Sails over Russia is an annual expedition along the rivers of Russia led by the well-known Nizhny Novgorod sailing enthusiast, skipper Mikhail Khramov.

While the catamaran is under way on the route, up to 8 participants of the expedition-voyage may be on board. During crew changes only 2 members of the regular crew remain on board.

The vision of the "SAILS OVER RUSSIA" project

M. Khramov writes:

"In this world, most people feel their heart skip a beat when they see sails above the water:

  • dreamers - wish to take part in a sailing voyage at least once;
  • future professionals of the fleet - need knowledge and experience in handling sail;
  • devotees - have already taken part in voyages under sail and want more;
  • those wishing to buy a sailing yacht who have never taken up yachting before;
  • qualified yachtsmen who have no yacht of their own;
  • owners - possess sailing vessels, but very often lack the time to reach distant lands on sailing voyages or to cover regatta courses, and their yachts stand idle;
  • creative people (artists, writers…) - need new impressions;
  • enthusiasts - are ready to devote their lives to yachting, but not all of them have their own yachts, and those who do most often travel alone, since they cannot always find like-minded people.

By taking part in sailing voyages: dreamers fulfil their wish; future navy and fleet professionals climb one more step in their careers; enthusiasts meet their friends again; for those thinking of buying a yacht, joining the project becomes the "YES" or "NO" test, since they get to compare different sailing boats in practice; sailors merge once more with the elements in a single impulse; owners who join the project get the chance to make a voyage along a route they have planned themselves or to take part in any regatta aboard their own yachts; creative people will delight us with new masterpieces; the fans will help owners deliver the yachts there and back, using that time and their own boats to introduce project participants to sailing voyages and expeditions. Everyone wins. I propose that the fans - qualified sailors and owners of sailing craft - unite in the Guild of Sail Enthusiasts of the RF for the development of sailing voyages and expeditions in Russia.

The goal of the project: to expand the Guild of Sail Enthusiasts of the RF in order to consolidate the forces of those who love sailing voyages across the whole of RUSSIA and to pass on the accumulated experience to beginners;

  • developing ecological sailing tourism as an expression of sincere love for the Motherland;
  • strengthening the physical fitness and team spirit of the project participants;
  • holding interesting voyages and expeditions on sailing craft across Russia, to foster Patriotism;
  • popularising a healthy way of life in the media through the example of the project participants;
  • keeping the Guild's sailing fleet in constant readiness to put to sea;
  • reducing the costs for participants of voyages and expeditions through collective use of the Guild's boats (with the maximum involvement of participants at every stage);
  • forming permanent and stable crews and research groups all across Russia;
  • teaching voyage participants the skills of handling sails and the rules of good seamanship;
  • ensuring safe sailing thanks to the high qualifications of the regular crews.

Putting the project into practice. I retired and in October 2007 I bought the sailing catamaran "MARTIN", built by Yevgeny Sidorov of Tolyatti - a beauty: 10 x 5 m, minimum draught 0.5 m, main sail area 49 sq. m, a galley with a gas stove and sink, a head, three separate sleeping cabins, a large saloon, 1.9 m headroom in the hulls, berths for up to 9, and, most importantly, no heeling and no rolling (no seasickness). Right now I am preparing the catamaran "Martin" for the fourth expedition within this project."

Programme for 2011

Almost 15 thousand kilometres have already been covered in three expeditions, in which more than 100 people took part. The experience of the expeditions - in 2008 along the route Nizhny Novgorod - the White Sea, organised together with the editorial staff of the newspaper AiF NN (issues 21-40, 2008); in 2009 along the route Nizhny Novgorod - the Caspian Sea (a report in the programme "Sakvoyazh" on the TV channel "Volga"); and in 2010 along the route Nizhny Novgorod - the Baltic Sea (the newspaper "Volgo-Nevsky Prospekt", issues 11, 17, 23, 2010) - has shown: * the core of the Guild of Sail Enthusiasts of the RF has taken shape;

  • one leg should last no more than 13 days, and there should be no fewer than 8 legs;
  • the optimal number of participants on a leg of the expedition, not counting the 2 members of the regular crew, is 4 people, and for charter groups up to 6 people;
  • the cost to project participants for one leg is less than the price of a package at a mid-range holiday home.

The Guild's fleet has grown. Besides "MARTIN", in 2011 two more boats will set out across Russia: the ferrocement yawl "NEFERTITI" (11.5 x 3.5 m; draught 1.1/2.0 m; 10 berths) and the T-3 class centreboard boat "AMIGO" (8.0 x 3.5 m; 5 berths).

Within the "Sails over Russia" project, preparation of the sailing catamaran "MARTIN" is beginning for the 2011 expedition "Strolling Along the Don...". The route will run through the territory of 9 regions of the Russian Federation, mainly along the popular tourist route Nizhny Novgorod - Rostov.

During the 2011 expedition: * participation is planned in the "Volga-Kama" and "Lower Volga" regattas and in the All-Russian competition "Sails of Russia" held as part of the national holiday of the Russian Federation, "Russia Day" (the first "Sails of Russia" took place on 12 June 2010 in every region of Russia by decision of the Sailing Federation of the RF, inspired by the idea of the "Sails over Russia" project).

