Extreme Weather Halts Racing for Fifth Consecutive Day in Puck

The penultimate day of the ILCA 4 Youth European Championships in Puck brought yet another frustrating halt to on-water action, as extreme and unpredictable wind conditions made competitive racing impossible. Despite efforts by the race committee, no races were completed for either the boys’ or girls’ gold fleets.

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24 june 2025 | 21:02 | Source: Gazeta Morska | Prepared by: Kamil Kusier | Print

fot. Robert Hajduk / PZŻ

From early morning, a strong and unstable weather front dominated over the Bay of Puck. Winds consistently reached 25–35 knots, with only brief lulls down to 20–25 knots. Taking advantage of a temporary drop in wind speed, the race committee attempted to start a race for the gold fleets. However, during the first upwind leg, conditions rapidly deteriorated once again, with gusts surging past 30 knots, forcing the abandonment of the race and immediate return to shore.

- These conditions became outright unsafe. It’s simply not possible to race fairly – or safely – in such heavy breeze, said international race official Michał Jodłowski.

By approximately 1:00 p.m., the decision was made to cancel all racing for the day. Principal Race Officer Ewa Jodłowska emphasized that the weather remained too unstable to proceed with competition.

- We’re dealing with a powerful frontal system delivering sudden gusts above 30 knots. Even when it briefly eases, the wind strength climbs again within minutes. It’s just too much for youth sailors to handle safely, she stated.

While there were no races, the day still provided value and visibility for the sport. A press conference was held featuring four of Poland’s top female sailors competing in the gold fleet: Nina Mirowska (AZS AWF Warszawa), Martyna Seroka (ŻLKS Poznań), Patrycja Jałoszyńska (KŻ Nysa), and Matylda Jankowska (YKP Gdynia). The discussion was moderated by Marcin Rudawski, a decorated ILCA 6 sailor and multiple-time European and World Champion.

The athletes shared candid insights into their experiences on the water under such extreme conditions.

- There were gusts strong enough that we had to ease the main on the upwind just to stay upright, one sailor reported. - You had to be completely focused on every movement.

Another added: “I’ll never forget looking up before the top mark and seeing ten boats already capsized. Just moments later, I capsized myself.”

Despite the lack of official racing, the sailors emphasized the developmental value of navigating such difficult conditions, which are rarely encountered in youth training environments.

The press conference was streamed live on the Polish Yachting Association’s official YouTube channel, which has also provided daily race coverage throughout the championship.

As the fleet heads into the final day, weather forecasts appear more favorable, with lighter and more manageable winds predicted. Race officials remain hopeful of completing the scheduled three races per fleet. The medal ceremony is set for 6:00 p.m., marking the official close of a championship defined as much by resilience as by racing.

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