STS "Pogoria", School Afloat 2010, Genoa, Monaco, Malta, Syracuse, Vulcano, Pompeii, Bonifacio, Rome.
(40 days, 2000 nm)
October and November of 2010 I spent on STS Pogoria, a 48 meter long, three
mast barquentine, sailing around Mediterranean Sea as a School Afloat. I was
assigned the position of a 3rd officer in charge of a watch numbering over
20 student sailors. My additional responsibility was to teach an introductory
architecture course to a class of 60 high school students....
s/y "Polski Hak", Spitzbergen Expedition 2010, Gdynia, Hornsund, Pyramiden.
(10 weeks, 4000nm)
Durring the summer of 2010, I took part in a sailing expedition to the North
tip of Spitbergen on s/y Polski Hak, a 31 meter long staysail schooner. I
was 3rd officer on this amazing trip that lasted over 2 months and crossed
the Arctic Circle reaching 82nd latitude.
This was a maiden voyage of this new expedition sailing yacht. I was responsible for navigation watch. In addition due to my previous experience and knowledge I was assigned to check numerous electronic and mechanical systems of the boat. It was a great feeling to be able to study and understand the complicated network of interlocking systems on this sailing ship.
s/y "Nasz Dom", Tall Ships' Race 2007, Gdynia, Aarhus, Kotka, Tallinn, Stocholm...
(30 days, 1300nm)
In June I took command of the s/y Nasz Dom. A steel boat build in 1978. We
sailed from Gdynia in Poland to Aarhus in Denmark. Following a few days of
celebrations we started the first leg of the Tall Ships' Race 2007 to Kotka
in Finland. Nasz Dom was holding on to the first place position in our category
for most of the race, finaly crossing the finish line in third place. My previous
experience in races and regattas paid off. Latter it was great to sip a drink
from the "Cup". After crossing the finish line we visited Tallinn
in Estonia and a few Finish islands. My final cruse as the skipper was cruise-in-company
to Stockholm in Sweden. The involvement in the month long event was cool but
having the pleasure to lead a young crew and the participation as a captain
was especially fantastic.
s/y "Kindred Spirit", Cowes Race, Portsmouth, 2006
(3 days, 64 nm)
I was invited to take part in the Cowes Race that takes place near Portsmouth
in southern England. I enlisted on Kindred Spirit which is a Sigma 38. The
boat performed very well. We did not win but it still was a memorable event
due to fantastic gale force winds that always make sailing on the English
Chanel a superb experience.
s/y "Ice Maiden", Lisbon to Cadiz, 2006
(4 days, 280 nm)
In Lisbon I was offered a position of a First Officer on “Ice Maiden”
for a 4day, 280 nautical mile cruse to Cadiz. An offer I could not refuse.
Instantly becoming an officer in the Tall Ships’ Race event was a great
opportunity. Having official responsibilities of a first mate, on a British
registered 15 meter sloop, was a good filling. I was gaining valuable experience
on a yacht build for high altitudes that had previously performed admirably
around Spitsbergen and 400 miles from the Pole in the North, as well as around
South Georgia and the Cape Horn in the South, when it was chartered by the
Royal Engineers of the British Army. In addition, sipping cocktails with the
captains of all these magnificent tall ships did noting to hurt my admiration
for sailing. Ultimately returning, in a capacity of an officer, to "Christian
Radich" for a Captains’ dinner, was particularly delightful finale.
"Christian Radich",Tall Ships' Race, Saint Malo to Lisbon, 2006
(11 days, 900nm)
Signing
up as crew member on "Christian Radich", a three-masted fully rigged,
73 meter long Norwegian bark, for the 50th Anniversary Tall Ships’ Race
was an experience of different magnitude. Sailing on this spotlessly kept
ship was tranquil and enjoyable. The food, including the salmon and the freshly
baked pastries, on the 10 day crossing, was superb. The fact that we came
in first, in our class as well as in overall classification on the Saint Malo
– Lisbon, 900 nautical miles long leg of the race, was gratifying. The
‘socializing’ with the crews and trainees from all parts of the
world, at the beginning and the end of the race, was an extra bonus.
s/y "Malu Kai", yacht delivery, Florida to Scotland, 2006
(32days, 4200nm)
My
second Atlantic crossing was on board of s/y "Malu Kai", a 17 meter
ketch that was purchased in USA by an English man who had no previous sailing
experience. Thanks to the wonders of internet, Mark, acquired, my and my two
friends’, services to deliver the yacht to Britain. We had to plan the
voyage, prepare the 30 year old boat, choose all necessary navigation, safety
and communication equipment, purchase supplies and sail “Malu Kai”
to Scotland by the shortest North Atlantic rout. We also had to acquaint the
owner with all the sailing knowledge we could. Though the three of us had
a wide-ranging sailing experience, including teaching, racing and boat construction,
I was the only one with previous ocean crossing behind my belt and officially
certified navigation knowledge. The 4000 nautical mile journey started in
Fort Lauderdale in Florida. The trip was exuberating. The sunsets, the fish,
the dolphins, the stars…and the bread cooking. It was also quite worrisome
when “Malu Kai” had to withstand the ferocious and relentless
gale force winds of the North Atlantic. It ended 32 days later in Whitehaven
inScotland.
