New York - Captain Birioukovych has been an amateur sailor since childhood. He grew up in Kyiv, near the "richka" Dnipro (the Dnipro River), studied architectural engineering, and cultivated a love for the sea and for yachting during his professional years.

The "Bat'kivshchyna" (meaning Fatherland, not Motherland as translated in the New York Times on July 3) was a simple fishing boat when Birioukovych purchased it in 1988. He rebuilt it to his specifications, and although it was launched in 1990, he spent another year completing the finishing touches. He started to travel in earnest only after Ukraine's independence in 1991. The ship has since then touched on the shores of Turkey, Greece, France, Italy (and other European ports), Israel, and finally the eastern seaboard of the United States.

The Captain clarified that they are in the U.S. not only as participants in OpSail2000. The "Bat'kivshchyna" is also here as "folk ambassadors of good will" from his country under the auspices of a seafaring expedition to introduce Ukraine to the world. The expedition called "Discover Ukraine" is a not-for-profit organization funded partly by a small group of international philanthropists and in part is dependent on donations. The captain is especially proud of this purposeful goal - his love for Ukraine is genuinely expressed, his affection for his ship runs deep, and having the opportunity to join the two in a voyage such as this brings him a great deal of joy and satisfaction.

What's Next?

On Monday July 10, the ship will depart from New York and continue northbound along it's scheduled OpSail route. The Philadelphia Ukrainian community has invited the "Bat'kivshchyna" to join them in celebrating the 9th anniversary of Ukraine's independence on August 24th. The captain was also expecting an invitation to visit the Boston community sometime soon. After that, plans are uncertain ... but, the captain has an idea ...

... How would you like to borrow a schooner until next spring?
Or, would you happen to have room in your marina for a Tall Ship?

Three months is far too short a stay in the U.S. for Discover Ukraine's program. Next spring (2001), a Tall Ship tour of the Great Lakes is in the works, and the Bat'kivshchyna has been invited to represent Ukraine in that event. However, the costs in terms of time and expense for the ship to go back to Ukraine this fall and return to America again in the spring are prohibitive. Therefore, the Captain is sending out an appeal to anyone who may have an interest in "babysitting" his ship through the winter months. He would prefer to leave it in dry dock in the U.S. until then, but would be willing to consider other suitable proposals from interested parties. If, for example, if someone with yachting experience would like to use it for other purposes, preferably with "idealogically similar" (i.e., Ukraine-related) goals, he is willing to form a mutually beneficial partnership. FYI, the schooner is 89 feet in length with a 9 foot draft (that's the minimum required depth of water below the vessel).

Assuming that the "Bat'kivshchyna" takes part in the 2001 Great Lakes sailing expedition, the ship would later continue its ocean voyage around the world. Captain Birioukovych eventually expects to make his way to Australia, India, through the Suez Canal and finally home to Ukraine.

Gratitude to those who have helped

The Captain is extremely grateful to all those who have contributed both materially and spiritually. He singled out Victor Gavrilenkowsky of Maryland who generously donated $1000. He also mentioned Jack Dougherty, Laura Stevenson, and Tim Jones who were instrumental in organizing the voyage and their trimphant arrival in Chesapeake Bay. "The crowds were much like those going to church on Easter Sunday back home," said Birioukovych. "They were all waving little Ukrainian flags when we arrived," he said, and it was a truly moving moment to see this as they sailed in. Other benefactors, too numerous to mention, have donated cash and products to their ship, some smaller amounts, some larger, but each and every donation is gratefully accepted and very much appreciated by the Captain.

H.K. (BRAMA)