In 1703 he built the 30 metre frigate Shtandart. A charitable trust has been set up to construct a replica of Shtandart in St Petersburg which will be sailed to Deptford on the 300th anniversary of the Great Embassy in July 1999. The construction is providing employment for Russian carpenters and an opportunity to learn boat building skills and the frigate will be used for sail training, cultural exchange activity and promotion of Anglo-Russian relations.
Construction is entirely reliant on voluntary donations.
Ray and Margo Glaister, who sailed to Russia in 1997, met Greg Palmer, owner of Peter Duck , who has sadly since died, in St Petersburg, when they were able to see the construction of Shtandart. Greg's wife, Ann, has returned to St Petersburg, to take over the fund-raising, and Ray has offered what help he can. Vladimir Martous, director of the project, invited friends of the Shtandart to an evening at the Russian Embassy on 19 February to give a progress report. Work has continued over winter in extreme cold and is on track, but money is desperately needed if the launch is to be on schedule.