The regatta “The Tall Ships Races” will not participate this year, but not because of holiday events.
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“Lietuva” is a municipal ship, which is used under a lease agreement by the sports club “Ostmarina” led by O. Kudzevičius.
So understandably, the ship’s tasks are coordinated with the municipality. The contract with it ends this September.
“We will see whether we extend it or not, because the situation is not the best, it depends on many things,” says the captain.
“This season is special because we will celebrate the ship’s anniversary. We don’t have big ambitions because our sails are old.
Of course, we will participate in local marine regattas – there are four of them. We will still manage them with old sails, as the stages are short. A new minimal set of sails – genoa and mainsail – costs about fifty thousand euros.
So we won’t be able to renew the sails for now, we will try to find sponsors in the future. And we cannot participate in the Curonian Lagoon regatta with this ship because its draft is too deep. That’s not our regatta,” said O. Kudzevičius.
Asked whether the yacht “Lietuva” will participate in the regatta “The Tall Ships Races”, O. Kudzevičius replied: “It will take place this year in the English Channel, North Sea. To participate in it requires large resources.
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I do not receive a salary for sailing and being the yacht captain. I have my own business, I have to help it, I cannot run around freely. I need to somehow survive, so time is limited. And that is the only reason.
We collect money for the ship’s maintenance in such voyages from various projects, but there are currently no opportunities to participate in international regattas. We have been invited by other ships to participate in regattas, we will see, maybe we as a club will participate.”
This year the yacht “Lietuva” was not rushed to be launched into the water – they were waiting for a new propeller to be sent, because, according to the captain, there was a misunderstanding with the old one. They wanted to make it just in time for the Klaipėda night ship parade.
No funds were received last year for the Klaipėda spinnaker torn during the competition in Riga, but the captain says it was repaired by their own efforts.
“We enlisted the help of sponsors and managed to assemble it, but it is old, barely alive, however, we will try to raise it and enjoy it a little more,” he said.
The yacht crew currently consists of about ten members, but it is still being assembled. According to the captain, there are people who just come to help. “There are newcomers. Quite interesting young men and girls, we will see who will stay. But so far they work with enthusiasm, contribute to preparing the ship, wash it if needed. Work on the ship takes place every year, its condition is good, so everything is fine. When we launch the yacht into the water, we will see who could sail where. Newcomers will assess their capabilities while sailing, how they handle the roll, etc.,” he said.
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