SHORT HISTORY OF THE SAIL TRAINING SHIP "MIR"
In 1984 the USSR Ministry of Merchant Marine and the Ministry of Fishing Industry signed a contract with Poland for building of 4 sail training ships. By that time Poland had already gained wide experience in construction of big sailing ships and had all necessary conditions (personnel, facilities and know-how) for accomplishment of the project. Later on one more ship was ordered.
The Polish sailing ship "Dar Mladziezy" - a sister ship of the newly ordered ones - was built in 1982. Five years later - in 1987 - the first of the five ships - the "Druzhba" ( Odessa ) - was launched at the Gdansk shipyard. In the same year the STS "Mir" was built. On the 1 st of December, 1987 the USSR flag was raised on the ship's flagstaff and then she was safely navigated to her port of registry - Leningrad . Admiral Makarov State Maritime Academy (at that time Leningrad Higher Marine Engineering College ) became her owner. The first master of the ship was Antonov V.N.
Since 1989 the ship had belonged to the Baltic shipping company, until in 1991 she was returned to her former owner - the SMA.
From the very beginning the ship was designed and built as a training ship intended for shipboard training of navigating cadets and taking part in tall ships' races. At different times she carried on board from 70 to 140 cadets not only from the SMA but also from other maritime educational institutions of both the USSR (later on Russia ) and foreign countries (e g. Great Britain and the USA ). Foreign cadets' and trainees' stay on board the "Mir" undoubtedly contributed to promoting better understanding and friendship among young, people of various countries. This also helps the SMA to expand its fruitful cooperation with higher marine educational institutions abroad.
One of the notable features of the ship's annual voyages was her regular participation in tall ships' regattas. Thus in 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002 she took part in Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races arranged each year by the International Sail Training Association (1STA). The Cutty Sark Scotch Whisky company was the main sponsor of the Races. In the course of these Races the "Mir" invariably won various prizes in her class. But the most memorable was her participation in the Grand Regatta Columbus - 92 dedicated to the Quincentenary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. Here the "Mir" was the absolute winner. One of the important prizes was handed over to the ship's crew by His Majesty the King of Spain Juan Carlos I, a member of the Honorary International Committee for the Grand Regatta.
In 2000 the "Mir" took part in the trans-Atlantic regatta "Tall Ships - 2000" arranged by the ISTA and the American Sail Training Association (ASTA). Though due to the disrepairs of her stern shaft bearing the ship was not able to race in the second leg of the regatta, she won four different prizes and fourth place on the finishing line among the A class ships.
In 2002, as a result of reorganization of the ISTA it was renamed the Sail Training International. In 2003 and 2004 the STS "Mir" took part in the Tall Ships' Races arranged by it and both times won the main trophy of the Races - a big silver plate. This was an unprecedented event. For the first time in the history of the Races, which have been held since 1956, the same sailing ship was awarded the main trophy for two-years running.
As operation of a big sailing ship requires substantial expenditures, and the funds supplied by the SMA and the Department of Sea Transport do not cover all the costs of operation the "Mir" has to combine its usual activities with commercial ones, thus earning necessary sums.
It should be also noted that the Tall Ships Friends' Society renders many-sided assistance to the "Mir". As a result, many people from Western European countries have already enjoyed sailing on board the ship both during the Tall Ships' Races and one-day pleasure trips. So the ship's crew members and cadets have acquired a lot of friends in many European and some American ports.
It goes without saying that the name of the "Mir" is well known to many persons navigatii^ under sail. Each time the ship calls at this or that port abroad crowds of both elderly and young people dheer the beautiful sailing ship which proudly carries the name of "Mir" meaning "Peace" - the word so dear to millions of people all over the world.
