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News from and about Ukraine & Ukrainians: Ukrainian Community Press Releases
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BRAMA, July 4, 2000, 9:40am EDT
NEWS FLASH EXCLUSIVE!!
4th of July OpSail Bat’kivshchyna update: 9:40am
The Bat'kivshchyna
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NEW YORK (Brama) - At 9:10am exactly, the Bat’kivshchyna started up it’s engines and prepared to move out from Gravesend Bay (Brooklyn NY) where it has been moored since yesterday. At 9:25, the front sail went up. By 9:35 all the sails were up, and the Bat’kivshchyna began it’s journey.
The tall ships are shifting into a lineup formation to the south of New York Bay. As the ships move out they blast their cannons. According to Taras, the Bat’kivshchyna will be 13th in line, next to Dar Mlodciezy (Gift of the Children). The Polish ship Dar Mlodciezy was so named in gratitude for the fundraising effort on the part of Polish schoolchildren.
Guests and crew on the Bat’kivshchyna total about 45 people. On board are a reporter and photographer from the New Jersey Star-Ledger, as well as Roman Woronowycz from The Ukrainian Weekly. If you notice a couple of Kozaky on board, the one in blue sharavary is Taras Szczur, and in red is crew member Petro Vashczyk.
Look for the ship as it sails up the harbor:
Forward mast holds the American flag, with a series of OpSail2000 (one for each OpSail landing point) flags beneath it. Rear mast (stands tall in the middle of the ship) carries the blue and gold Ukrainian flag with a Tryzub. A blue and gold flag is also hung from the rear of the ship. The starboard (right) side sports a gift made by the Yonkers Veteran’s post – a 3’x10’ blue and yellow vinyl banner with a Tryzub and the words Ukraine and Óêðà¿íà.
At this moment the aircraft carrier Kennedy is situated just south of the Statue of Liberty, poised to kickoff the Parade of Sail.
A.K. (BRAMA)NEW YORK (Brama) - The Batkivschyna was about three to four miles south of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge heading south to assume its place in the formation of OPSAIL2000. There are many tall ships in lengths of 250 to 300 feet, including the Simon Bolivar falling into position. The area is also swarming with many pleasure cruisers as well as US Coast Guard rubber rafts.
At 10 am the Batkivschyna turned north to begin the sail up New York harbor. President Clinton's helicopter was seen flying in the area.
The weather is improving from yesterday's rainstorms with the sky in the area clearing up, though some haze is still sitting on the horizon. Conditions are currently perfect for smooth sailing.
In the words of Steve Shevchuk, national commander of the Ukrainian-American Veterans, the view from the boat of all of the activity and water is, "... Gorgeous. The disposition of the crew is good and everyone on board is having a wonderful time."
M.P. (BRAMA)NEW YORK (Brama) - The Batkivschyna continued moving north, moving into position alongside the Polish vessal Dar Mlodziezy ("Gift of the Children", built from donations of Polish children) about a mile south of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
In front of the Batkivschyna is the Simon Bolivar from Venezuala, and in front of the Simon Bolivar is the Esmeralda from Chile, flying one of the biggest flags in OpSail -- its colors being yellow on top, navy blue in the middle, and red on the bottom.
Comments from other members on deck include Yonkers denizen and CYMivyts Mark Holansky, having just come up the day before with his team having won first place from the Ukrainian-American Olympiada in Philadelphia, "Voyage is incredible; it gives you a taste of what travel is like hundreds of years ago. The atmosphere is friendly with everyone waving to each other. The Captain's a real solid guy."
Neil, another pleasure traveler, hails from Kensington New Hampshire. He was supposed to be on the Russian ship, Kristian Stern, whose cruise was scrapped. Coordinators for Opsail got him on the Batkivschyna. He commented, "Amazed by the vigor and support of the Ukrainian-American community. Food is great. Ships are beautiful. Everyone is friendly."
While passing the Verrazano Bridge US Air Force and Navy escort Tomcats, F-14s, F-15s, F-18s and even a Stealth B-2 bomber flew overhead. A true gala affair.
M.P. (BRAMA)NEW YORK (Brama) - Speaking with Roman Woronowycz, Kyiv reporter for the Ukrainian Weekly, . "We're cruising at 8-9 knots; the Staten Island Ferry which is passing the Batkivshchyna is jam packed with onlookers. The USS Kennedy is in sight, about two miles from the ship. We're also passing the QE2. "
"In addition to the crew people on board are from Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. Press representatives include the Ukrainian Weekly, Vikna na Ameryku, and the New Jersey Star-Ledger. ABC has said that it wants to do a story when the Batkivshchyna gets to its berth; in addition CBS wants to do a shoot." "There is a definite lack of horilka but plenty of beer (because of the yesterday's rains and the roads being flooded at Gravesend Bay it was hard to get off the boat)." Captain Dmytro Biriukovich, an individual of solid and heroic peace, exchanged a few words. His impression was that, "All Americans who greeted us are friendly, bearing no ill-will treating us like 'ridni braty'. At all of our port of calls we are introducing many with positive effects for the first time to Ukraine, showing them what Ukraine is. We know this is very important." "We have many stops ahead of us, but we are planning to be in Philadelphia for Ukraine's Independence Day." Just at noon the Batkivshchyna passed the USS Kennedy and the Statue of Liberty. The Kennedy was greeted with a cannon salute, with Taras Szczur standing on the helm in his sharyvary. M.P. (BRAMA)NEW YORK (Brama) - After coming up to the George Washington Bridge, which crosses the Hudson River at 179th Street, the Batkivschyna turned around and headed to its destination, Pier 84 at 42nd Street in New York City.
Currently, while cruising past 100th street, travelers described the current part of the cruise as relaxed, compared to the the earlier excitement of passing under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and saluting the USS Kennedy. On the way up the Hudson the Batkivshchyna passed Ukraine's naval frigate - the Slavutych, exchanging cannon and siren greetings. Pleasure boats and people on the banks greeted the ship crying out, "Zaporozhtsi! Ykrayina! Batkivshchyna!" New Jersey Star-Ledger photographer Noah Addis described the situation by saying, "Everyone seems to love it," pointing out that the ship's accordian player is one of the highlights. He added that the crew's one woman member will have one of her life's dreams fulfilled which is to see a 4th of July fireworks display over the Statue of Liberty. M.P. (BRAMA)NEW YORK (Brama) - Batkivshchyna finally made its way to its destination, arriving there at just after 3pm, after experiencing yet another delay because another ship was moored at its berth. The crew and its passengers all were in great spirits with Batkivshcyna's accordian player leading everyone in song and entertaining the huge crowd of all shapes and colors which was waiting for the boat's arrival.
The boat will be moored at Pier 84 fifty yards to one side of the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier until Sunday July 9th when it will set sail again. M.P. (BRAMA)
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