Remembrance bollards to yachts “Audra”, “Dailė” and “Lietuva”

On the promenade, located on the left bank of the river Danė and entitled Yachtsmen Embankment one can see memorial bollards, which give meaning and remind to the world important achievements of the Lithuanian sailors. 

There are as well symbolically honoured three yachts escorted from this embankment in 1989 – „Lietuva“, „Dailė“ and „Audra“, which in Sąjūdis (Lithuanian Movement) years, bearing tricolour Lithuanian national flags, crossed the Atlantic Ocean. The exploit, named „For the honour and unity of Lithuania“ extended from Klaipėda to New York and back. The voyage has become a symbol of freedom. According to former mayor of Klaipėda city, Rimantas Taraškevičius, the value of 1989 march is not less significant than the Baltic Way‘s one. Before the exploit captains of the yachts Osvaldas Kubiliūnas („Lietuva“), Ignas Miniotas („Audra“), Algirdas Dovydėnas („Dailė“) said: „We are sailing to the New Continent. In our hearts – name of Lithuania, in our lips – Lithuania‘s greeting to its children, scattered in the world by windstorms of history. We undertake to repeat the way, which you sailed by beggarly steamships of emigration bureaus or were expelled by fate of the deportees. You were accompanied by pain of parting whereas before us – the joy of meeting. Powerful, refreshing winds of national and spiritual revival blow into our sails. We are flied by determination of S. Darius and S. Girėnas that „Lithuanian would necessarily overcome the Atlantic in honor of Homeland Lithuania…“. The creator of bronze plaques – A. Skiezgelas.            

Yachtsmen S. Kudzevičius, R. Dargis, R. Ramanauskas, J. Limantas and G. Pilaitis by yacht „Lietuva“ in 1992-1993 for the first time in Lithuanian history sailed around the world. After a long break Lithuanian tricolour flags fluttered in the ocean. The aim of the voyage was to show the world that after 50 years of Soviet occupation Lithuania is still alive. During “Lietuva“ voyage to America the crew was led by yacht captain S. Kudzevičius. All changing crew sailed with the slogan „In honor of Lithuania, the nation‘s unity“. This time in the city of Klaipėda the stand was installed and it was marked on the map where which yacht is. People gathered near it, discussed all issues of Lithuania. According to S. Kudzevičius, this was a political voyage. This time not only New York but as well Cleveland, Chicago, Baltimore were visited. Only after the Lithuanian yachtsmen visit Lithuanian emigrants started to come to fatherland. Until then they feared, did not know what awaits them in Lithuania. The voyage lasted 13 months, 33 672 Nautical miles were sailed according to General course. The yacht „Lietuva“ returned on 12 April 1993.