 Bat'kivshchyna reaches Maui |
After a three week voyage that began June 16, 2003 off the coast of California at Long Beach the Bat'kivshchyna with Captain and crew arrived safely at Lahaina Yacht Club on Maui Island. Captain Biriukovich's summary log of the journey reads as follows.
July 15, 2003
Well again its catch up time for information for those following the Discover Ukraine Expedition of Batkivshchyna.
Let's explain a few things about the delay with the trip reports. First writing trip reports with everything to do is very time consuming. Worse writing them on a lap top with the rolling waves is not the easiest task! Then there are the friends who send and receive email. The ships email provider Sailmail shut them down for using too excessive transmission. Plus when they neared Hawaii they had trouble getting connected to the land stations and to the rescue comes 2002 crew member and host of Batkivshchyna on MSN News Groups ---. Carl Kugler 3rd.
Well things got delayed and plans had to be changed to accommodate a celebration for the hundreds of Californian's who assisted Batkivshchyna. We sailed south from Long Beach our friendly winter home to Dana Point, California. We organized a special Bon Voyage reception and awarded more than hundred Americans, reporters and public organizations with certificates of honour and gifts for their support to the Batkivshchyna mission to promote a free and independent Ukraine. It has become a demonstration of American and Ukrainian friendship with thousands of thanks for everyone but especially Ken Kling and the people of the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California for all their friendly and financial support of the mission we have undertaken.
On June 16 2003 Batkivshchyna left the West Coast of the United States and on July 9 arrived to Lahaina Yacht Club in the Maui, Hawaii. It took us just three weeks of sailing but like all trips there were things to overcome. Oleksey Shagovsky our mechanic was extremely sick for four solid days. He has decided to return to Ukraine from Hawaii and will do so July 17th 2003.
The second was a nasty fall by first mate Alex Kostiukov soon after our departure (long time yachtsman with both Batkivshchyna and Pochina) Alex (Sasha) took part in the first major expedition of Tall Ships which Batkivshchyna participated in El-Ferrol Spain in 1999. Some will also remember Alex for being at the helm when Batkivshchyna struck ground in the Dnipro River while the Captain was sitting on the toilet, breaking the toilet. (Batkivshchyna lost a day heading to Opsail 2000 due to replacing the toilet) or as he is better known for his legendary ability to attract beautiful women in Kyiv. Alex (Sasha) Kostiukov broke two ribs soon after we departed but now he is completely recovered.
Sailing was extremely good we had a tail wind 80% of the time. Batkivshchyna made between 100-140 nautical miles each day. We didn't see as many ships as we saw last summer in the Caribbean especially those huge cruise ships that were so lit up in the night sky. Seeing the Hawaiian Islands after three weeks of nothing but water, water everywhere was a relief for many who had never sailed on an ocean or for such a length of time.
July 9, 2003
Arrival Maui, Hawaii
Well our arrival was without incident again! We always have had problems with visas and this year all crew got seaman's visa's for twenty-five days EXCEPT one who was admitted for only five days duration. There was no way we could leave within that time frame. That and other reasons caused difficulties with USINS when we sailed into the Lahaina Yacht Club.
A special reception was all arranged at the Lahaina Yacht Club with the assistance of the Local Rotary club. Local News paper "The Maui news" has published a report about Ukrainian schooner Batkivshchyna ... on their front page
Many guests are visiting Batkivshchyna and our welcome in Maui has been so terrific. We even have found Ukrainian's living here in this American Paradise.
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Read also previous issue' articles:
Bat'kivshchyna News
Report from the Batkivshchyna
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