He established a dock-yard, and while his first ship was building made perilous trips upon that unknown ocean from which Russia had all its life been shut out! His ship was the first to bear a Russian flag into foreign waters, and now Peter had taken the first step toward learning how to build a navy, but he had no place yet to use one.

So he turned his nimble activities toward the Black Sea.

He had only to capture Azof in the Crimea from the Turks, and he would have a sea for his navy--and then might easily make the navy for his sea! So he went down, carrying his soldiers and his new European tactics--in which no one believed--gathered up his Cossacks, and the attack was made, first with utter failure--all on account of the new tactics--and then at last came overwhelming success; and a triumphant return (1676) to Moscow under arches and garlands of flowers.

Three thousand Russian families were sent to colonize Azof, which was guarded by some regiments of the _Streltsui_ and by Cossacks--and now there must be a navy.
There must be nine ships of the line, and twenty frigates carrying fifty guns, and bombships, and fireships.

That would require a great deal of money.