A Day in Port

Friday 3rd July 2009, Gdynia, Poland

The Tall Ships is many things to very many people. At its heart, it really is an opportunity for young people to meet other young people of different nationalities and backgrounds; and experience something that few do experience - the welcome of a city. It is then also an opportunity for a city to celebrate itself.
Gdynia is a natural host for this event. There is a large basin for the larger ships as well as a separate area for the smaller yachts. The Pegasus is one of the smaller, large boats and is moored in the larger basin and so part of the major attractions. The lads have been good embassadors, greeting people on the quayside and stamping their programmes with the Pegasus commerative stamp. Around us lie some of the largest Tall Ships in the world - including the Mir and Sedof from Russia, the latter all the way from Myrmansk.
Today, we had the Crew Parade. All the crews of all the Tall Ships took part in a parade through some of the main streets of the town and back to the quayside. The way was lined with people, the band played, the sun shone, the people waved and the cameras clicked. We were only 10 from Pegasus amongst hundreds of others from each of the larger Russian, German, Danish and Polish ships. Having a musician as one of the crew, we made music while many of the other made noise.
The city of Gdynia must have been empty this evening; there were so many people down at the quayside. After the fireworks, most of the locals headed home, leaving the crews to circulate and get to know each other. Some boats will have different crews for each leg of the adventure; the Pegasus is possibly unique in having the same crew throughout. Gdynia is the first port; there are 3 more to come.
Tomorrow is the final rest day before the first leg of the race begins on Sunday.