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This year Lithuania celebrates the 1000th anniversary of the first mentioning of the name of Lithuania. On the 5th of October of 2008 a team of brave Lithuanian yachtsmen started “The Millennium Odyssey”, sailing from Klaipėda, Lithuania around the world with a motto “One name – Lithuania.” The mission of “The Millennium Odyssey” is to become a worldwide ambassador of Lithuania’s millenary celebration, better present Lithuania around the world and bring together Lithuanian communities around the world to celebrate this momentous occasion on all five continents.
The President of Lithuania, H.E. Valdas Adamkus, has given his own flag to crew, to be flown throughout the journey around the globe. The Captains were also presented with a special letters from Lithuanian President to all Lithuanian communities visited. The letters invites Lithuanians to be proud of their home country and to celebrate millennium anniversary.
For nine months, a crew of 120 Lithuanian yachtsmen, sailing the yacht LTU 1000 “Ambersail”, will visit 26 Lithuanian communities situated in 20countries around the world. Progress for today: Klaipeda, Kiel, Las Palmas, Cape Town, Adelaide, Sydney, Auckland, Ushuaia, Berisso, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, San Paulo, Miami, New York, Boston, Halifax. Nowadays “The Millennium odyssey” is on the way to Almeria (Spain). Already met up: top winds 72 knt (the waves of Cape Horn), yacht upper speed 32 knt. The actual location of the yacht can be observed on the online map at: www.1000odiseja.lt
All “The Millennium Odyssey” route around the world is divided to eleven stages. The circumnavigation is being jointly undertaken by many (over 100) Lithuanian yachtsmen, involving 11 crews that are changing over at different points along the way. Before reaching Europe “The Millennium Odyssey” will sail more than 37 500 nautical miles. In the end of Odyssey, after 200 days of sailing, more than 40 000 nautical miles will be covered.
“The journey is significant in the context of Lithuania’s thousand year history. A journey by yacht will present Lithuania as a marine nation that has professional yachtsmen of the highest quality” - says the Chief Project Officer of “The Millennium Odyssey” Raimundas Daubaras.
On the 5th of July, 2009, the yacht “Ambersail” LTU 1000 will return to Lithuania, having circumnavigated the globe on a mission to invite the world’s Lithuanians to gather for the millennium celebrations. At 9 PM (EEST/GMT +3) on the 5th of July the international Lithuanian community, scattered around the world, shall be together in thoughts and words. They shall sing together the Lithuanian anthem. This will be the way to announce proudly to the whole world that the name of Lithuania is one thousand years old. Recordings of the Lithuanian anthem performed by Lithuanian communities will be collected from all around the home country and the communities abroad into one video that will be aired on the 6th of July.
If mentioned above attracts your attention or you have questions, need photos or details please contact by e-mail info@ambersail.lt