Faluka, Aswan to Idfu, Nile, Egypt 2005
(4 days, 100 nm)
During my trip to Egypt, after visiting archeological sits including the Pyramids
and the Abu Simbel temple I took a trip on a Faluka. This was a journey in
to the past of sailing. During the four days on the boat I learned a lot about
traditional methods of navigation that did not change much over the millenniums.
The strong currents made the voyage especially exciting during the nights.
I took interest in all aspects of the crossing which allowed me to learn about
how Egyptians navigated the dangerous waters of the river Nile.
STS "Pogoria", Atlantic crossing, USA to Spain, 2004
(30days, 3750nm)
Sailed
on the tall ship STS "Pogoria" on its crossing back to Europe from
North America. We set sail from Greenport, Long Island and 30 days later we
reached Vilanova i La Geltru, Spain. On the way we visited Horta in the Azores
islands as well as Malaga in Spain. We logged a total of 582 hours at sea
and a distance of 3759 nautical miles. My duties included minor sail repairs,
rigging repairs and maintenance work. Assisting the cook, standing on watch
at the helm, keeping the ship's log and navigation were my other responsibilities.
I learned a great deal about navigation and weather as well as the basics
to celestial navigation.
s/y "Julianna" - US 5005, The Great Lakes, Canada and USA, 2004
(4days, 350nm)
I worked on the Maxi-yacht s/y "Julianna" to deliver the boat from
Lake Ontario to Lake Huron. We sailed round the clock because we had a time
restraint. Our passage included sailing through the locks of the Welland Canal.
There were some tight maneuvers due to a 10 foot draft of the yacht. I learned
a lot about sailing through narrow waterways, canals and several locks when
passing from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie and than from Lake Erie to Lake St
Clair and finally to Lake Huron.
STS "Pogoria", CuttySark Tall Ship Race, Malaga to La Coruna, 2002
(11days, 1047nm)
During
the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race '02 from Malaga to La Coruna Spain, I sailed
on the tallship STS "Pogoria". The tallship was a 148 foot three-masted
Barquentine with a square rig on its first mast. The sail, which lasted 11
days, included the passage through the Straight of Gibraltar and sailing around
the Cape St. Vincent. I lived and worked with 40 trainees. Some of my duties
included galley work, helping the cook, standing on watch at the helm and
the navigation table, keeping the ship's log, trimming the sails, and keeping
the ship clean. The greatest thing I had to do was going aloft and handling
the square sails.
s/y "Nasz Dom", Baltic Sea, Poland and Sweden, 2002
(15days, 650nm)
Sailed
from Gdynia, Poland to Stockholm, Sweden and back on s/y "Nasz Dom".
The yacht, that was constructed and sailed around the world by my parents,
is a 37 foot sloop rigged steel boat. The trip lasted 15 days. I was a watch
officer for the second watch. My duties included meal preparation for the
crew, keeping a detailed log, and chart work. I learned a lot about sailing
a steel boat, navigating at night, and making difficult maneuvers without
the use of an engine. Sailing poorly charted waters between the islands of
eastern Sweden was not only exhilarating and gratifying but also educational.
Sea Scouting Association Winter Camp, USA, 2000
(10days)
Planned
and executed a ten day sailing expedition to Florida for 16 members. I coordinated
funds, supplies, boat and crew transport for the overland trip and learned
how to drive a car with a trailer. During the trip we launched the Albacore
dinghy from the beach everyday. It was a fantastic experience approaching
the beach on the crest of a wave.
s/y "Baltyk 2", Lake Ontario, Canada, 1999
(30days, 750nm)
My
three friends and I prepared and sailed the s/y "Baltyk 2". The
fiberglass boat is a Viking 28 sloop rigged boat. The trip took us to numerous
places in the eastern part of Lake Ontario and to the Thousand Islands. During
the voyage that lasted 30 days I performed the duties of First Officer, some
of which included navigation and meal plans. Besides fishing and learning
to survive on our own, we learned the true meaning of "cabin fever"
and how to deal with it. It was uplifting to succeed in organizing a trip
of that magnitude with my teenage friends.
s/y "Baltyk 2", Lake Ontario, Canada and USA, 1998
(28days, 500nm)
Took
part in a sailing trip on s/y "Baltyk 2". A Viking 28, sloop rigged
fiberglass, yacht. We visited many ports on the northern part of Lake Ontario
and anchored at many of the islands of the Thousand Islands National Park.
During the four week trip my responsibilities included keeping a ship's log,
helm watch, and trimming the sails. Getting out of some tricky sailing situations
in the difficult weather was the most challenging but also most memorable
part of this experience.