The Blyth Regatta: ships ahoy!

The Lord Nelson

SHTANDART

  • Shtandart is a replica of the 1703 frigate built by Peter the Great.

  • The Shtandart Project built the replica at St Petersburg over five years.

  • No actual plans of the original Shtandart had survived, but naval historian Victor Krainyukov was commissioned to find out about the ship.

  • He looked at Russian archives and found information about ship design and construction from Dutch, French and British authors of the time.

  • He also found an 18th-century engraving of the Shtandart.

  • From these sources, plans were drawn up and a model constructed in 1991. This became the basis of the design of the new replica Shtandart.

  • Thanks to local officials, large quantities of wood were obtained from parks around St Petersburg for the construction.

  • The larch required was gathered from a forest planted in 1730 to produce wood for ships.

  • As was traditional for the period, the ship is richly decorated with beautiful carvings.

  • Shtandart often participates in the Tall Ships Races held in the Baltic.

  • Length: 32.68m

  • Rig: Ship

  • Year built: 1999

  • Home port: St Petersburg, Russia

For more information on Shtandart click here

DAR MLODZIEZY

  • Dar Mlodziezy has been owned by the Gdynia Maritime Academy since she was built in 1982.

  • Her name means "gift of youth" and she replaced the beautiful frigate Dar Pormoza, which had trained future officers of merchant and fishing fleets for more than 50 years.

  • She proved to be a highly successful sail training ship and four other sisters were built, Druzhba, Khersonses, Mir, Nadeshda, Pallada.

  • She has graced the Tall Ships' Races with her presence regularly for about 25 years.

  • Her debut was in 1982 when she crossed the start line directly after being commissioned.

  • She has undertaken circumnavigations of the globe, which included the 200th anniversary of Australia in Sydney in 1988.

  • Length: 108.81m

  • Rig: Ship

  • Year built: 1982

  • Home port: Gdynia, Poland

For more information on Dar Mlodziezy click here

MORGENSTER

  • Morgenster was launched in 1919 as a herring lugger ‘Vrouw Maria’ SCH 324 for the fishing company den Dulk. She was built at the shipyard Boot in Alphen.

  • In 1927 she was motorised (200 HP La Meuse) and extended for another seven metres. There she got her new name ‘Morgenster’. She continued as a motorised fishing vessel until 1970. Due to certification requirements the owner took her out of fishing. She was sold to Jaq Vrolijk who exploited her in sport fishing daytrips.

  • After loosing certificates for this business she was sold to a Rotterdam’s singer who was said to prepare the ship for ether piracy. The singer was prosecuted, but after a series of trials and 2½ years later he was freed and regained the possession of his ship.

  • In 1983 Marian and Harry Muter bought the vessel in a terrible state of maintenance. The ship was towed to Zijkanaal B near the lovely little village of Spaarndam. Serious repairs and maintenance were carried out during the winter. After selling STV ‘Jantje’ in 2005, Marian and Harry had the opportunity to attend their project with Morgenster on a full time basis.

  • Finally, in June 2008 she was formally blessed into the sailing world again by the very sympathetic Minister Maria van der Hoeve. Morgenster proved to be a fine vessel ever since, and fast enough in all sorts of weather and easy to handle.

  • Length:44.6m

  • Rig:Brig

  • Year Built:1919

  • Home Port:Den Helder, Netherlands

For more information on Morgenster click here

FRYDERYK CHOPIN

  • STS Fryderyk Chopin is the youngest of the Polish tall ships, built between 1990-92 in Dora shipyard, Gdansk.

  • It was built for the International Class Afloat Foundation as the brainchild idea of its president, captain Krzysztof Baranowski, and deputy, captain Ziemowit Baranski.

  • The ship was designed by Zygmunt Choren, the author of Pogoria and Dar Młodziezy.

  • Named after Polish 19th century composer Fryderyk Chopin, it has a long bowsprit which means she can set five headsails and take advantage of light winds.

  • There are as many as six yards on every mast, which is extremely rare.

  • The ship has been owned by the European School of Law and Administration in Warsaw since 2000.

  • It hosts training programmes for Tall Ships’ fans.

  • Length: 52.84m

  • Rig: Brig

  • Year built: 1992

  • Home port: Szczecin, Poland

For more information on STS Fryderyk Chopin click here

CHRISTIAN RADICH

  • Christian Radich is one of Norway’s well-known sailing ambassadors.

  • It functioned as a sail training ship from the start in 1937 to 1998.

  • Now the ship acts as a training ship for the Norwegian Navy during the winter season.

  • During the summer period, the ship offers voyages for school classes, arrangements for companies and private parties, and participates in the Tall Ships Races.

  • With 1.360 m² of sail, almost 9,000 metres of rope and a 37,7 meters tall main mast, Christian Radich has proven hard to beat on the regattas.

  • The famous deck is an attractive arena for entertainment in port.

  • She is a regular participant in The Tall Ships' Races and has been first on corrected time on several occasions.

  • Length: 71.73

  • Rig: Ship

  • Year built: 1937

  • Home port: Oslo, Norway

For more information on Christian Radich click here

LORD NELSON

  • STS Lord Nelson was two years in the making.

  • It was commissioned by the Jubilee Sailing Trust.

  • She would be the ‘flagship’ for the trust’s mission to enable people with disabilities to sail.

  • A contract was awarded to James W Cook, and the decision announced by Lady Donaldson, then Lord Major of London, at a press conference in July 1984.

  • The ship was constructed at Wivenhoe, Essex.

  • The keel of the ship was laid in October 1984, after funding was secured through a generous donation from Sir Jack Hayward.

  • Sir Jack performed the keel laying ceremony on a date which was chosen to be as close to Trafalgar Day as possible.

  • Trafalgar Day celebrates the day in 1805 when Admiral Lord Nelson achieved his most famous victory.

  • Length: 48.55m

  • Rig:

  • Year built: 1985

  • Home port: Southampton

For more information on STS Lord Nelson click here

OOSTERSCHELDE

  • Oosterschelde was built in the Netherlands in 1918 at the order of Rotterdam shipping company HAAS.

  • It is the last remaining representative of a large fleet of schooners that sailed under the Dutch flag at the beginning of the 20th century.

  • Her name comes from the eastern part of the Schelde river that flows from France through Belgium and the Netherlands to the sea.

  • Oosterschelde is the largest restored Dutch sailing ship, which is a monument for Dutch shipbuilding and maritime navigation under sail.

  • As a freighter, Oosterschelde carried some hundred tons of cargo including bricks, herring and bananas.

  • In 1921, the ship was sold, changing hands three times and converted to a motor-sailer before being bought in 1988 and restored to her former glory.

  • The Rotterdam Sailing Ship Foundation supported restoration through fundraising and began work in 1990.

  • The ship was officially launched in 1992 by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet.

  • In 2000, Oosterschelde raced from Boston to Amsterdam in the Tall Ships 2000 race.

  • Length: 47.62m

  • Rig: Topsail Schooner 3

  • Year built: 1918

  • Home port: Rotterdam

For more information on Oosterschelde click here

THALASSA

  • Thalassa was originally built in 1980 in Harlingen, Holland, but after she sank in 1985 was bought by Arnold Hilkema and Jacob Dan who totally rebuilt and refitted her.

  • She was relaunched in 1995.

  • 2004 was the first year she competed in The Tall Ships Races.

  • Length: 47.25m

  • Rig: Barquentine 3

  • Year built: 1980

  • Home port: Harlingen

For more information on Thalassa click here