  • a visit to the V. Grushin Bard Song Festival has become a tradition;
  • the "BARD-UKHA" festival will be held in the same meadow;
  • the Russian Geographical Society is planning survey work on one of the legs;
  • also traditionally, representatives of the unions of artists and writers are expected to join the crew;
  • one of the themes of the expedition: "A remake of the 'Volga Collection' by the Nizhny Novgorod art photographer M. P. Dmitriev - a hundred years on".

I hope we will meet aboard "MARTIN". Yours sincerely, Mikhail Khramov.

The economics of the project. The "Sails over Russia" project is non-commercial. Participants' contributions go only towards covering the costs incurred en route and keeping the Guild's fleet in constant readiness for voyages and expeditions.

In 2011 it proved possible to cut the cost for a single participant to 12-20 thousand roubles, meals included, and for charter groups (no more than 6 people) to 48-80 thousand roubles, but excluding meals.

Schedule of the sailing catamaran "MARTIN" in 2012

Date of passage / route.

  • 11 - 22 June Yaroslavl - Rybinsk regatta - Cherepovets - Kirillov.
  • 25.06 - 06.07 Kirillov - Belozersk - Vytegra - Kizhi - Medvezhyegorsk.
  • 09 -20 July Medvezhyegorsk - Povenets - Shumgitovy Bay - Kizhi - Petrozavodsk.
  • 23.07 - 03.08 Petrozavodsk - Onega regatta.
  • 06 - 17 August Petrozavodsk - Kizhi - the Idols' Clearing - Kondopoga.
  • 20 -31 August Kondopoga - Kizhi - the Olenyi Islands - Besov Nos - Vytegra - Cherepovets
  • 03 -14 September Cherepovets - Rybinsk - Yaroslavl - Kostroma - Plyos - Nizhny Novgorod.

2014. SCHEDULE OF THE EXPEDITION "ALONG MOTHER VOLGA TO FATHER DON"

Dates Route of the leg km

  • 06 -20 June Nizhny Novgorod - Ulyanovsk 650
  • 22 June - 04 July Ulyanovsk - Syzran 370
  • 06 - 16 July Syzran - Saratov 400
  • 17 July - 26 July Saratov - Volgograd 380
  • 27 July - 2 August Volgograd - Volgodonsk 370
  • 04 - 16 August Volgodonsk - Kamyshin 550
  • 18 - 29 August Kamyshin - Syzran 570
  • 01 - 13 September Syzran - Kazan 610
  • 15 - 26 September Kazan - Nizhny Novgorod 440

The whole route consists of 9 self-contained legs. To sail any of them you need: two weeks of free time and the ability to cover your share of the costs (from 14K roubles per participant per leg, everything included).

Experience of sailing is not required of crew members. The catamaran crew's motto: ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL.

The rules are easy to remember: THE CAPTAIN IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

2015. SCHEDULE OF THE EXPEDITION "LAKE ONEGO"

Schedule of the sailing catamaran "MARTIN" in 2015.

Dates R O U T E O F T H E L E G

1 Tue 19.05 - Sat 30 May Nizhny Novgorod - Kostroma - Yaroslavl (City Day)

2 Mon 01.06 - Fri 12 June Yaroslavl - (Rybinsk regatta) - Cherepovets - Kirillov

3 Sun 14.06 - Sat 27 June Kirillov - Vytegra - Kizhi - Petrozavodsk (City Day)

4 Mon 29.06 - Fri 10.07 Petrozavodsk - (Festival of ships at Kizhi) - Petrozavodsk

5 Mon 13.06 - Sat 25 July Petrozavodsk - Medvezhyegorsk - Petrozavodsk (Onega Regatta)

6 Mon 27.07 - Fri 07 August Petrozavodsk - a tour of Lake Onega - Petrozavodsk

7 Mon 10.08 - Fri 21 August Petrozavodsk - Kvartsitny - Sheltozero - Cherepovets

8 Sun 23.08 - Sat 29 August Cherepovets - (fishing on the Rybinsk Reservoir) - Yaroslavl

9 Mon 31.08 - Fri 11.09 Yaroslavl - Kostroma - Plyos - Nizhny Novgorod (the Golden Ring)

In the press

« Three thousand miles

On 22 May 2008 the project "AiF - 30! Under Sail" sets off

As part of the project, an expedition is being held this year, "From Nizhny All the Way to the White Sea", aboard the sailing-motor catamaran "Martin". The yacht with its white sails, the mainsail bearing the inscription "AiF - 30!", will be seen by many Russian cities.

The catamaran will set out from Nizhny Novgorod, straight from the "Great Rivers" forum. Along its way lie Kostroma and Yaroslavl, Cherepovets and Vologda, Petrozavodsk, Kizhi, the Solovetsky Islands... The vessel will also cross the stormy White Sea and return to Nizhny around 19 September.

According to the captain of the "Martin", Mikhail Khramov, it will be a stunning journey, though the way ahead is long - more than 3 thousand miles. This expedition is for romantics and dreamers who adore water, fresh wind and adventure. Here you will find extreme sport, team spirit and a real rest in the open air, far from the megalopolis with its crowding, its fumes and its frantic rhythm that weighs you down and wears you out.

Incidentally, "AiF" journalists will be among the travellers. You will be able to read reports from the expedition in "AiF-NN".
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Expedition dispatcher

  • 8 (831) 248-58-22

Khramov Mikhail Ivanovich

  • 8-903-052-4447

E-mail

Official page

VKontakte

See also