In the western part of Vasilievsky Island, there is a unique monument of fortification art — Galernaya Harbor, one of the old landmarks of Saint Petersburg. The Skippersky Canal connects this bay with the Neva Bay.

The history of the formation of the Galernaya Harbor ensemble dates back to the 18th century. The construction of the harbor began in 1721 by order of Peter I. The sovereign's personal decree on the start of the construction of the "fortress" — Galernaya Harbor of the Rowing Port — was issued on September 21, 1721. The site chosen for its construction was the mouth of the Glukhoy or Black Channel. In the Neva delta, there were many unnamed rivers, called "deaf" or "black" due to the color of the water. The work was overseen by the shautbenakht (the first admiral rank) of the Russian galley fleet — Matvey Khristoforovich Zmaevich. The project author was the famous architect Domenico Trezzini. Trezzini's project included a rectangular basin connected by a canal to the Gulf of Finland, as well as the construction of a dock for repairing galleys. To shelter the ships, a rectangular basin was dug here, connected to the Gulf of Finland by a 400-meter canal — the entrance Harbor (Petrovsky) Canal. On the banks of the Large Basin, lifting devices were installed to remove cannons from the galleys. The Black Channel, which began in the area of the Smolensk Field swamps, was filled in. Around 1722, according to Trezzini's project, two wooden watchtowers — Kronshpitsy — were built at the end of the breakwaters protecting the canal near the bay, in the Petrine Baroque style. These were small guard pavilions with lanterns or "beacon lights" and spires — signal flagpoles. Initially, they were made of logs covered with boards. By autumn 1723, the basin for the harbor was already constructed, into which 94 galleys were transferred from the Galley Shipyard at the mouth of the Fontanka River. In 1724, another 90 ships built at the Admiralty were moved to the harbor. The barracks housed a crew of 2,000 people. In 1728-1729, galley sheds were built on the shore of the basin according to the project of architect Korobov, who, after Trezzini's death, fully supervised the construction works in Galernaya Harbor until 1740. Already in 1739, the question arose of moving the Galley Yard from Admiralty Island to Vasilievsky Island, which required expanding the harbor area and increasing the number of buildings. After selecting the site with the galley masters, Korobov presented a plan and estimate for the reconstruction of the basin. From the 1730s to 1740s, stone construction was carried out according to standard projects. However, the identical galley sheds located on both sides of the Large Basin, forming the core of the military-industrial ensemble, were purely utilitarian structures. At the beginning of 1741, Korobov proposed facing the basin with slabs. In 1754, according to architect Bashmakov's project, the Kronshpitsy were rebuilt in stone while preserving the 18th-century architectural design. These were small square towers with high curved roofs topped with lanterns and flagpoles. The Kronshpitsy are the only structures preserved from the 18th century with their original appearance. Along with the construction of the harbor's production facilities, small buildings were erected to house the guard protecting the territory of Galernaya Harbor, later the Main Rowing Port.

Also, by Peter I's decree, a small settlement was established in the lowland part of Vasilievsky Island. It was called the sailors' settlement. By 1794, the settlement already had good streets, and the harbor was named the Main Rowing Port. At the same time, the old name Galernaya Harbor was still preserved.

In 1796, the sheds and workshops built by Peter I were destroyed by fire along with the ships stored there. After that, the port lost its purpose and retained only the character of a storage area. By the beginning of the 19th century, the "stone guardhouse" or guardhouse stood by the barrier on the "large passage," two guardhouses were located at the entrance to the Galernoye settlement from the Large and Small Avenues, and a "wooden guardhouse," converted from workshops, was inside the port. Between 1808 and 1812, according to Zakharov's project, the canal banks were reinforced with granite embankments with descents. The small basin intended for a dry dock, also designed by him, was completed in the 1830s. Its water area, divided by a dam into two parts, was separated from the Large Basin by locks. During this period, a new Guardhouse was built in the Main Rowing Port. The old Guardhouse, built in 1795 from old timber and located in the port on the southern bank of the Skippersky Channel, was completely unsuitable for the guard officer and soldiers to live in.

The work was supervised by architect assistant, builder of the 12th class — Zhigalov. The construction of the Guardhouse was completed in October 1826, and by November 23, the guard had already moved into the new building. In 1854, a Steam Crane was installed in the Main Rowing Port instead of the previous devices for lifting ships. In 1864, it received a powerful foundation and a granite-clad platform. In 1872, the Main Rowing Port became the place for repairing the first Russian torpedo boats. During this period, workshops were built — locksmith, boiler, and copper workshops.

