THE people of Whitby are in for a surprise today when the pride of Peter the Great's fleet comes in on the morning tide.
A replica of the Tsar's 28-gun frigate Shtandart will spend the day at the port, berthed at the Endeavour Wharf and open to the public.
Tomorrow, she will sail up the coast to Hartlepool where she will be appearing alongside the replica Endeavour in the town's Maritime Festival.
The replica Shtandart was the dream of a young Russian shipbuilder, Vladimir Martous.
In May 1998, in the presence of the Duke of York and the Governor of St Petersburg, she was granted the honour to bear the historic name Shtandart and to fly the Royal Flag of the Russian Empire.
Officially launched the following year, in St Petersburg, the replica Shtandart set sail 300 years after the original ship.
She now acts as a sailing training ship to enable young people to learn the arts of seamanship.
Published: 02/07/2004
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