Gdansk rescues General Zaruski

The city of Gdansk has bought the ketch General Zaruski. The yacht was built in Sweden in 1939 and is the oldest existing Polish wooden ship of this kind. The initiator of its construction, general Mariusz Zaruski (after whom it was finally named), aimed it to be the first unit of the future fleet of the Polish scouting association. The construction was supposed to be completed by May 1939, but the final term was established for mid September - the outburst of the II World War and occupation of Poland prevented it from leaving Sweden. During the War the ship, named Kryssaren, was used as the unit of the Swedish Royal Navy. Once the War was finished, the Swedish side handed it over to Poland. Under the Polish flag it sailed on the Baltic and North Sea, to the Arctic and to Spitsbergen. Unfortunately, after years of service it was neglected, and for the last few years the ship remained in the shipyard of Wladyslawowo, waiting for repairs.

The refit of the ship is held according to the plans of its sister ship Kapparen, brought from Sweden (the original plans of General Zaruski have not survived until our days), using modern navigation and safety equipment. The team involved in the action of bringing it back to its former state makes an attempt to find as many original devices as possible. After revitalization the ship will serve as the flagship of the city of Gdansk. It is aimed to promote the city and serve as a sail training ship for the youth, just as it was planned by Mariusz Zaruski. General Zaruski was a fascinating personality and a very comprehensive man. During his active life he was a general of the Polish Army, Polish freedom fighter, writer, painter, photographer, climber, mountain guide, traveller and a pioneer of the Polish yachting. He was strongly devoted to the idea of marine education of the youth. Finally, after many years, there is a chance that the ship General Zaruski shall serve for what it was designed for, that is for sail training.