Pogoria had been designed (Zygmunt Choreń) for the explicit purpose of training and education of young (from 14 years of age) students in the high seas environment. It has classroom facilities and its rigging can be manually worked by male or female crew of the junior high school age. It has also proved to be highly seaworthy, sailing throughout its history all (including Antarctic) seas in often heavy conditions. In addition, it is highly competitive in races, routinely ranking at top places during the tall ship race events.

Pogoria had been launched from Gdańsk Shipyard Jan 23 1980. Its main use is – as designed – education and training. Most crew rotations consist of junior and high school students in 1- to 8-week-long tours. The usual complement is ~6 professional officers and 40 students and volunteer teachers. The ship running duties (regular watches etc.) are being wholly filled by the youth crew, in addition to their regular school coursework. The fees are kept close to nominal level.

2009 dismasting accident edit

On 7 July 2009, two of the masts on Pogoria broke at welded joints while the ship was en route to St Petersburg, Russia. The 37 youths on board were airlifted off the ship by two helicopters of the Finnish Border Guard's Aviation Unit. The ship was towed into Hanko as her engines were disabled in the incident.^[3]

• Joanna Pajkowska, a crew member on education trips

• Pogoria website