Minerva

Minerva is an elegant three-masted gaff schooner with a steel hull, whose flawless silhouette continues to impress despite the passage of time. Her story began in 1935 at the German C. Lühring shipyard in Kirchhammelwarden. Interestingly, she was launched under a completely different name — “Uwe Ursula”.

Changing fortunes: Initially, she served as a cargo vessel, coping with the harsh conditions of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. She survived the turmoil of war, and in the 1980s underwent a thorough renovation and conversion, becoming a luxury passenger sailing vessel. Under her new name, “Minerva” — after the Roman goddess of wisdom — she began a new career, promoting traditional sailing across Europe.

A floating salon: Today, Minerva is known for her high standard of finish. Her interiors combine a rugged maritime atmosphere with elegance, featuring plenty of mahogany and brass. The ship is a regular guest at Europe’s largest sailing events, such as SAIL Amsterdam, and her visit to Szczecin is an excellent opportunity to see how historic steel sailing vessels are preserved and cared for.