The ships got off the mark in the Baltic Sea, 5 nautical miles from the shore. The sailing vessel Brabander was escorted to the starting line by another KU vessel, the sailing yacht Odisėja, which will also take part in the race starting in the port of Tallinn. Of the three ships representing Lithuania in The Tall Ships Races 2024, two belong to Klaipėda University.
The sailing vessel and its crew were seen off by Prof. Dr. Artūras Razbadauskas, the Rector of KU, and Artur Truš, the mentor of the sea cadet corps. The Head of KU wished sailors good luck and a safe journey. The sailing vessel Brabander got off the mark at a speed of about 10 knots.
About Brabander’s trainee crew and challenges at sea
Before the start of The Tall Ships Races 2024, R. Ramanauskas, skipper of the sailing vessel Brabander, talked about the trainee crew and what awaits them.
“10 trainees, young people aged between 15 and 25, have joined the professional crew. They were selected by the city. A selection was announced, they sent cover letters and had to meet certain criteria. They are all in the race voluntarily, so I have no doubt that they will do well. The most important thing in sailing and in achieving good results is the team. In addition to running the boat, crew members will also have to do all the jobs they have to do at home during the race: washing the deck, peeling the potatoes, and other chores to keep things tidy. Shifts change every 4 hours, so you need to be on time and ready to go on deck at any time, even in the middle of the night, to carry out the necessary maneuvers,” shared the skipper of the sailing vessel.
R. Ramanauskas says that the biggest potential challenges are difficult weather conditions (no wind or too much wind), physical fatigue, lack of sleep, and seasickness.
Before the race, the trainees tested their strength at sailing trials, where they learnt how to hoist the sails, check the ropes, and other important things. Martynas, one of the trainees, says the excitement is definitely there.
“There is a lot of excitement, because I don’t know how long we will sail, how we will sail, how I will react myself. Anyway, it is the excitement that drives me to participate the most”, Martynas shared his emotions.
Receiving a lot of attention before the start of the race
In the crew parade, the Brabander team was joined by KU’s sailing yacht Odisėja sea cadet unit, which will start the race in Tallinn. Marching together, the teams carried the flags of Lithuania, Klaipėda, and Klaipėda University.
The crew of dashing trainees performed well in the sports competition, which took place on Friday, June 28, finishing first in the minifootball competition and second in the beach volleyball competition.
On Friday evening, Prof. Dr. A. Razbadauskas, KU Rector, congratulated the trainee crew on their first achievements. Among the guests were representatives of Gitana and OJ Crew, who supported the participation of sailing yacht Odisėja trainees in Tallinn-Turku leg of The Tall Ships Races 2024.
At the skippers’ meeting, which took place on Saturday, June 29, Brabander’s skipper R. Ramanauskas received an award from Sail Training International vessel inspector for the most technologically advanced vessel.
