Russian journey saluted at MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival

by Media Services on 11 Feb 2013 One of the stars of the MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival, held in Hobart, 8-11 February, was the Russian replica Viking ship, the Rusich - which made the perilous journey from Russia to Australia to arrive just in time for the festival.

Captain Sergey Sinelnik and his handful of Russian volunteers have sailed this amazing wooden ship all the way from Vladivostok, calling at Darwin, Torres Strait, Cairns, Gladstone, Brisbane, Sydney and Bateman’s Bay.

The replica Slavic ship sailed as a tribute to Nicholas Miklouho-Maclay, a Russian scientist and traveller who came to Australia in 1878.

Crew member and translator, Andy Gray described the ship as 'traditional, with no luxuries'.

'The only modern touch is a gas cooker and the satellite navigation, which we have to have legally.'

Gray, from Parramatta in Sydney, has been on-board the ship since Brisbane, but said many of the crew had been with the Rusich since it left Russia in 2010, sailing for two months on and two months off.

She arrived in good order and was given a massive welcome at the waterfront.

Today is the final day of the festival, featuring The Great Tasmanian Chowder Challenge and Awards, the last performance of this popular water-safety show, Scallywags, produced by ExitLeft Productions, and Irish boat-builder/artist launching the Irish currach built throughout the lead-up to this festival at Constitution Dock.

More at www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au