Sailboat from War Navy Jadran from 1931, after renovation, soon sailing to Great Britain

This-year cruising is the 18th sailing on the international waters in 72-year history of sailboat "Jadran", which is unique in the world in size and beauty in its class.

The crew and students of Military Academy will spend two months sailing on the Adriatic Sea, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean on Tivat - Cadize (Spain) - Portsmouth (Great Britain) - Cartagena (Spain) - Corfu (Greece) – Tivat route, about 5,300 nautical miles long. That is the longest boat trip of school ship "Jadran" since the World War II until today and it is one of the most challenging cruises of this sailboat ever since it was launched in 1933.

The crew and the ship are well prepared for this long trip: the ship was on land for 15 days, it has been checked thoroughly and painted once again – about 1,000 kilograms of paint was spent for that purpose, 90% of masts and related tools have been replaced, over 10,000 meters of various ropes have been changed and much more things carried out. Almost all these works have been carried out by the crew. The thing that will make true fans of school ship "Jadran" happy is that the new sails have arrived – total of 933 square meters, sewn of special material, which will carry the ship – pride of the Navy of SCG – over the Adriatic and Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean and back to mother port, Tivat.

The cruise represents practical training on classical maritime issues and skills of the students of Military Academy, the future officers of the Navy of Army of Serbia and Montenegro. At the same time, direct reason for cruise to Portsmouth in Great Britain is especially significant and unusual – participation in celebration of 200th anniversary of famous battle near Trafalgar Cape. Namely, the celebration will gather seamen from over 30 states from all over the world with about 200 ships.

School ship "Jadran" was built in Hamburg’s shipyard in 1931, for the needs of War Navy of Kingdom of Yugoslavia, which this ship enetered in 1933. The ship was built as typical sailboat of type barkantin, with equipment for maritime training, displacement of 776 tons, 60 meters long, 8.9 meters wide and with draft of 4.3 meters. Its 12 sails have total surface of 933 square meters, whereas the highest – mainmast is 39.1 m high. The length of all ropes is about 112,000 meters.