Universiade Flame leaves Tahiti

The Sedov in Tahiti

PAPEETE – The 2013 Summer Universiade Flame continues its circumnavigational journey aboard the bark Sedov. After a month-long voyage from South Africa to Tahiti the crew and cadets of the Russian bark made a three-day stay in the very heart of French Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean.

Captain of the bark Sedov Nikolay Zorchenko admitted that the passage from the port of Callao was a real challenge both for the ship and its crew. But all of them passed it. The bark Sedov set its own record in terms of the sailing duration and the cadets proved their professional suitability for the sea duty.

The port of Papeete welcomed the bark Sedov with light air and fine weather. The ship occupied the central place near the embankment. The gangway was dropped down at once and remained open during the three days of stay at the port. 

2,000 people visited the bark on its first day in Tahiti and attended the exhibition dedicated to the forthcoming Kazan 2013 Summer Universiade. In the evening of November 28, the day of departure (November 29, Moscow time), the ship warmly received distinguished guests. 

“On November 28 at 5pm local time (+14 hours Moscow time) the High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia, Commander of the French Navy in the Pacific Ocean, Mayor of the island of Tahiti and other officials visited our ship and became our guests. There is a 9-day passage to Apia and another 31 days to Manila. Having passed the test at the ocean, we are now set and ready for a long deep-sea navigation,” said Nikolay Zorchenko. 

On January 25, the tall ship will reach the port of Vladivostok where the Universiade Torch Relay’s journey across Russia will be launched.

(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)