Poland's para sailors take four European titles in Barcelona as Piotr Cichocki finishes second in the open fleet

An open fleet, and four points from the top

The Hansa is one of the few classes in which able-bodied sailors and sailors with disabilities race on the same course at the same time, which gives every result a second reading. Beyond his para category title, Piotr Cichocki finished second in the overall standings, four points behind the able-bodied winner.

– The level of competition was very high. I felt very comfortable in my boat, although at the start I could not adapt to the conditions. Today I can say I managed to get on top of them. As always there is a slight sense of something missing, because I did not win the overall classification, but you have to be happy with what you have – said Piotr Cichocki.

Doubles gold in the final two races

The last races of the Double classification were sailed on the final day. Piotr Cichocki and Olga Górnaś-Grudzień, who also sits on the PZŻ board, were the only Polish crew in the category and won both races to secure the European title.

The pair have built their record both together and separately. In 2025 Olga Górnaś-Grudzień became world champion in Sydney, where she and Piotr Cichocki also took bronze in the doubles. This year Piotr Cichocki won two gold medals at the EUROSAF Inclusive European Championships held during LOTTO Gdynia Sailing Days. On the same final day in Barcelona, Andrzej Bury added two more race wins and completed the Hansa 2.3 championship with a first place in every race.

Two-metre waves and 18 knots

Much of the difficulty came from the weather. Grzegorz Prokopowicz, head coach of the Polish para sailing team, said the conditions off Barcelona were exceptional and rarely seen, with sailors forced to switch from light air to a big sea within a short space of time.

– The regatta was fantastic. It is another of those experiences when you think you have learned everything, and it is not true. When we went out on the water there was very little wind, then before they started the races it suddenly built and we had a two-metre wave and 18 knots. Truly wonderful conditions – said Piotr Cichocki.

World Championships next in Portimão

The team has little time to rest. Two weeks after the European Championships, the sailors will compete at the World Championships in Portimão, Portugal, and the coaching staff see the Barcelona results as a strong basis for that event.

– We can be really proud. The competition went very well, first place was not far away, and it is worth mentioning already that in two weeks the sailors will race at the World Championships in Portimão – said Grzegorz Prokopowicz.

Piotr Cichocki is not hiding his target for Portugal. He said his aim is the same as always, to win, and that having only just finished one regatta he would happily start the next one straight away.