MONROE TWP. — Mikhail Pobar says of his ship, "You
are welcome to visit Russian territory without a visa!"
From last Thursday until Saturday afternoon, Monroe
area residents had the opportunity to visit Russia when the Russian
tall ship St. Paul was docked in Bolles Harbor.
This boat has seen 12 countries, 24,000 miles, five
hurricanes, 140-knot winds and waves twice as high as the ship's
masts.
Its captain, Pobar, was a well-known journalist in
Russia before building his ship.
"I had been everywhere in Russia and I just wanted
to see the world," he said.
He and his wife, Irene, set sail on the St. Paul in
1991.
The vessel is a replica of a ship that was part of
a 1741 Russian expedition covering Alaska and the Northwest
Territory. It is 50 feet long, 12 feet wide and can reach 4 to 6
knots.
The third crewmember is the couple's cat, Koozya,
who came to them while they were docked in Seattle, Wash. The Pobars
now have a book published about Koozya and their adventures on the
water called, "A Salty AmeriCat."
The book includes art by Irene and photos of people
they have met.
While stopped in various cities, the couple visits
museums and enjoys making new friends.
"Sometimes you hate the difficulty," Pobar said.
"But then you come into the beach and see smiling people."
Some of the difficulties the ship has faced include
many arrests, pirates boarding the ship in El Salvador and being
robbed in the Republic of Panama.
"We've met so many good people here who bring us a
good smile and good spirits," Pobar said. "Even after 10 years, I
haven't forgotten a port."
For financial support, Irene creates Russian art —
oil canvas paintings, wooden painted eggs and a wide variety of
Russian nesting dolls — to sell to people in the ports.
"Our boat is a small wooden bridge between many
people, now she is a live museum of our common heritage," Pobar
said.
The two sailors are now ambassadors of Russia and
"sail around the world with a mission of peace, friendship, culture
and education."
The ship left Bolles Harbor on Saturday, but it is
not too late to "visit Russia." The St. Paul will be docked in
Toledo until Tuesday, as Pobar says Russian sailors never leave on
Mondays.
For more information on the Pobars, their cat and
their expedition, visit www.saltysail.com.
