The rally area is quiet and empty now. The silence is broken by the sounds of cranes, hammers, and other tools being used at disassembling of the rally stalls. Just like before the event, for safety reasons you can’t walk down the fabulous steps of Waly Chrobrego, as the main staged at the bottom of them is being packed into big trucks. There is no track of the pontoon bridge that used to connect the two banks of the river. The rafters of Ulanow left today just before noon. ‘Dar ...]]> Here are some numbers that depict the Tall Ships’ Races 2007 in Szczecin 1 liaison officers’ radiotelephones lost 1 drunken helmsman stopped by the police 2 times a day rubbish was taken away from the area of the rally 4 the rally lasted 20 ambulances served the rally 49 kids who got lost found themselves in the rally Police Shelter for Children (they were all picked up by their parents) 100 liaison officers (volunteers) served the crews 105 municipal guards daily were on duty in...]]> Mister President, we’ve done our job! It’s too early to fully summarize the event, however, I would like to give some numbers referring to the rally in Szczecin. We have crossed the number of 1.5 millions of visitors to the city, and in addition to this there were: 15 million clicks on the rally web camera site, 500 accreditations handed out to journalists - it’s an absolute record, we didn’t expect that. I don’t know what events attract so many journalists and ...]]> I’m really happy to know that Szczecin is now called ‘a city of success’ - I do believe, that the next event to be prepared will prove it. The people of Szczecin are proud to live here. They are happy . Everything worked as it should have. Ships themselves are predictable, sailors not that much, but all in all, there were no problems on water. Calling at the port ran really smoothly thanks to professional service of the Navigation Agency, the volunteers in quays, and the ca...]]> I have tried not to reveal my opinion on the organisation of the rally in Szczecin till the very end. It’s high time to speak now. All I can say is that it’s been a great success: a fantastic port, wonderful city, perfect organisation. Liaison officers to start with, and everyone engaged with the rally did a perfect job. The captains I talked to during the rally in Szczecin were all, without any exception, overwhelmed by the event. I have never heard so many positive opinions on ...]]> The Tall Ships’ Races rally in Szczecin is over, but Sedov, the tallest ship to the race, stays in Poland. Not for good, of course, probably at least till Thursday. It is due to the ship’s engine which has just broken. It’s said that the repair will probably take a few days. The vessel has been hauled to the shipyard and moored to Kaszubskie Harbour. Sedov is the tallest training ship in the world. For many years Sedov had been the biggest one, though Royal Clipper took the...]]> Polish language is said to be one of the most difficult for foreigners to learn. Its pronunciation is not a piece of cake. The crews that have come to Szczecin try to communicate in English or German, but there are some ambitious ones as well. A crewman of Atena, Sweden (class B) had made an effort to learn some words in Polish before he arrived in Szczecin. The mini-dictionary that the sailors received seems to be interesting. Apart from some courteous phrases (good bye - do widzenia, pleas...]]> Since The Tall Ships 2007 in Szczecin started, the organisers have received a lot of letters from people who visited the port during the rally. Here are some of them: ‘I would like to congratulate and thank for such a great event. I don’t live in Szczecin anymore, though I have always been a local patriot. Now, after the finale of the rally, I am extremely proud of my home city. Congratulations for the president of Szczecin and the whole organising committee. I wish you persisten...]]> The commanders of ships, which have won the most important prizes of the Tall Ships’ Races second stage, were guests to our press conference held on Monday, 6 August. Captain Clare Cupples spoke first (she is the only female captain we have ever talked to in Szczecin). Her ‘Lord Nelson’ won the prestigious Friendship Trophy, awarded to the ship that has done the most to further international friendship and understanding - the main ethos of the event. ‘Lord Nelson&rsqu...]]> Nearly 100 yachts and sailing ships of TTSR, which have moored to the banks of Szczecin for a few days, leave tomorrow morning. However, numerous accompanying events will last till late night hours. It’s worth taking a day off. Why don’t you book a place on one of the ships and watch the farewell parade from its board. The most persistent ones will have an opportunity to accompany the leaving ships up to Swinoujscie, and then to the road. Don’t forget your cameras. Unforget...]]