Thrilling Start to the Micro World Championship at Gdynia Sailing Days 2025

The official opening ceremony of the Micro Class World Championship marked the start of the 26th edition of Gdynia Sailing Days, the largest sailing festival in Central and Eastern Europe. While the formalities welcomed teams, coaches, officials and city representatives to Gdynia’s waterfront, the competition had already kicked off earlier with the first two races. The following day brought further action on the water, including a demanding and prestigious 14-nautical-mile long distance race.

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10 july 2025 | 09:15 | Source: Gazeta Morska | Prepared by: Kamil Kusier | Print

fot. Robert Hajduk / PZŻ

After four races, the leaderboard is neck-and-neck, with Piotr Mańczak’s crew narrowly holding the lead over Piotr Tarnacki’s team, both tied on points but separated by performance in the long distance leg.

A Festival with Global Ambitions

The opening ceremony, held on Tuesday evening, emphasized Gdynia’s growing stature as a global sailing destination. Speaking on behalf of the city, Teresa Bysewska, City Councilor, welcomed the fleet and set the tone for the days ahead:

- Welcome to the 26th Gdynia Sailing Days and the Micro World Championship. We're proud to host this year’s event—and already preparing to welcome you again next year. In 2027, Gdynia will be the host city for the Olympic Classes World Championship. Thank you for your trust.

Tomasz Chamera, Vice President of World Sailing, also addressed the international audience:

- It’s an honor to host the Micro class here again in Gdynia. We first welcomed this fleet in 1999, and we’re proud to do so once more. Challenging conditions are expected—but we hope you’ll have fun. Thank you to the class, the city, and our dedicated organizing team. You’re in good hands—good luck!

Long Distance Delivers on Drama

Wednesday brought a shift in conditions. With stronger winds and significant chop on the water, the long distance race—from Gdynia to Sopot to Brzeźno and back—tested both endurance and tactical skill.

Crew POL 15, led by Piotr Mańczak, showed their resilience and precision, overtaking rival POL 77 in the final upwind leg:

- After the first mark, there were only a few meters between us, recalled Mańczak. - The deciding moment came on the last upwind stretch—we stayed sharp, made fewer mistakes, and secured the win under pressure.

Tarnacki Reflects, Mańczak Advances

Piotr Tarnacki’s team, featuring Maciej Grzebita and Piotr Przybylski, started strong with a victory in the first race of the day, but couldn’t hold off their competitors in the long distance leg:

- We started well and sailed cleanly in the short race, but our settings in the long one weren’t optimal—we lacked speed, said Tarnacki. - That race is usually our strength, so we’ll analyze the data and prepare better for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Piotr Kowalewski’s crew (POL 15) celebrated their win in the Racer classification:

- Finally some wind! It wasn’t just about speed today—it was about good tactics and boat handling. The long distance leg was fast and fun, even if less brutal than expected, Kowalewski noted.

Tied at the Top: High Stakes Heading into Thursday

After four races, the championship is finely balanced. Mańczak and Tarnacki share the lead, but Mańczak’s superior result in the long distance race puts his team on top going into Thursday.

With three short races on the schedule, Thursday promises a packed and pivotal day of competition in Gdynia. Tactics, boat speed, and composure will all be tested again as the battle for the world title continues.

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Kamil Kusier
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