Russia's Kruzenshtern sailing ship has left the port of Caracas and headed to the Cuban capital, Havana, for the last stop on the Latin American leg of its ambitious Transatlantic tour.
The ship arrived in Venezuela last Thursday and stayed in the La Guaira port near Caracas for several days. It was open for public visits during its stay.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the Kruzenshtern with President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez during an official visit to the country on April 2.
The crew of the ship had a busy cultural and sports exchange program with Venezuelan naval personnel. The Russian sailors visited the Bolivar Museum in Caracas, played football, and staged several dancing and folklore performances.
According to Kruzenshtern's captain, Mikhail Novokov, the ship will travel to Havana using only sail propulsion unlike during the first part of the voyage when it had to rely mostly on engines, which is "unnatural" for sailing ships.
"Unfortunately, we had a very busy schedule during this trip and had to use the engines for the most part," Novikov said.
The second stage of the transatlantic Kruzenshtern's voyage started in Kaliningrad on December 1, 2009. The Kruzenshtern has already sailed through the Atlantic, the Panama Canal, and along the Pacific West Coast of the United States.
The ship was moored for three weeks in Vancouver during the Winter Olympics and became one of the most important symbols of support for the Russian team in its ultimately unsuccessful campaign.
Following the visit to Havana, the ship will cross the Atlantic again and is expected to return to Kaliningrad by May 9 to take part in Victory Day celebrations in Russia.
The Kruzenshtern was built in 1926 and in spite of its age is widely regarded as one of the jewels of the Russian sailing fleet.
CARACAS, April 6 (RIA Novosti)
