The sailboats Mir and Nadezhda opened their decks for guests during the festivals in Pionersky, Kaliningrad Region, and in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky this past weekend. More than 5,700 people attended the excursions on both coasts of the country, learning about the design of the sailboats and participating in educational activities taking place on shore.

A Gift for the City Day in Pionersky

The sailing training vessel Mir moored at Pier No. 1 of the cargo and passenger sea terminal under construction in Pionersky on the morning of July 12. It was the first time the sailboat opened its decks to the residents of Pionersky, who were celebrating City Day that weekend.

Organized by the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization “Sails of the World” with support from the Pionersky Administration, a large festival titled “Marine Week” was prepared for the occasion. The program introduced the townsfolk to the fleet traditions of Russia and the history of the Baltic region. The centerpiece of the celebration was the STV “Mir,” where cadets from the Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping welcomed guests on board as part of their practical training.

Future sailors and shipbuilders shared information about the vessel's design and history with the residents. Many locals expressed that they had long dreamed of stepping on the deck of the fastest sailboat in the world, and its visit to the port was the best gift for City Day.

“It’s fantastic that the residents of the city and the entire Kaliningrad Region have this unique opportunity to board a real sailing vessel — a gem and pride of the country's Baltic ports. We had a wonderful guide — a cadet from “Makarovka” — who passionately told us about the specifics of sailboat navigation. We were very pleased and will be eagerly waiting for “Mir” to return to our shores”, said Alena Bondarenko from Pionersky, sharing her impressions.

Excursions aboard the sailboat continued throughout the weekend. Additionally, on July 13, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on board between the Cultural Media Forum of BRICS and the Creative Industries Foundation “Krespektiva”. With the participation of representatives from FSUE “Rosmorport,” the government of the Kaliningrad Region, and the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization “Sails of the World”, the agreement was signed by the president of the media forum, Nisarul Bashir Loun, and the director of the foundation, Alina Kalkuta.

The participants of the meeting noted that signing the document aboard the sailboat symbolized the development of the Kaliningrad Region as a platform for promoting cross-cultural dialogue on the international stage.

Over two days, the STV “Mir” was visited by 2,628 people, after which the vessel departed from the waters of Pionersky and headed into the Baltic Sea.

The “Open Deck” festival in Kamchatka

The sailing training vessel "Nadezhda" was the main participant in the "Open Deck" festival, which took place in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on July 12-13 during the celebration of Fisherman's Day. The Vitus Bering Kamchatka State University, supported by FSUE "Rosmorport" and the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization "Sails of the World", organized an extensive educational program. At the Marine Terminal, where the sailing ship was docked, visitors could enjoy workshops, team games, quizzes, and various other educational activities.

On board, the residents of Petropavlovsk were accompanied by cadets from the Maritime State University named after admiral G.I. Nevelskoy. Additionally, Captain Sergei Vorobyov of the frigate spoke on the "Open Deck" stage, sharing insights about his work and the history of the training vessel "Nadezhda", which has completed a round-the-world voyage and has won numerous international regattas.

"The atmosphere on the sailboat is stunning, captivating, and vibrant. The cadets provided us with an excellent tour and even showed a video about the different heel angles during a regatta and how the ship navigates through a storm. It’s truly impressive. This was my first time on a sailboat, and I regretted not seizing this opportunity sooner", said Olga Zhurlitsyna from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

The festival was also attended by the Governor of Kamchatka, Vladimir Solodov. He interacted with guests, the crew of the training vessel "Nadezhda", and the cadets, and even boarded the ship.

On Sunday, an exhibition of works using the technique of plasticine art, organized by the Vologda Regional Special Library for the Blind, opened on the deck. Additionally, crafts made from natural materials were delivered to the ship from Secondary School No. 4 named after Hero of the Soviet Union V.L. Saveliev (Sudak, Crimea). The exhibition was showcased as part of the "Good Returns" project by the Charitable Foundation for the Salvation of Seriously Ill Children "Line of Life".

Over the weekend, a total of 3,039 people visited the sailboat, after which it departed the marine port area, heading towards the Commander Islands.