Batkivschyna back in the news

NEW YORK - The Ukrainian schooner Batkivschyna continues to garner media attention nearly two years after making its North American debut at OpSail 2000. The ship made the front page of the Metro section of The New York Times on Friday, June 2, in a follow-up article.

The Times reported that the ship was set to compete in a race from Curacao to Jamaica in early June. After that, the article goes on to say, the Batkivschyna and its crew plan to sail to the West Coast of the United States via the Panama Canal in order to participate in more tall ship events. The ship will stay in the Americas until next year, when it will return home by way of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

According to the Times, the Batkivschyna currently has enough funds to sustain itself partway through its expected participation in West Coast sailing events. The ship and crew began their journey with only $5,000, but have managed to support themselves and fund their voyage with event admission fees, souvenir sales and donations.

The Times quoted Roy Kellogg, the son-in-law of the ship's captain, Dmytro Biriukovich, as saying of his father-in-law, "He loves to sail and loves his country."

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 9, 2002, No. 23, Vol. LXX

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