Built in 1981-’82 by Stocznia Gdanska, Gdansk for the Polish Navy. As she is a ship of the Polish navy her name is usually prefixed by ORP.
Barkentine, Gt:299, Displ.:380 tons, Loa:48,40m. L.hull:42,70m. Br:8m. Depth:5m. Draught:3,20m. 9 cyl. Volvo-Penta engine:310 hp. Sail area:955m². complement:67, IMO.8225450.
The 2nd ISKRA came into service on 11-08-’82, replacing the original three-masted schooner ISKRA witch had served the Polish Navy from 1927 until 1977, designed by the famous Polish naval architect Zygmant Choren. The 1st of this successful class was the POGORIA and the 2nd to be built was the ORP ISKRA II, mainly differs by her hull shape around the stern whitch has been hydro-dynamically improved. Her deck layout is also different from her sisters POGORIA, KALIAKRA and OCEANIA as they have all been customised to their individual needs.
Training young cadets from the Westerplatte Heroes Naval Academy for a future in the Polish Navy is ORP ISKRA’s role and therefore she has been furnished with some state-of-the-art navigational equipment, like an electronic chart system witch enables her position to be plotted on a video screen anywhere in the world.
(France 1999, 1 Fr. StG.?) book Tall Ships and the Cutty Sark Races, by Paul Bishop + internet.