Paweł Turczynowicz wins the eSailing Grand Final 2025

- The Grand Final concluded a series of three major competitions: the PZŻ eCup, the Autumn eCup, and the Polish eSailing Championships. The best ten competitors met at PGE Narodowy, delivering emotions comparable to real-world regattas. In the end, Paweł Turczynowicz claimed the title, followed by Krzysztof Warywoda and Bartosz Szydłowski, said Szymon Wierzbicki, emphasizing that the event was also a demanding organizational and technological task for PZŻ.

A Breakthrough Victory for Paweł Turczynowicz

For winner Paweł Turczynowicz, the triumph marked a turning point after a challenging season. Despite a false start and penalty in the final race, he managed to regain control and secure the overall victory — a testament to the tactical precision enabled by high-fidelity sailing simulations.

- This is my first major win this season, and it means a lot, said Turczynowicz. - Although nothing replaces competition on the water, eSailing definitely helps develop tactical awareness. I used a maneuver learned in-game during one of the real regattas — and it won me the race. It’s a valuable tool for practicing small tactical moves that are difficult to rehearse on physical boats.

Industry Experts Note High Simulation Realism

The event was attended by Janusz Marek Taber, Commodore of the Main Board of YKP, and Jarosław Bazylko, PZŻ Vice President for Tourism. Both stressed the rapidly growing potential of advanced marine simulation in supporting training methodologies.

- What impressed me most is the combination of technical skill and true sailing knowledge, said Jarosław Bazylko. - Simulation accuracy depends heavily on physics and mathematical models, and what we see here is increasingly close to real yacht behavior. It’s excellent training — and excellent entertainment, especially during the off-season.

The livestream commentary was delivered by Michał Mostowiec of the Polish Esports Association and Jan Marciniak, a Formula Kite National Team athlete. For Marciniak, it was a debut in the commentator’s chair.

- The level of competition was remarkable, noted Marciniak. - Positions were shifting until the very last meters. It was a new, fascinating experience that deepened my understanding of virtual sailing.

Next Phase: Expanding Poland’s Digital Sailing Footprint

According to Szymon Wierzbicki, the eSailing programme will continue to evolve in 2025 and beyond.

- We’re now entering a phase where both inshore and offshore formats will be developed. The upcoming eSailing Nations Cup will feature Polish representation, and we will return with a strengthened series after the traditional sailing season.

The momentum built over the past year — particularly following the successful hosting of the eSailing World Championship during Gdynia Sailing Days — positions Poland as one of the emerging players in the global virtual sailing ecosystem. With simulation increasingly recognized as a training-relevant domain, the line between digital and real-world sailing continues to narrow.