Crews and vessels are preparing for this year's Tall Ships Races. On June 22, yachts from Szczecin will set sail for Klaipeda, where the great sailing ships' regatta will begin.

Dar Szczecina and Zryw are two yachts on which the Szczecin Representation will participate in this year's Tall Ships Races. In total, 30 people in navy blue and burgundy colors will face their own weaknesses, the elements, and other crews.

"This event is attractive in many aspects. The first is the sport, as we will race against vessels from all over the world. On the other hand, there is the social aspect, where you can meet crews from other countries and make friends. For me, the most important is the sailing aspect; I want the participants to return from the voyage as people captivated by the sea," says Jędrzej Owczarski, captain of Zryw.

On June 22, Dar Szczecina and Zryw will set sail from the Sailing Centre marina to the starting line of the regatta, which begins in Klaipeda, Lithuania. The first shift will sail in the first regatta stage (Klaipeda – Helsinki) and one Cruise-in-Company. The change of crews will take place in Tallinn. From there, the Representation will sail to Turku, Mariehamn, and finally return to Szczecin. They face a five-week voyage on the Baltic Sea, which may bring many surprises. Among the crew members are those who have sailed before, including members of the Sailing Centre section who sail as part of the activities on Zryw.

"On the yacht, we are all one team," says Jędrzej Owczarski. "It's also a challenge for the whole crew to get along and work together, as for two weeks we will be living on a small boat and spending our days together."

"There are no passengers here," explains Wojciech Maleika, captain of Dar Szczecina. "The entire crew is divided into three watches, and these watches perform navigational duties, which include steering, operating the sails, changing those sails, and observing other ships. This is done for four hours during the day and four at night. In addition, once every three days, each watch takes on galley duty, which involves preparing meals, cleaning up after meals, and tidying the yacht."

No sailing knowledge is required to participate in the regatta. Although the majority of the Representation consists of people who have never sailed before, the captains do not see this as a problem; quite the opposite.

"There are always three professional crew members on board—experienced sailors who know the yacht, have dealt with regattas, and, of course, have the necessary sailing qualifications. We really enjoy sailing with new people, and the only thing we expect from them is commitment. While still in port, we dedicate at least one full day to training the crew," says Wojciech Maleika.

Before setting off for the regatta, the yachts underwent thorough checks and minor repairs to ensure they will not let the sailors down during the race. Regatta participants will receive uniform clothing, pack the essentials, and embark on a journey that can boldly be called the adventure of a lifetime. The final days of preparation will focus on packing and checking equipment.

"The spinnaker is already mounted, and the rest of the sails are packed. Next, we have to buy over 700 kg of food, pack everything, and then we can set sail," adds Wojciech Maleika.

Participating in the regatta is a real school of life. The wind and water can be unpredictable, and when you add the competition with others, it is not a leisurely sail but hard work that needs to be done in order to later enjoy the benefits in the port. New responsibilities, new skills, and also new acquaintances, sometimes even lifelong friendships, are the added value of such a voyage.

"What we can definitely expect from such regattas is lack of sleep," Maleika laughs. "There is never enough sleep; at sea we are racing, handling sail alarms, keeping watch, performing our duties, and in the ports, we participate in meetings, attractions, and events for the crews, so there is no chance to catch up on sleep. That only happens after we return home (laughs). A cruise like this is an unforgettable adventure, we can be sure of that too.”

"I think the best advertisement for 'the tall ships' is the fact that young people who have sailed once are eager to return," adds Jędrzej Owczarski.