Urania wins Friendship Trophy

Posted on 14. Aug, 2009 by admin in Latest News

The Dutch naval vessel Urania was named the winner of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge Friendship Trophy this evening at the end of a prize-giving that saw the Netherlands win the majority of the prizes on offer.

The crews had paraded through the streets of Belfast earlier in a parade that was full of the usual fun, noise and colour despite the fact that it had been raining heavily all day. As the rain ceased momentarily, the crews paraded across Queen Elizabeth Bride and along Queen’s Quay to the Odyssey Arena for the prize giving.

The crews poured into the Odyssey Arena in front of a huge stage which had been set ready for the crew party that was to follow the prize giving. Lord Mayor of Belfast, Naomi Long, saluted the fleet for their courage in having crossed the Atlantic and hoped that they would enjoy their time in the city of Belfast.

The prize giving began by awarding the class prizes for the fifth and final race that took the fleet across the Atlantic from Halifax to Belfast. The prizes awarded were as follows:

Class A:
1st: Cisne Branco (Brazil)
2nd: Europa (Netherlands)
3rd: Capitan Miranda (Uruguay)

Class B:
1st: Tecla (Netherlands)
2nd: Jolie Brise (UK)
3rd: Etoile (France)

Class D:
1st: Rona II (UK)
2nd: Urania (Netherlands)
3rd: Peter von Danzig (Germany)

Other prizes awarded were:

The prize for the first vessel overall across all classes was awarded to Tecla (Netherlands).

Line Honours, for the first vessel to cross the finish line, was awarded to Cisne Branco (Brazil).

The TSAC prize to the vessel that contributed most to the communications schedule, was awarded to Capitan Miranda (Uruguay) with special mention to Valeria Sorrenti.

The TSAC prize for cook longest at sea, was awarded to Sanne Lever from Xsaar (Belgium).

The Crowther Memorial Shield, for the skipper, mate and crew who demonstrated outstanding seamanship during the final few hundred miles of the race after being hit by a freak wave and losing their topmast and sustaining other damage, was awarded to Jolie Brise (UK).

The Honourable Company of Master Mariners’ Trophy, for a display of exceptional ship-handling and seamanship during the parade of sail in Halifax, was awarded to Sagres (Portugal).

An award was donated by the city of Belfast to the youngest male trainee to sail on the race: Spencer Ash from Canada who sailed on Europa.
An award, donated by the city of Belfast to the youngest female trainee to sail on the race: Marina Schaeffer from Ireland who also sailed on Europa.
An award, donated by the city of Belfast, to the ship that travelled furthest from home to take part in the event, was given to Capitan Miranda from Uruguay.
The award for the vessel with the youngest average aged trainees, donated by Belfast, was given to Jolie Brise from the UK, with an average age of 17 years.
The award for the vessel making the best display in the crew parade, donated by Belfast, was given to Europa (Netherlands).
There were also a number of prizes awarded for the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge series overall, an event that started in Vigo, Spain, at the end of April and will complete on Sunday when the fleet leave Belfast in a parade of sail.
The Hans Reith Plate, for an outstanding feat of seamanship and endurance in successfully completing the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge in one of the smallest vessels ever to enter a Trans-Atlantic Tall Ships Race and under some of the heaviest weather during Race Five, was awarded Xsaar from Belgium who is just 12.93m.
The prize for the vessel to have the fastest elapsed time for the race series was awarded to Peter von Danzig from Germany.
Prizes were awarded to one vessel in each class who had the best results over the entire race series:
Class A: Europa (Netherlands)
Class B: Tecla (Netherlands)
Class D: Rona II (UK)
There were just three vessels that completed all five races of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge and Sail Training International awarded each with a special commemorative certificate. These vessels were Urania, Rona II and Tecla.
In addition there were just nine people who sailed in every single race of the race series, these were also presented with a special commemorative certificate. They were: Vincent Roos, Diederik Romswinckel, Renee Heeringa and Mark Balm from Urania and Jan Bouwman, Jannette Sluik, Jet Sluik, Gejs Sluik and trainee Nele Steinbeck from Tecla.
The final prize to be awarded was the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge Friendship Trophy, an award that epitomises the objective of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge and presented to the vessel which, in the opinion of the entire race fleet through a secret ballot, has done most to help further international understanding and friendship during the races. Race Director said that all the vessels that had taken part in the Challenge could be worthy winners of the Friendship Trophy, but the one ship that had received the most votes from the others was Urania.
A very emotional Ferry van Schoonhoven accepted the Trophy and thanked the crews for voting for them, which he accepted on behalf of his entire crew, saying that it was a priviledge and an honour to be awarded such a Trophy from his sailing peers.
Immediately after the prize giving the crew party started up with live music and plenty of food and drink to keep the crews amused for many hours.

Information about the events in Belfast can be found on www.gotobelfast.com. A special helpline has been created to answer all questions about the Belfast activities: 028 9024 6609.

The provisional results on corrected time can be viewed in the Vessel Positions Update

Further images are available from the Picture Gallery.

The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge is organised by Sail Training International with the American Sail Training Association.

With thanks to Freight forwarding agents to Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009

and Weather forecast providers to Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009.

Tags: , , ,

No Comments

Andrew Downey

16. Aug, 2009

I have just returned from leg 4 of the Tall Ships Race and notice that you have incorrectly shown the finishing positions of class D (Halifax to Belfast) in this update. Rona II came first in class, not 3rd as stated in your note. Can this be corrected please? Andrew Downey – Watch Officer on Rona II !!

Edwin Henderson, Moira, N Ireland

16. Aug, 2009

Congratulations on a job well done to each and every one involved. Enjoyable , interesting, educational and more. Come back soon!

Nancy Swan

20. Aug, 2009

Congratulations to the best of the crew and officers of Urania! We are proud of you and enjoyed being with you in Charleston. We consider you as friends too!
Nancy and Randall Swan in Newfoundland

Leave a reply