1 March 2022
For nearly two decades sailors in Ukraine have used ORC certificates
to help them enjoy their summer racing seasons. Recent events have
all of us thinking about our sailing friends in Ukraine, and wishes
that they and their families and friends will prevail in this
terrible situation. We received this letter from Peter Lytvyn to
share with our ORC family:
Ukrainian Sails Scorched by the War of 2022
Just
a few weeks ago, Ukraine lived a steady life, worked, and made plans
for the future.
Explosions of cruise missiles under the windows of houses, the total
wail of car alarms and the howling of sirens warning of attack from
the air woke up our peaceful cities at 5 AM on February 24th. And
for the fifth day in a brutal war, Ukraine has been defending its
right to be a free democratic European state.
The whole nation opposes Putin's maniacal plans to resurrect a
bloody, lying vampire called the USSR 2. They don't select the
means. They bomb residential quarters of cities with cluster and
vacuum bombs.
Yachtsmen, people of different professions, are united by sails and
in one day became warriors. Soldiers who took up arms, soldiers who
help the army, soldiers who help the victims. Everyone finds their
place in the ranks.
With the first lightning bolts of breaking world news at the level
of personal contacts, Ukrainians received concerned messages, words
of support and offers of concrete help from foreign friends
(including Russians). And after 100 hours of war, the state of
Ukraine has the unprecedented support of the anti-Putin coalition.
We
are grateful, we are holding the line. We are not shifting the ORC
Ukrainian Championship 2022.
The captain of the yacht MG-30, Champion of the 2018 ORC Ukrainian
Championship said “So friends, now I have a new job, a great job in
the Armed Forces. Everyone who is hesitant at the moment and does
not know what to do, I advise you to take your passport and go to
the military enlistment office. From now on, every minute will make
sense”.
And the winners of the 2021 ORC Ukrainian Championship, yacht
captains Berendey and Komandor, said “Did you see the queue for
weapons? So, we didn't have enough. The company was formed. They go
to the positions, and we go home. We will come back tomorrow."
ORC supports and applauds all our sailing friends in Ukraine for
their passion and bravery.
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