More than a thousand sailors from all over the world, dozens of sports yacht boats, several sailing classes and 18 days of sports emotions – these impressive numbers illustrate best what this year’s 16th edition of Volvo Gdynia Sailing Days regattas looked like.
While from a distance they look like a comb which emerges from the Bay of Gdańsk, when spread out on the beach at Marina Gdynia they resemble powerful fish scales. Sails, as they are the focal point, along with sports yachts reigned on the horizon of Gdynia basin for more than two weeks of July. Smaller and larger vessels from all over the world could be seen both on water and in the marina. And all that was possible thanks to the greatest regatta series in Poland – Volvo Gdynia Sailing Days, which were held from 8th to 26th July.
Regattas are an international event, so both male and female contestants from all over the world came to Gdynia. Many of them admit that although the regattas on the Gulf of Gdańsk are not the easiest ones, the possibility to feast your eyes on magical views of the coastline makes up for all the sports efforts.
This year what’s particularly worth mentioning was RS:X Youth World Championships. 38 contestants from different parts of the globe took part in the competition. First place went to the talented Israelis Noy Drihan and Yoav Omer. In turn, Mikołaj Staniul and Kajetan Jabłoński, representing YKP Gdynia, won the 29er & Open BIC European Cup. We will definitely hear about the teen sportsmen more than once in the future. They managed to beat 14 teams from Poland and Russia.
What’s especially important for the biggest sports academy in Pomorskie – AZS AWFiS Gdańsk, its students Łukasz Przybytek and Paweł Kołodziński won 49er Polish Championships, which is the fastest and the most spectacular Olympic class. B-Class contestants up to the age of 13 competed in Coach Trophy Regatta 2015. Needless to say, this competition attracts particular attention.
Volvo Gdynia Sailing Days is a sporting event at the highest level. One of the main advantages of the event is undoubtedly the fact that it takes place in a modern port city, and the struggles of competitors can be seen from the beach or nearby restaurants. During the event, Marina Gdynia turns into a sailing town with many attractions. This year on the beach in Gdynia appeared, among others, Marcin Możdżonek – one of the best Polish volleyball players, who led an open volleyball training.
As demonstrated in recent years, the regattas attract to Gdynia not only sportsmen and sailing enthusiasts, but they are also a very attractive complement to the tourist offer. Observing sports racings is an emotionally intense fun both for older spectators as well as the youngest fans.
Date: July
Place: Marina Gdynia
Al. Jana Pawła II 13A, Gdynia
photos: Robert Hajduk – ShutterSail.com
