News

On 17 December at Vilnius airport, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Vygaudas Ušackas saw off to Australia the crew of the “Millennium Odyssey” yachtsmen headed by Captain Naglis Nasvytis. The crew will sail the fourth stage of Odyssey on the route Adelaide – Auckland (New Zealand). “Sailing thousands of nautical miles with the Lithuanian tricolour flag on rough and calm seas, you are promoting the name of Lithuania and spreading the word on our nation, its history, traditions, culture and language to the society of the world,” said Foreign Minister, while seeing off the yachtsmen.

Minister V.Ušackas indicated that the voyage of brave Lithuanian men inviting people to celebrate the Millennium of the name of Lithuania and to visit Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009 resounded louder than the official writs or speeches.

Head of Lithuanian diplomacy handed letters granting the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over to the yachtsmen, who are on their important mission and are also carrying a letter of President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus to the Lithuanian World Community. The letters of patronage contain a request in English and French to provide assistance to the participants of the “Millennium Odyssey” in case of an accident.

“Let me assure you that Lithuanian diplomats will protect you at all times during the Odyssey,” said Minister V.Ušackas handing over the papers and wishing fair winds to the sailors.

The “Millennium Odyssey” started in October and the yachtsmen had already sailed around a part of the continents of Europe and Africa with the slogan “One Name – Lithuania”. In one week‘s time, the yacht Ambersail will reach the shores of distant Australia, where the Australian Lithuanian community will meet the yachtsmen. In Adelaide, Lithuanian yachtsmen together with the Lithuanian community are going to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. 

“You and the Australian Lithuanian community will be the first to usher in the Millennium of Lithuania year,” said Minister V.Ušackas.

The name of Lithuania has already resounded in Germany, Spain and the Republic of South Africa. At the seaports of these countries – Kiel, Las Palmas and Cape Town – the yachtsmen received a warm welcome from the local Lithuanians. The voyage around the world united not just Lithuanians, but also those, who had never heard about Lithuania before.

The members of the fourth crew are: Naglis Nasvytis, Saulius Budrevičius, Gintaras Žukauskas, Linas Ivanauskas, Adomas Šablevičius, Kazys Stasiūnas, Edmundas Jakilaitis, Rokas Vaičiūnas, Gediminas Sirvidas, Vytautas Valaitis, Darius Ratautas, Virmantas Daubaras and Simas Steponavičius.

The goal of the “Millennium Odyssey” is to present Lithuania to the world on the occasion of its millennium anniversary and to invite Lithuanians living all around the world to join together in the celebrations on all the five continents. During the 9 months on the voyage, 120 Lithuanian yachtsmen intend to sail around five continents and to visit more than 24 Lithuanian communities in 19 countries. 11 crews of yachtsmen are expected to cover over 37 thousand nautical miles during more than 200 days of sailing.

For more information, please look up the “Millennium Odyssey” website