Polish Sprint Championships, Olympic Test Event, and KINDER Joy of Moving - Gdynia Filled with Sails
Gdynia once again lived up to its name as the sailing capital of Poland. The Polish Sprint Championships in ILCA classes have concluded, and the second day of the Olympic Test Event for the 49er and 49er FX classes brought fierce competition. Although the wind was far from ideal, sailors were rewarded with sunshine and full racing schedules across all fleets. Tomorrow marks the start of registrations for the youngest sailors, who will compete in the KINDER Joy of Moving – Coaches' Cup. A total of 353 children in the Optimist class will join the fray as part of the 26th edition of Gdynia Sailing Days.
In brief
The Polish Sprint Championships in the ILCA classes ended in Gdynia with medals awarded in seven categories, with titles going to Patrycja Jałoszyńska, Jacopo Saglio, Hanna Rogowska and Jan Rohde, among others. Weak wind forced the Race Committee to end the regatta after the qualifying phase, without medal races. In the Test Event of the Olympic 49er and 49erFX classes, which also serves as the Polish Championships, four races were sailed in each class on the second day with more than 50 crews from 16 countries, and Gabriela Czapska and Hanna Rajchert lead the 49erFX. In the KINDER Joy of Moving Coaches' Cup regatta, 353 Optimist class sailors will start.
New Polish Champions Crowned in ILCA Sprint
The Polish Sprint Championships ended with medals awarded in seven categories. Champions include:
- Patrycja Jałoszyńska – ILCA 4 (KŻ Nysa)
- Jacopo Saglio – ILCA 4 (UKS Żeglarz Wrocław)
- Lena Maria Adamska – ILCA 6 U17 (MKŻ Arka Gdynia)
- Wit Dmuchowski – ILCA 6 U17 (SSW MOS Iława)
- Hanna Rogowska – ILCA 6 U19 (CHKŻ Chojnice)
- Piotr Trella – ILCA 6 U19 (MKŻ Arka Gdynia)
- Jan Rohde – ILCA 7 (SSW MOS Iława)
After a frustrating Monday, where only one race in ILCA 7 was completed due to lack of wind, Tuesday brought better conditions. The Race Committee made a strategic decision to forego medal races, concluding the championships at the qualification stage with full-fleet racing rather than traditional four-boat medal sprints.
- Waiting is part of the sport. It takes patience and the ability to stay focused for long periods, said Wit Dmuchowski, ILCA 6 U17 champion.
49er and 49er FX Test Event: Over 50 Crews from 16 Nations
The Olympic Test Event, which also doubles as the Polish National Championships, saw four races completed in each class on Day 2, providing fast-paced and tactical racing.
In the 49erFX class, Gabriela Czapska and Hanna Rajchert (Spójnia Warszawa) took the lead, while Mikołaj Staniul and Jakub Sztorch (KS AZS AWFiS Gdańsk) currently sit second in the 49er class, just two points behind the leaders and five ahead of the third-place Hong Kong crew.
- It was a tactical chess match on water – sometimes the left paid off, sometimes the right, sometimes the middle. We’re happy with how we adapted, said Hanna Rajchert, National Team athlete.
- We haven’t sailed in Gdynia for a while, so it was great to get back and quickly tune in, added Gabriela Czapska, PGE Sailing Team Poland ambassador.
Other standout performances include Ewa Lewandowska and Anna Zwara (AWFiS Gdańsk / MKŻ Arka Gdynia), debuting at 7th place, while Klaudia Sobczak and Magdalena Skórnóg (CHKŻ Chojnice / Nauticus Olsztyn) are currently 14th.
In the 49er fleet, Dominik Buksak and Adam Głogowski (Centrum Żeglarskie Szczecin / Nauticus Olsztyn) bounced back after a slow start to climb to 6th place, finishing the day with a strong series: one third-place and two second-place finishes. Meanwhile, Mateusz Gwóźdź and Krzysztof Królik (YKP Gdynia / CHKŻ Chojnice) hold 14th overall.
- Gdynia demands patience due to shifting conditions. We stayed focused, improved our consistency, and eliminated previous mistakes, summarized Mikołaj Staniul and Jakub Sztorch, who are also past European Champions in the 49er class.
KINDER Joy of Moving – Where Sailing Dreams Begin
In the coming days, Zatoka Gdańska will be filled with 353 Optimist sails, as the youngest sailors under 13 compete in the most joyful regatta of the season: KINDER Joy of Moving – Coaches’ Cup.
The inaugural edition of this regatta took place in 2001. Since 2020, the event has been proudly hosted under the KINDER Joy of Moving brand. The winner receives the iconic trophy engraved with: “Hope of Polish Sailing.”
Many of these “hopes” have since lived up to their promise. Notably, current 49er leaders Mikołaj Staniul (winner in 2011) and Jakub Sztorch (2012) began their competitive careers here – a testament to the power of nurturing talent from a young age.
Gdynia Sailing Days continues to prove its role as a cornerstone of Polish and international sailing development – from youth classes to Olympic hopefuls – combining top-tier competition, legacy building, and a celebration of the sport at every level.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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