Baltic Mission: Maciej Rutkowski takes on the sea, the record and the clock for Malwinka Marszałek
Almost four hours of extreme effort on the Baltic are already behind Maciej Rutkowski – World Champion and 20-time Polish Champion in windsurfing. His goal: to complete the historic crossing of more than 200 km from Sweden to Poland in less than seven hours.
In brief
Maciej Rutkowski, world champion and 20-time Polish windsurfing champion, is sailing from Sandhamn in Sweden to Władysławowo, aiming to cover more than 200 kilometres in less than 7 hours. After nearly four hours the windsurfer had covered 74 kilometres, burned 1,373 kilocalories and was speeding along at 45 to 50 kilometres per hour in waves reaching 2 metres. The Misja Bałtyk campaign is a charity effort: every calorie burned, multiplied by three, goes to a fundraiser for Malwinka Marszałek, who suffers from Rett syndrome. The current record was set in 2013 by Max Wójcik on the Karlskrona to Gdynia route.
Starting from Sandhamn, Sweden, Rutkowski faced typically Baltic conditions. During the first hours, the wind was unstable and too weak to allow him to maintain a steady plane. Now, reaching speeds of 45–50 km/h, he is racing towards Władysławowo. Waves are already hitting 2 meters and are expected to grow, adding to the challenge.
So far, Rutkowski has covered 74 kilometers, burning 1,373 kcal. Each calorie counts – as part of the “Baltic Mission” charity challenge, he multiplies them by three and donates the equivalent to support Malwinka Marszałek, a young girl suffering from Rett syndrome, a rare genetic disorder leading to severe disability.
This is not only about breaking records – it is about making a real difference for a child in need. Supporters can join the cause by contributing via siepomaga.pl - Malwina Marszałek.
Should Rutkowski reach the Polish coast within the target time, he will not only surpass the achievement of Max Wójcik, who completed the Karlskrona–Gdynia route (approx. 370 km) in over 22 hours back in 2013, but also secure a place in the Guinness World Records.
For the Baltic maritime community, this is yet another proof that our sea is not only unpredictable and demanding, but also a stage for some of the world’s greatest water sport challenges.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
Related articles
Safety and rescue From lightships to solar power: 160 years of the Grundkallen light station 
Shipbuilding industry Lionel Messi orders a Sunreef catamaran. The Ultima 88 is being built at the Gdańsk firm’s UAE yard 
Investments A Szczecin firm is to design the world's tallest Christ statue. A 207-metre core in 40 days 
Sailing and water sports A century-old Inga Lisa and Czarny Diament after 32 years at sea. Over 30 classic yachts in Gdynia 
Sailing and water sports Eleven years of trying and metres at the finish. Witold Karałow's Scamp 4 wins the 75th Blue Ribbon 
Sailing and water sports Stanisław Trepczyński's bronze in Puck after five hours of fighting for wind
Comments (0)
The discussion is moderated by the editors: a comment appears after review. Your e-mail address is not published.
Nobody has commented on this article yet.