It seems like David versus Goliath: within hours, a video has spread across social networks via Facebook and caused a worldwide stir. It shows a group of young Ukrainian Opti sailors in the harbour of Bodrum in Turkey trying to prevent a yacht worth millions from docking. They manoeuvre a tiny dinghy right in front of the bow of the huge ship, which is said to belong to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
The Ukrainian Opti sailors are - once again - unabashedly flying the flag. Their large blue and yellow flag, which they are carrying in their dinghy, reads "NO WAR" in large letters. They had already flown the same flag weeks earlier when they were surprised by the news in mid-February at a training camp in Valencia that their home country had been treacherously invaded by Russia. On the following days on the regatta course, they flew the "NO WAR" flag on their optis for the first time.
The sailors from Ukraine, eight boys and girls aged between 9 and 18 with their coach Pavlo Dontsov and a pair of carers, were on a training trip through Europe when the war broke out. The children's parents asked the coach not to return to Ukraine. The group therefore continued their journey as originally planned - but decided not to make the flights home between the individual training centres that were also originally planned. The group has now been travelling to Turkey for some time to take part in regattas held there in preparation for the Opti World Championships later in the year.
Pavlo Dontsov gave an interview to SkyNews, which also reported on the protest action, about how he and his Opti kids found out about the arrival of the oligarch's yacht and why they decided to take this dangerous action.
The Opti-Trainer on Sky News
Last week, YACHT had the opportunity to speak to the 28-year-old Ukrainian in detail. In it, he spoke about the desperation of the children and young people when they learnt of the outbreak of war, but also about their courage and bravery, with which they decided to carry on - and show their colours.
YACHT author Tatjana Pokorny conducted the interview with Pavlo Dontsov, which will also be published in the upcoming issue 8/2022 of YACHT. In view of current events, we are publishing it here in advance:
"The madness in our home country must stop!"
Interview with Pavlo Dontsov, coach of a Ukrainian Opti sailing group currently in Turkey.
Pavlo, how did you find out about the war?
That was on the night of 24 February. We were in Valencia, preparing for a regatta. We learnt about it from the messenger groups we have with the families.
How big was the shock in your group?
It's difficult to put our thoughts into words. It was so unexpected, it's so terrible!
How did the children and young people take the news?
With fear and worry. Some families, like my parents, live in the Odessa region, where things are a bit calmer. Others, however, come from Kiev and were or still are in dramatic situations. Fortunately, the children can sometimes talk to their parents on the phone.
How did the parents in Ukraine react?
They asked me not to come back with the children. So we train as much as we can. You can never forget what's happening back home, but you can focus on the work, the sport. That makes it a bit easier.
Is your youngest team member only nine years old?
Yes, this is Ahnieshka Madonich. Her parents are with us, her father is our team leader and her mother takes care of the catering. They are now the parents for everyone. The best thing we can do is keep going and show our colours.
Do you receive support?
Not only the international Opti family is with us. We have wonderful help from the whole sailing community. Gintare Scheidt initiated a fundraising campaign because we had run out of money. So many people from Germany have helped and we are grateful to them. The president of the German Opti Association offered us help. The clubs at the local regattas are helping us with accommodation, whether in Torbole on Lake Garda or now here at the club in Bodrum.
How are the children doing at the moment?
It is very important for them to know that they are not alone. That does them good. The sport is good for them. We often hoist flags at Opti regattas. But now I see the children doing it with even more pride than usual. They feel part of a great country. We have renamed ourselves "Optimist Team Ukraine". We are not the national team, even though some members are with us. But we feel that way. We want everyone to know that!
What are your plans now?
We plan from day to day. I myself feel torn between the desire to return to Ukraine and help in the defence of our homeland and the responsibility for the children here.
What do you want most right now?
That the madness in our home country stops! That all children can see their parents again, breathe freely and recover from this nightmare. For our team, I hope that we can make Ukraine proud, even far from home, and that we can stand for a free European country.
Interview: Tatjana Pokorny
