Ukrainian American Nautical Association sets sail in diverse locales (06/20/99)

Ukrainian American Nautical Association sets sail in diverse locales

by Olenka Stercho

PHILADELPHIA - A total eclipse of the sun at mid-day off the coast of Guadeloupe ... The ancient ruins of Byzantium in Turkey ... The bleached white houses of the Corfu coast ... Whale spouts on the horizon ... And, as always, wind, sun, aquamarine water and miles upon miles of white, sandy beaches ...

These sights, and so much more, have been enjoyed over the last few years by members of the Ukrainian American Nautical Association Inc. (UANAI).

The UANAI was formed in 1993 to serve as a means for Ukrainian American sailors and would-be sailors to meet, enjoy each other's company and develop nautical skills within their own cultural milieu.

Now, six years after its creation and almost 20 sailing trips later, the UANAI has attracted over 50 full members and an even larger contingent of associate members from all walks of Ukrainian American/Canadian life.

UANAI sails have been held in a wide range of locales: the Caribbean, Chesapeake Bay, Europe, Florida, the Hudson River, as well as on the Great Lakes. Of these, the Caribbean and the Chesapeake Bay have been favorites. Of the six Caribbean trips, four have taken place in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

The BVI are particularly friendly to novice sailors with their two- to three- hour hops from island to island in fair winds. The islands offer tremendous diversity in terms of topography, beaches, entertainment and opportunities for snorkeling and other water sports. As a rule, the UANAI returns to the BVI every other year, not only to enjoy these spectacular islands, but to give new sailors an opportunity to hone their skills in a friendly environment. The most recent of such trips took place in February.

The Caribbean was also the location of the UANAI's most challenging trip to date when, in March 1998, three boats covered 276 miles in six days, sailing one-way from Guadeloupe to St. Martin. The highlight of the voyage was the full solar eclipse, that occurred on February 26, plunging the waters between Guadeloupe and Antigua into an eerie and awe-inspiring mid-day darkness.

As if the eclipse was not enough, on the same day, UANAI members also spotted whales, observed a volcanic eruption on the island of Montserrat and saw a water spout in action. The rest of the trip was a true test of sailing mettle as the boats covered an average of 46 miles per day moving from Guadeloupe to Antigua and then on to Nevis and St. Kitts, ending on St. Martin.

Six UANAI trips have been held on the Chesapeake Bay, typically in the month of June. Usually run as weekend sails, these trips are not only for experienced sailors craving to be out on the water, but are offered as an opportunity for those who have never tried the sport to get a taste of both sailing and the group. Destinations have included Annapolis, St. Michael's, Baltimore and Knapps Narrows, Md. Known as one of the great sailing grounds of the world, the Chesapeake offers infinite variety, both in terms of rivers and creeks to explore, as well as in sailing conditions, from the most benign to the very blustery.

The UANAI has also ventured off the North American continent with trips to Greece and Turkey. The Turkish Regatta, which was held in 1997 and featured one week of land excursions and one week on the water, has generally been hailed as the best of the UANAI sails. During the trip UANAI members had the opportunity to explore the architecture of Istanbul as well as its Grand Bazaar, Izmir and the sacred city of Efes. The sailing portion of the trip was launched from Marmaris, which also featured frequent stops to explore archeological ruins including Caunos, an ancient ruined Greek City and Xanthos, one of Lycia's greatest cities.

Not only did UANAI sailors have a sterling opportunity to learn of connections between our Ukrainian culture and that of Byzantium, but the men on the trip learned to belly-dance!

The next international trip is slated to take place from September 17 to October 1 in Spain. The first week will feature land excursions centered on Barcelona. After seeing the sights of the city, UANAI members will have the opportunity to explore the monastery in Montserrat, as well as Costa Brava, a 95-mile stretch of coastline passing through resort towns and small fishing villages. The second week of the trip will consist of a sail around the spectacular island of Majorca.

All UANAI trips are planned by volunteer members and are bareboat charters, which consist of members, the captain, the crew and the boats. Each vessel is operated by its designated skipper with the assistance of the crew.

Past and present UANAI skippers include: Roman Goy (Baltimore), Slavko Klaczany (New York), Myron Klos (Cleveland), Yuri Mykolayevych (New York), Julie Pawluk (Minneapolis), Daria Pishko (New Jersey), Olha Rybakoff (Delaware), Wally Wdowychyn (Minneapolis) and this writer (Philadelphia). Because skippering on trip after trip is a tremendous responsibility, the UANAI is always on the look-out for new skippers.

During each trip, all crew members share the responsibilities on the boat, from hauling lines to working the helm, preparing meals and keeping the vessel in a general state of cleanliness. The development of sailing skills is actively encouraged and someone is always available to "show the ropes to novices."

The best part of each sail for many UANAI members is the social interaction among Ukrainian Americans whose paths might not have otherwise crossed. The group is diverse in many ways: the age of its members ranges from the late 20s to the mid-60s, and the group includes single, married and widowed persons hailing from all across North America, from the East Coast to Canada, the Midwest and California. It includes Catholics and Orthodox, as well as members of a variety of Ukrainian Protestant denominations; and, of course, there are members of the Plast and SUM youth organizations.

Living cooperatively in the kind of tight quarters that can only be found on a boat while sailing in tabled locations has fostered friendships (and even some marriages) that might not otherwise have been formed in the ordinary course of Ukrainian American life. This, in turn, has led to many meaningful dialogues and interactions in the broader community context, and even more plain old fun.

For further information about the UANAI, please contact UANAI President Wally Wdowychyn, (612) 561-8965; or Activities Coordinator Olenka Stercho, (215) 635-2708.

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