Kuyavian-Pomeranian Sailing School to Launch with €3.5 Million Training Vessel
The Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship is moving forward with an ambitious maritime education initiative – the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Sailing School. The project is based on a professional offshore training sailing vessel valued at approximately PLN 15 million (around €3.5 million), donated by philanthropists Grażyna and Roman Karkosik.
In brief
The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship is creating the Kujawsko-Pomorska Szkoła pod Żaglami sailing school, founded on a training sailing ship worth about PLN 15 million donated to the regional government by Grażyna and Roman Karkosik. The vessel was launched in 1999, underwent a major overhaul two years ago, has a steel hull, a ketch rig and two engines, and its home port is Gdynia. The school's operational base will be the marina in Włocławek, and the programme is aimed at young people, including those at risk of exclusion and with disabilities. Jan Mela has become the ambassador of the initiative.
The steel-hulled ketch-rigged vessel, equipped with two engines and designed for offshore navigation, was launched in 1999 and underwent a major refit two years ago. Homeported in Gdynia, the ship will form the core of a regional sail training and maritime education programme. Additional infrastructure will be provided by a marina in Włocławek, recently taken over by the regional government.
The Sailing School aims to combine professional seamanship training with social inclusion, offering programmes for young people, including those at risk of social exclusion and individuals with physical disabilities. The initiative is supported by a broad coalition of sailing clubs, maritime organisations, rescue services and educational institutions.
- This project is about more than sailing skills. It is about leadership, resilience and personal development, said Piotr Całbecki, Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.
The school’s ambassador, Polish explorer and social activist Jan Mela, highlighted the transformative power of maritime activity in building confidence and overcoming mental barriers.
A preliminary donation agreement has already been signed, marking a formal step towards the launch of the programme. The project is currently coordinated by the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Centre for Education and Innovation, with further operational details under development.
Industry observers note that the initiative may become one of the most significant regional sail training projects in Poland, strengthening maritime education beyond traditional coastal areas.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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