Information

Bonawentura is one of the oldest vessels flying the Polish flag - beautiful sailing ship with a rare type of wishbone rigging, commonly known as "Va Marie" (a name taken after the first yacht with this solution applied) – the staysail ketch. The project was brought to life in conspiracy at the time of occupation. During this period planning work was led by eng. Wojciech Orszulok. Based on the documentation prepared by the engineer, a wooden fishing boat MIR-20a was built in Gdansk Northern Shipyard in 1948. Over the years, the ship wore different names: ARKA 16 - GDY 137, WLA-59.

In the early days she was a fishing boat in the Baltic Sea, which lasted until 1967. Then she was withdrawn from working at the sea and she stationed at the port of Wladyslawowo as a tug until 1974. Eventually, the hull of a retired boat was transported by barge to the Academic Nautical Club AZS-ZSP marina in Vistula-estuary-Fortress. There the reconstruction and partial dismantling has begun. At the time the vessel was owned by a young captain, Christopher Bussold – a man of extraordinary enthusiasm and love for sailing. The boat was launched in 1986, and construction continued with long pauses, combined with devastation of the unit by thieves and vandals. In the meantime rigging, bowsprit, masts and spars were made. In 1991, the boat was towed to Gdynia. In 1992, the previously prepared rigging and spars were installed and the first sea trials have been performed with positive results. The next step was stability test carried out by the classic method that has been approved by the PRS.

At the turn of 1993 and 1994, the final work on the boat was made, and thus one of the longest supervision, ongoing twenty one years, was ended.