship's arrival on this side of the ocean. As Roy Kellogg says, the ship crossed the Atlantic much the same way that Columbus did - with just a sextant and compass to guide it.

The schooner never made it to its first scheduled destination (May 22-25) in Puerto Rico. Coast Guard searches around the island found nothing, and it turned out that the ship was forced to head directly towards Norfolk, Virginia. It was a few days before the 'Batkivshchyna' was located about 1000 nautical miles off the shore of the U.S. on May 29, and the ship and its courageous crew finally made it safely into the harbor in Norfolk.

Websites with more information about OPSail 2000 and the 'Batkivshchyna':
http://www.discover-ukraine.kiev.ua/
http://www.teachout.org/sail/
http://www.tallshipnewswire.com/jscript/article.php3?id=50
http://www.tallshipnewswire.com/jscript/article.php3?id=41
http://www.tallshipnewswire.com/jscript/article.php3?id=21

Get your sea legs in shape:
Deck space for the Parade of Sails in New York on July 4th is still available – to make reservations and a donation, please contact Roy Kellogg at discoverukraine@hotmail.com. Seafarers may still be able to book berths for part of the voyage along the eastern seaboard.

Schedule:
Norfolk Parade of SailJune 16
Cheasapeake port callJune 16-20
Wilmington, Delaware Tallships2000June 22-25
Opsail Baltimore, MarylandJune 26-29
Opsail New York, Parade of SailJuly 4
Port call -Pier 84, ManhattanJuly 4-10
Niantic, CT, Ship party Evening ofJuly 11
New London,CT, Parade of SailJuly 12
New London CT, State PierJuly 12-15
Halifax, Nova ScotiaJuly 20-24
Portland, Maine, Parade of SailJuly 28
Portland, Maine, port callJuly 28-31

The Batkivshchyna

The Ukrainian tall ship "Bat'kivshchyna" is going to be in her first American Opsail Parade of sail today, Friday June 16, in Norfolk and Cheasapeake, Virginia. The Captain and crew are excited and have been working very hard to make it a proud showing for the Ukrainian flag despite the many problems they have had to overcome. Ukrainian volunteers in Norfolk have been very impressed with their "honorable spirit and message" and have helped the ship in many ways. The ship is grossly underfunded and we hope there are people out there that could assist and greet them in their own way while they are in their next scheduled ports.

The little ship still needs a new marine radio, food and meals, fuel, a few shore accomodations, and of course money and friends for the rest of the journey. They have exhausted their tiny budget of donations by traveling over 6000 miles so far, on a dream to expose Ukraine to America. Captain Dimitro Birioukovitch and his crew have traveled this far on pure determination, ingenuity, skill and courage.

Tax deductible contributions for the "Bat'kivshchyna" can be made out to "CFUE", and mailed to CT Friends of Ukraine Expedition
c/o Fleet Bank
25 Pennsylvania Ave.
Niantic, CT. 06357
att: Carol A. Dimaggio
acct# 9426223229.

CFUE is a volunteer group that has been working to help the ship come to Opsail2000 and the U.S.A. since November, l999. A list of donors and all donations received by CFUE will be publicly presented to the Captain on July 11, in Niantic, CT at a party strictly in honor of Bat'kivshchyna and her crew. A final accounting and presentation will be made prior to July 31 in Portland Maine. For more information people may e-mail: CFUE@webtv.net.

Mike Lamperelli
Administrator CFUE
Tel: 860.691-0756
Fax: 860.691-1060

 


Links to photos and press releases about OpSail and the Batkivshchyna:
  • July 12 00 - The voyage continues: Parade of Sail in New London
  • July 9 00 - Captain Dmytro Birioukovych and his "Bat'kivshchyna" (interview/³íòåðâ'þ) AUDIO/FOTOS
  • July 9 00 - See who came to greet the Ukrainian Tall Ship FOTO/S
  • July 7 00 - George W. makes history: view from the deck of a Tall Ship FOTO/S
  • July 6 00 - On board the "Bat'kivshchyna" during OpSail 2000 FOTO/S
  • July 5 00 - Slavutych, Bat’kivshchyna, a Cannon and Fireworks FOTO/S
  • July 5 00 - The Bat’kivshchyna at Pier 84 FOTO/S
  • July 4 00 - 4th of July OpSail Bat’kivshchyna update: 6:30pm FOTO/S
  • July 4 00 - 4th of July OpSail Bat’kivshchyna updates: 9:40am-3:45pm
  • June 16 00 - Ukrainian Tall Ship makes its way to New York Harbor FOTO/S & DONATION INFO
     
    DONATION INFO
    Tax deductible contributions for the "Bat'kivshchyna" can be made out to:
    "CFUE"
    Mail to:
    CT Friends of Ukraine Expedition
    c/o Fleet Bank
    25 Pennsylvania Ave.
    Niantic, CT. 06357
    att: Carol A. Dimaggio
    acct# 9426223229

    Contact info:
    Ct. Friends of Ukraine Expedition (CFUE)
    195 Main Street, Niantic, CT. 06357
    Phone: (860) 691-0756
    Fax: (860) 691-1060
    discoverukraine@hotmail.com

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