In 1880-1881, a Pyroxylin Factory was located on the harbor territory. Pyroxylin was used to equip naval mines and torpedoes with explosives. For the factory, a powder drying facility, boiler house, and powder workshop were built. To supply water to the factory, in 1894, a Water Tower was erected on the western shore of Galernaya Harbor, on the Skippersky Channel, 25, designed by engineers Kutorikha and Yakovlev. Currently, it is privately owned.

At the end of the 19th century, new technology tests for the fleet were conducted here. Three workshops were built — locksmith, boiler, and copper. In 1878, new port warehouses for the naval department were arranged. A little later, the pyroxylin factory was built. In 1896-1897, a two-story stone Fire Station and an acid workshop for the Pyroxylin Factory were built on the shore of the Large Basin.

In 1901, part of the territory on the southern bank of the Skippersky Channel was allocated to the Harbor Sailing Society. Due to frequent thefts at the factory, it became necessary to strengthen the guard service. As a result, an extension was made to the Guardhouse, housing the guard, the duty police officer, the office of the Rowing Port manager, and the powder storage supervisor. Between 1904 and 1906, a powder drying facility with a protective rampart, boiler house, powder workshop, and other buildings were constructed for the factory. At the beginning of 1906, explosive warehouses were moved far outside the city — to the Okhta testing ground. At the same time, some harbor streets were significantly raised to reduce flooding risks. The dangerous Pyroxylin Factory was relocated from Vasilievsky Island to the Obukhov testing ground in the same year, 1906. The Water Tower operated until the end of the 20th century. During this period, most of the Skippersky Channel was filled in, and its embankment turned into a street. In 1906, the section of the Rowing Port on the bay shore was transferred to the Neva Yacht Club. Its territory was fenced with a brick wall. At the corner of the club, a gazebo designed by architect Kenel was installed in 1910. In 1911, near Galernaya Harbor, a radio telegraph depot of the Naval Ministry was established. It was created based on the Kronstadt radio workshops of Popov. On September 6, 1902, an experimental aviation station was opened here for testing domestic seaplanes and training pilots.

From the water surface of Galernaya Harbor, on May 8, 1913, the seaplane took off for the first time. It was the S-10 "Hydro" by the Russian aircraft designer Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky. In the 1920s, the river mouth was filled in. In the 1920s-1930s, the Guardhouse was occupied by the administration of the Aviation Factory located in the harbor. Later, it housed the administration of the Yacht Club of the naval base.

In the 1950s, restoration of the Kronshpitsy on the breakwaters was carried out. At the end of the 20th century, a scientific laboratory operated in Galernaya Harbor. Electrical tests on ships were conducted here, and the first submarines were tested for strength. Today, on the shore of this harbor is the oldest yacht club in Russia. It is called the Neva Yacht Club, as the name suggests, named after Prince Alexander Nevsky. Peter I established the "Hereditary Neva Fleet" in Saint Petersburg in 1713 — the prototype of all modern yacht clubs. The yacht club was also named by Peter I's order at its foundation in 1718. Unfortunately, it was closed immediately after the tsar's death. In 1892, a council of 20 founders led by the sailor and traveler Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, grandson of Nicholas I, proclaimed the creation of the Imperial Naval Neva Yacht Club as the successor to Peter's "Neva Fleet." The club was re-approved by the highest imperial decree of Emperor Alexander III. The club was officially registered on September 12 (August 30), 1894. The club was elitist; its honorary members included Emperor Nicholas II and many grand dukes. The winter berth for yachts was chosen on a plot of land in Saint Petersburg's Galernaya Harbor. In 1906, the section of the Rowing Port on the bay shore was transferred to the Neva Yacht Club, under the patronage of Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna. In the northern corner of this territory, a gazebo-rotunda was built according to architect Kenel's project in 1910. The yacht club existed for 23 years — until 1917. It was closed under Soviet rule. Fortunately, it was later restored as part of the 81st sports club of the Navy. Until the 1990s, the club was called the "55th Navy Yacht Club." Today, it is a Sports Yacht Club.

Sources:

https://peterburg.center/story/galernaya-gavan-grebnoy-port-na-vasilevskom-ostrove-v-sankt-peterburge-sportivnyy-yaht-klub

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Галерная_гавань

https://petersmonuments.ru/russia/memorials/galernaya_gavan_grebnogo_porta/