Lithuania did issues in 2009 a nice looking stamp which depict the topsail schooner BRABANDER, the stamp was issued to commemorate the Tall Ship Races Baltic 2009, during which the regatta came to a finish at Klaipeda for the second race conducted during 31 July till 03 August 2009.
Built as a steel yacht by Scheepsconstructie Dricon B.V., Drimmelen, Netherland for Fred and Nell Franssen, Drimmelen
07 April 1977 launched as the BRABANDER, most probably named after the people living in the Province Noord Brabant in the Netherlands who are named Brabander.
Dim. 36.00 x 6.06 x 4.04m., length bpp 22.00m, draught 3.00m.
Auxiliary engine two Deutz diesel engines, each 101 hp.
1980 Was she rigged by Spencer’s Dockyard, Isle of Wight, U.K.
Accommodation for 5 crew and 12 guests.
Rigged as a two mast topsail schooner. Sail area 540 square meter.
She has a nice looking hull form with painted ports on it.
1992 was she a guest at the 1992 Hansa Sail.
2006 Bought by the Klaipeda University, Klaipeda, Lithuania for sail training and scientific research projects.
From the International Business Magazine Jura.Mope.Sea http://www.jura.lt/contents/article_eng ... id_num=9_2
Provost of Klaipeda University, Vladas Zulkus, achieved his life-long dream - to make it possible for students with marine areas of study to fulfill a practicum on a ship of the university.
2006 Klaipeda University acquired the sail-schooner Brabander.
This schooner is one of the fastest sailing ships in Lithuania. It was built in 1977 in the Netherlands. It is 36,2 meters long, six meters wide, 28 meters tall, its gauge is three meters, it has 540 square meters of sails and can develop a speed of eight knots. Twenty-one people can be on board at a time.
The schooner is for teaching the students' practicum, as well as for scientific expeditions. According to V.Zulkus the schooner is also available for charter voyages.
The ship is under the command of Valdemaras Vizbaras, a former glider pilot who started a career as a yachtsman twenty years ago. He is in charge of the small crew that has a senior mechanic and four additional professional sailors.
"Brabander is an excellent, real sailing ship. It can surely be used for sailing around the world, training young people in the art of sailing, taking part in regattas, and winning prizes. This schooner is of excellent stability - with a firm steel frame, fully independent, and a full set of sail equipment. The first time we sailed with it was from Holland to Klaipeda, and we happened to experience a wind of eight to nine knots, however, I have never felt so safe on the sea before," shared the captain of the schooner.
This summer Brabander will sail for its first long voyage under the flag of Lithuania. It will visit Szczecin port in Poland. There it will take part as a visitor in the regatta Tall Ships' Races 2007 and will introduce Klaipeda as the final sailing distance (the finish line) of the regatta of 2009.
Algirdas Brazauskas, former President of Lithuania and an experienced sailor, as well as the honorary President of Lithuania's Association of Training to Sail, will participate as an honorary guest; other participants will be: the honorary Consular of Poland to Lithuania Tadeusz Maciol, the representatives of Klaipeda municipality and people of culture, art and business.
From Szczecin, the schooner will sail for the events of the famous regatta Baltic Sail taking place in Rostock (Germany), where it will also present the opportunities offered by Klaipeda port as well as the attractive tourist routes of Lithuania.
Lithuania 2009 3lt sg?, scott? (the tall ship in the background is identifeid by Mr Sitnikov as the KRUZENSHTERN see index for her details.)
Source: Various web-sites Chapman Great Sailing Ships of the World by Otmar Schäuffelen