> We had a chance to talk to the captains of two ships which sailed the longest distance in order to call at Szczecin. Both vessels were honoured with special prizes by the city council. The sole record-holder is Malaysian brigantine ‘Tunas Samudera’. The vessel of Malaysian Navy was built in 1987, and is now on her round-the-world maiden voyage. Rusli Idrus, the captain, said that the ship had sailed 9 000 sea miles to get to Szczecin. Poland was the main goal of the exotic vessel...]]> Dar Mlodziezy, temporarily, gained a new trainee: Piotr Krzystek, the president of Szczecin, showed up on board as promised. It took him 15 minutes to climb up the shrouds to the tallest yard of the frigate. One of the crewmen climbed behind the president, and a photo reporter of the Press Office waited up high to take a photo of Piotr Krzystek. (see the photo gallery). When the president made his way to the top, he stopped there for a while to admire the panorama of the city. After the pres...]]> There is a wide choice of souvenirs to buy, though the most precious ones are stamps of all the 18 class A ships, that you can collect yourself. At the gangway of every vessel, a sailor in charge eagerly puts stamps onto collectors’ books. Some visitors are equipped with a special two-sided inset of ‘Sails’ magazine, others carry a set of postcards, some bring thick professional books. There are also fans, especially women, who want to have their bodies imprinted. Every shi...]]> Christian Radich, of Norway, is the triumphant winner of The Tall Ships Races 2007. The frigate has a rich past. Named after a Norwegian shipowner, the vessel was built at Framnæs shipyard in Sandefjord, Norway, and was delivered on 17 June 1937. The owner was The Christian Radich Sail Training Foundation established by a grant from cavalry officer, captain Christian Radich. Her first long distance race she did a year later, when she sailed to New York for an international exhibition. D...]]> It’s difficult to describe all the commotion of last Sunday night. The great concert and laser shows have broken all attendance records. Looking down packed Waly Chrobrego, you could see a wavy sea of heads. The harbours and Trasa Zamkowa were totally filled with people. You wouldn’t have been able to get close to the main stage. The giant crowd went wild at the music of Kate Ryan, Stachursky’, and Bodie Without Organ. The audience had a chance to witness sort of a soloists...]]> The atmosphere in Szczecin is still tensed. After an intensive weekend, Monday is going to be another entertaining day of The Tall Ships’ Races 2007. We start with a bang. According to his previous announcement, by noon the president of Szczecin will have climbed up the tallest yard of Dar Mlodziezy. Piotr Krzystek hasn’t had time to practice yet, though assured that he wouldn’t be scared of the 50-meters-tall-masts of the ship. The president will also unveil a giant &lsquo...]]> Szczecin has never witnessed such a parade before. A few thousand of sailors marched along the city streets. They set out from Waly Chrobrego, passed by Grunwaldzki Square and Jasne Blonia, to Letni Theatre, where the prize giving ceremony took place. A colourful procession, accompanied by 10 wind instruments orchestras, was being observed by crowds of spectators, who waved to the crews and gave them incredibly hearty ovation. The procession was led by the Mexican crew. Armed officers, dress...]]> British bark Lord Nelson is a special vessel. It’s one of only two ships built by Jubilee Sailing Trust fully adjusted to the needs of disabled people. ‘Lord Nelson’ doesn’t take passengers - the disabled crew members have the same duties as everybody else on board. ‘Everybody is engaged with tasks and works hard’, say Matt and John, the sailors showing us to the inside of the boat. Most elements of the ship are foldable, its bar is modelled on a typical E...]]> On Sunday at the main stage of futuristic shape, we will face musical culmination No 2, that is ‘Up to Date Hits’. Great Polish and foreign stars will be there for you: Szymon Wydra & Carpe Diem, Stachursky, Doda (sort of symbol of Szczecin), Melanie C - ex Spice Girls group member, and Kate Ryan, a Belgian singer already well known to the Polish audience. A word about Melanie C (or Melanie Jayne Chisholm)… She’s an ex Spice Girls group member, the top girls&rsqu...]]