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Crew of the Sedov sailing vessel takes over Universiade-2013 torch

After the voyage round the world, the relay will end on July 6, 2013 in Kazan - the hostess of the XXVII World Student Games
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

BREST /Southern France/, July 15 (Itar-Tass) —— The crew of the Sedov sailing vessel takes over the torch of Universiade-2013. The ceremony will be held on Sunday at the French port of Brest, where the barque is visiting to participate in the international maritime festival.

On board the Sedov, the Universiade’s torch will make a tour of over 45,000 nautical miles /about 83,000 kilometres/ along routes of greatest navigators. All the while, four specially selected team members will keep the fire. After the voyage round the world, the relay will end on July 6, 2013 in Kazan - the hostess of the XXVII World Student Games.

On Sunday, there will be an official opening of the Russian village at the maritime festival in Brest. In addition to the Sedov, the colourful action in the most western port of mainland France will feature the Krusenstern barque the Kaliningrad Navy vessel.

The appearance in Brest of Russia’s large landing ship caused a genuine interest from the French public. Representatives of the officer corps told Itar-Tass that on the National Day of France, July 14, aboard the Kaliningrad had come more than 5,000 tourists and curious onlookers.

"The public is very friendly," - one of the Marines Roman Samarkin said in an interview with Itar-Tass while demonstrating to the French samples of Russian small arms. For him, like for many officers of the ship's crew, this was the first visit to Brest.

Since leaving home port in late May, the Kaliningrad also visited Gdynia /Poland/, Kiel /Germany/ and fulfilled successfully the tasks in the international Baltops exercise. After the festival in Brest, the ship will head for Baltiysk.

The International Maritime Festival at the main port of Brittany celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2012. The organisers have collected a unique representation of bright examples of fleets from all continents and epochs. Modern high-speed boats are side by side with caravels and frigates recreated according to old drawings – they tell stories of legendary admirals of the XVIII century, such as the British sailing ship Star King or Sweden’s Gothenburg.