Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race 2001 /07 Jun 2001/

Undoubtfully the Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race is the sailing event of the year. The aim of the Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race is to enable young people of all nations to race together at sea under sail, experience the thrills and challenges of racing, and to let them make friends regardless of nationality or background.

Cutty Sark, Rus and Astros

One of the ships competing is the "Rus", a 14 m wooden sloop sailing under the Russian flag, number RUS909. Built in 1973 in Poland and having St Petersburg as her home port, she already first took part in the Cutty Sark Race in 1988. This year, Rus will race with an international young but ever optimistic crew. Owner and captain is Mr Andrej Andrijainen and one of Rus' 9 crewmembers is Mr Kirill Enshin, from Astros St Petersburg's forwarding and project cargo department.

Since 1956, the race is organised annually by The International Sail Training Association (ISTA). Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race 2001 is a combination of races and cruise in company. On the leg between Antwerp and Ålesund and on the leg between Bergen and Esbjerg the competition will be fierce, with national as well as personal pride at stake.

On the leg between Ålesund and Bergen the ships will be cruising in company and deciding their own route through the magnificent Norwegian Fjords. Many crews will be swapping ships to foster the spirit of international friendship. In total some 109 ships will compete in this years race; among which 26 square-rigged class-A ships, the largest sail training ships in the world.

Antwerp, starting port of the Cutty Sark Tall Race 2001

Hundreds of thousands of visitors - but in Antwerp 2 million are expected - will be drawn by the spectacle of the magnificent ships. Antwerp hosts the race from Thursday 5th July till Sunday 8th July 2001. In total some 100 tall ships, 4000 cadets, 400 officers and 40 nationalities will be the ingredients of this topevent. The class A ships (eg Mir, Sedov, Lord Nelson, Dar Mlodziezy, Eendracht, Kurzenshtern, etc) will berth along the quays on the river Scheldt close to the old city centre, smaller ships will berth in the docks nearby. The ships can be admired daily till 18.00 hrs. Lot's of things to do and see during 4 days. On Sunday the ships will leave Antwerp in the so-called Parade of Sail.