> The internet forums are packed with opinions on The Tall Ships’ Races 2007. We cite some them below, without any previous selection - most of them are in favour of the rally and its organisation. I’ve been there, that IS fantastic! j/w Bravo for the people of Szczecin, you are great!!! ~koszalinianka I’ve been there, seen the whole thing. Bravo Szczecin. Perfect organisation, beautiful ships, wonderful weather. Bravo for Szczecin, the people of Szczecin, and all the organis...]]> The Tall Ships’ Races rally gives you a unique opportunity to see the secrets hidden under decks. 92 vessels have moored to the wharves at Waly Chrobrego and Lasztownia. The visitors to the rally want to go on board of at least one of them at all cost. Admittance to all the ships is free, though you have to queue long hours to get onto the tallest of the vessels. The most popular with tourists is Dar Mlodziezy, moored to the very centre of the bank. Despite long queues, those who step ...]]> All the racing ships have been lying in the port of Szczecin since Saturday. The greatest attraction of this sailing Sunday seems to be a colourful parade of the crews along the city streets, setting off from Waly Chrobrego, crossing Trasa Zamkowa, then to Zolnierza Square, Grunwaldzki Square, and finally finishing at the Letni Theatre. The day packed with events starts in the morning with ‘Blessing for the sails’ ecumenical service (in honour of sailors), and finishes with a las...]]> Right before 17.00, at the accompaniment of drums, the opening ceremony of The 51 st Tall Ships’ Races began. After the crews’ representatives, carrying their national flags, had walked up the steps to the terrace of Waly Chrobrego, all the ships greeted the port of Szczecin with loud sirens’ signal. A moment later Polish national anthem was played (by a wind instrument orchestra), followed by ‘I Am Sailing’ song. To finish with, 6000 blue, yellow and red balloo...]]> The crowds you can see walking along Waly Chrobrego prove that holding TTSR here in Szczecin was the right decision. On Friday, before the official opening of the rally, over 200 000 tourists visited the wharves of Szczecin. It shows how interested in the event people are. Lots of visitors are coming to our city from abroad. Everyone wants to see everything. Szczecin is located at the Odra River, has strong connections with the sea. We are happy to hold TTSR for the very first time here in S...]]> Every sailor arriving in Szczecin is greeted with a big smile and warm words, and, of course, a little rally book - crewman’s manual. It’s an elegant booklet which one can easily squeeze into his or her pocket. It contains thorough information about The Tall Ships’ Races events - detailed programme of the rally, maps, addresses and phone numbers, rules and regulations, greetings, some historical fact, buildings’ description, etc. All the useful information that one ne...]]> This year The Tall Ships’ Races have been held in two places simultaneously - both in the Baltic and in the Mediterranean. The rally in the South of Europe was of the same format as the one in the North. The vessels and their crews met in Spanish Alicante on 4 July, which was their starting point for Barcelona. On 12-15 July, in the capital city of Catalonia, they celebrated the holiday of sea and wind. After a friendly race French Tulon was the host to the fleet. Finally, on 28 July, ...]]> Sedov is the tallest training ship in the world. For many years Sedov had been the biggest one, though Royal Clipper took the lead. The Russian vessles has 34 sails with surface of 4180 m2 . It takes 70 people of permanent crew and 164 trainees on board. Sedov was built of steel in 1921 in a German shipyard Krupp Germania-Werft, on the order of F.A. Vinnen Sailing Association. It was then named Magdalene Vinnen II (the first sailing ship Magdalene Vinnen was a four-masted bark as well). In t...]]> On Friday, 3 August, we officially greeted yacht Stary and the crew, who’d come back home 30 days earlier after over twelve-months-race. A crowd of reporters, friends, and supporters waited for the brave sailors. After Grzegorz Tyszkiewicz had sang Northewest Passage shanty, Piotr Krzystek,the president of Szczecin, greeted the crew with the following words: You are the youngest crew that has ever sailed over the Northwest Passage, and a perfect example to follow. You show people that ...]]> Don’t forget to have your wallet stuffed with money when you go to Waly Chrobrego or Lasztownia, especially if you bring your kids with you. You won’t lack attractions. Apart from the ships and fun fairs, you’ll be surely attracted to a grand market. There you’ll find various nautical souvenirs. Striped T-shirts and captains’ caps are the most popular with the rally tourists, as well as pirates’ bandanas and hats just like the ones captain Jack Sparrow wou...]]