Translated material
St. Andrew's flag over Havana
The Russian frigate was enthusiastically received in Cuba
The Russian training sailing frigate "Pallada" ("Pallada" is one of the epithets of the Greek goddess Athena) on a round-the-world voyage has set course for the Portuguese Azores Islands in the mid-Atlantic. Arrival at the port of Punta Delgada is expected in three weeks. The Pallada's round-the-world voyage is dedicated to the 190th anniversary of the first Antarctic expedition of Russian ships under the command of Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev and the 50th anniversary of the beginning of Russian exploration of Antarctica. The Pallada spent the past week in the port of the Cuban capital of Havana, where its visit created a sensation, which was observed by a Vremya Novostei correspondent.The ship moored modestly and even almost unnoticeably. The first to meet the crew of the sailing ship at the pier in the city center, near the Marine Station, were representatives of the Russian Embassy in Cuba. The first stage of the circumnavigation, which began on November 2, 2007, ended in Havana. Before entering the Cuban capital, the sailing ship covered 16,400 miles of sea route.
As planned, a change in the cadet composition of the Pallada took place in Havana. 110 cadets are students from the Far Eastern State Technical Fisheries University in Vladivostok (which owns the ship), the Far Eastern Maritime School in the city of Nakhodka and the Vladivostok Marine Fisheries College. Their replacement flew to Havana from Vladivostok. And those cadets who completed their turn spent three days living in a hotel near Havana, swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and sunbathing under the gentle Cuban sun.
There are only six sailboats of this class in the entire world. Three of them are in Russia. The visit of any of them is sometimes more important in terms of political significance and public resonance than the visit of a minister or even a government delegation.
Round-the-world trips on sailboats such as the Pallada take place no more often than once every 15 years. The ship carries not only an educational load, but also colors the country and city with its presence with the bright colors of romance and maritime solidarity. And for island Cuba, the arrival of the “Pallada” with the St. Andrew’s flag waving is an event of political significance. The Havanese were convinced of the revival of the Russian presence on the seas and oceans. And we admired the sailboat, as if it had stepped out of the pages of historical novels.
In the summer of 2007, the sailing frigate Pallada turned 18 years old. It is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest sailing ship in the world, reaching a speed of more than 18 knots per hour (more than 33 km/h - Ed. ). The frigate spent almost 14 years at sea, during which time she completed more than 100 international voyages.
“Cuba, a sailor who has visited fifty countries, not so much impressed me as pleased me,” Nikolai Zorchenko, captain of the Pallada with 17 years of experience, remarked to Vremya Novostey. — I have been in the seas for over three decades, but nowhere abroad have I met such relaxed and friendly people as the Cubans. Cuba is being rebuilt, it is living life to the fullest, and looking to the future with optimism. Cubans treat Russians sincerely and kindly. They have not forgotten about the help provided by Moscow and are grateful for the support during the difficult years of establishing their independence.”
Despite the fact that the status of the frigate’s visit to Havana was declared as working, with the help of the Russian embassy it was possible to informally transfer it to the rank of friendly. And despite all the strictness of the local immigration service, the island has been under American blockade for almost half a century! -- the regime for visiting the ship has been relaxed. Deputies of the Cuban parliament, representatives of the Peoples' Friendship Institute, army officials, and Havana journalists visited the Pallada. The authorities closed the entrance to the ship only to the street public. But this measure is dictated by the strict regime of the port.
As the commander of the Revolutionary Navy of Cuba, Vice Admiral Pedro Perez Betancourt, who visited the frigate, said in his speech, his country “welcomes the revival and strengthening of the Russian fleet”: “There have been ups and downs in relations between our countries, but military comradeship has always remained on good terms level. The Cubans wish the Russian Armed Forces strengthening.”
Russian sailors laid flowers at the memorial to Soviet internationalist soldiers and the obelisk to Cuban sailors who died during the Second World War. Almost all the employees of the Russian Embassy, students and teachers of the Russian high school at the embassy visited the frigate.
By the time the ship left the Cuban capital, it became clear: Havana had “submitted.” Hundreds of city residents, tourists, and journalists flocked to the embankment to gaze at the Russian sailing ship. His presence was reported on Cuban television and the press. And when the Pallada, under sail, slowly and majestically passed along the Havana coast, it seemed that everyone who was not far from the shore rushed to see her off. “This is a very beautiful visit of friendship,” said the Cuban standing next to me. I had no choice but to shake his hand.