Another dramatic tall ship will sail into Sutton Harbour this autumn when a full-sized wooden replica of Russian frigate the Shtandart pays its first visit to Britain’s Ocean City.
Plymouth will be hosting the three-masted, fully rigged frigate for three days from October 6th-9th. The 33-metre high, 34-metre long working vessel is an exact replica of the legendary original, which was built 300 years ago by Tsar Peter the Great as the first man-o’-war of the Russian Baltic fleet.
Shtandart will be berthed alongside Quay Road in Plymouth’s Sutton Harbour, the historic heart of Plymouth, and open to the public from 10am until 7pm each day.
Mark Brimacombe, Marina Manager at Sutton Harbour, said: “Tall ships always prove a hugely popular attraction in Plymouth, bringing crowds of people down to the city’s famous waterfront and bringing the historic harbour to life.
“We saw streams of people head for Sutton Harbour this summer to visit famous Spanish replica the Nao Victoria during her month-long stay with us, as well as to enjoy seeing tall ships visiting for the Sutton Harbour Classic Boat Rally in July.
“We are delighted to welcome Shtandart this autumn on her first visit to Plymouth, and have no doubt there will be plenty of people keen to see this sea-going replica of the famous Russian frigate built by Peter the Great more than 300 years ago.”
Shtandart was launched in August 1703, first captained by Peter the Great himself as the flagship of the Russian Navy, and defended St Petersburg during the war with Sweden, seeing active service until 1719.
The full-sized replica was launched in St Petersburg in 1999 after six years of work by a team of volunteers led by Vladimir Martus, the present Captain of Shtandart, to carefully copy the original using traditional techniques, materials and tools.
The richly decorated frigate features extensive carvings at the stern, around the gunports and at the break of the poop deck, as well as a prancing lion figurehead and the Royal standard of Peter the Great is flown from the masthead.
With a draft of 3.3 metres and capable of making speeds of between 8-9 knots under sail, Shtandart is a very seaworthy vessel, and the replica is manned by a crew of 30 trainees and 10 officers – far less than the original crew of up to 150 in 1703.
Shtandart is expected to sail into Sutton Harbour on the high tide late in the evening of October 5th, and will open to the public from 10am on October 6th from her berth alongside Quay Road (next to Cap’n Jaspers).
Tickets will cost £3 for adults, £1 for children (6-16 years) or £8 for a family.
There is also an opportunity to join Shtandart as a paying crew member and embark on a voyage to St Malo or Bordeaux in France; visit www.shtandart.ru/en/frigate/application to apply.