> You can get something mouth-watering anywhere, no matter where you are. The Rally organisers took care of the tourists’ bellies and put up food stalls everywhere. The choice ranges from traditional Polish cuisine, fast-food, grilled dishes to sushi and snails. Some stuff is really cheap: a slice of bread and lard is PLN2, some are a bit more expensive, just to mention a grilled sausage at PLN10. Their gastronomic stalls have opened some restaurants of Szczecin, such as Santorini or Sph...]]> During The Tall Ships’ Races Szczecin 2007 no one can be bored. The crews won’t lack entertainment. Captain’s Ball or crews’ parade along the city streets are traditional elements of every rally. Some sailors already mingle with crowds of visitors when wandering along the harbours. There are parties and discos just for them. Tonight, sports competition starts, which will include tug-of-war, fights on the derrick and sailors’ relay. The exhausted competitors will...]]> Those looking at Lasztownia on Saturday morning might have thought that a New blocks of flats had been built. That was just an illusion, as that was The World, stateroom passenger, which moored to the wharf. The World is the only ship whose rooms are private property. The World was launched 4 years ago, is almost 200 meters long and 30 meters tall, has 198 cabins of various standards served by 320 - persons - crew. The apartments’ surface ranges from 31m 2 to 301m 2. The cheapest one i...]]> Today, on the main stage at Waly Chrobrego, the official opening ceremony of the Rally will take place. The spectators will see a parade of colours, listen to a concert of Army Orchestra and siren signals from all the ships moored to the wharfs. 6000 colourful balloons will go to the air. 5.00 p.m. is the grand hour. Jana z Kolna Str., Waly Chrobrego, and Lasztownia, which are already crowded with people, will be definitely packed. Closed for the public will be greeting of the crews at the M...]]> Hundreds of cheering people greeted a tall ship, which had been the first one to arrive in Szczecin. It was a Mexican Cuauhtemoc. We have to admit that the ship looked really impressive despite its sails rolled up. It bore gala colours, which means that signal flags were spread from its bow to the stern, and sailors were standing on the yards. With music playing in the background, a tugboat brought Cuauhtemoc to the harbour. Assembling the gangway was not easy, so the ship had to be moved a ...]]> The first Press Conference the Tall Ships’ Races 2007 is over. The organisers officially opened The Press Office with a proverbial scissors cut. Christer Samuelsson and Corinne Hitching, Sails Training International representatives, met with the accredited journalists. Tomasz Banach answered questions on behalf of the President of Szczecin. He announced an official opening of the Tall Ships’ Races in Szczecin. The opening will consist of two parts: an international conference ref...]]> Last night the second race finished. It has been the final stage of the tall Ships’ races. We have received incredibly good news…The fight on the route from Stockholm to Szczecin was really fierce, but it’s already known that Dar Szczecina is the class C winner. That’s not all! Polish ship is about to win the general classification, which includes all the competing vessels. The differences between them are minimal, so we have to wait till Sunday morning when the offi...]]> Without publicity, without ribbons, a pontoon bridge was open, which takes you over the river to Lasztownia. The bridge was built by soldiers of the 5th Engineering Regiment, with their headquarters in Podjuchy, Szczecin. The regiment has been co-operating with the city council for a long time. The bridge consists of 50 pontoon blocks, which were brought to its destination by waterway, hauled by army ships. It took the soldiers over an hour to put the elements together. The two-way bridge is...]]> Today the Tall Ships’ Races are going at full speed, though it doesn’t refer to the ships. The harbours are already crowded, noisy and joyful. There is no time to be bored, as the organisers have prepared plenty of cultural and sailing events. It is clear that the arriving vessels are the main point of the day. They have been calling at the port since the morning. Obviously, the most important part of Friday schedule is the arrival of the tallest ships and their crews, including ...]]>