English

The city of Gdańsk wants to invest in sail training.

The over 1000-year-old Baltic harbour has taken action to save the decaying ship Generał Zaruski.

The wooden gaff ketch was launched in 1939 in B. Lund’s Swedish shipyard in Ekenäs and was brought to Poland in 1946, just after the Second World War. For 57 years successive generations of young people were brought up on board the vessel. The work on the ship, which built their characters and taught them discipline, fulfilled the ideals of gen. Mariusz Zaruski, the initiator of the ship’s construction.

In 2003 the vessel ceased being used. The derelict ship started falling into decay and the consecutive attempts to rebuild the wooden monument of the art of boatbuilding all ended in failure.

Finally, the city of Gdańsk decided to try and restore the vessel’s former splendour. The ship is to be used once again for the purposes of sail training for young people who need positive role models and noble objectives. With its traditional rigging, the handling of which demands cooperation from the crew, and with its austere furnishings, Generał Zaruski is perfectly suited to serve this purpose. The ship will facilitate the tightening of relations and cultural exchange between Baltic cities.

After the renovation process ends, the monument will become the city’s showpiece – it will be moored at a quay in the centre of Gdańsk, from where it will set out on its successive voyages.

However, before the oldest Polish sail training ship sets sail again on the Baltic Sea, it has to undergo a long and arduous refit.

Everyone can help with the refitting of Generał Zaruski by means of sponsorship, patronage or payment on account of restoration project:

“Generał Zaruski” Bank Millenium 84116022020000000119096280

Become one of the project’s partners!