Romanian Training Ship “Mircea” at a sailing event in the Netherlands

Tall Ship „Mircea” attended, for the first time „Sail Den Helder 2017”, a prestigious sailing event in the Netherlands, on the occasion of the Dutch Navy Forces Day in Den Helder Harbor.

"The Romanians must be proud to have such a sailing vessel. And they have to trust us. We assure the parents of our cadets onboard that we will have a safe trip home, we will return healthy, and they will see that their children became better sailors than they were when they left" – is the message of Commander Gabriel Moise.

Of the nearly 80 cadets, 14 are girls.

Andreea Radu, a 2nd year student at the “Mircea cel Bătrân” Naval Academy in Constanța, is in a voyage for the first time, and that is on Tall Ship “Mircea”. Asked by the RRA Reporter about what she had learned during this period, besides the job she had chosen, Andreea surprised with her answer:

"I learned to appreciate Romania much more, I learned to appreciate the Romanian flag much more; it is a special feeling when you are in a foreign harbor and there are Romanians who come to visit the ship with tears in their eyes and feeling homesick".

Although it is difficult for the girls to be seen as equal with the boys on the deck, eventually there is collaboration and understanding, Andreea also said.

The “Mircea” is a three masted barque, built in 1938 in Hamburg by the Blohm & Voss shipyard as a training vessel for the Romanian Navy. The design is based on the successful plans of the “Gorch Fock” - the last of a series of four sister ships. The ship is named after the Wallachian Prince Mircea the Elder.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei