50th Anniversary of Operation Sail in Poland. Dar Pomorza is the winner of Operation Sail’74
By Marek Grzybowski (tex and photo)
Prof. Daniel Duda, Honorary Chairman of the Polish Nautical Society, Rector of the Maritime School in the years 1972-1981, received a commemorative ship’s porthole on the occasion of the voyage of the “Dar Młodzieży” in Operation Sail’74. The symbolic ship’s porthole was presented by His Magnificence the Rector, Prof. Adam Weintrit.
A commemorative ship’s porthole was presented to Prof. Daniel Duda in recognition of his special merits in activities for the development of the maritime economy, including achievements in the field of scientific research and teaching, including for the Maritime School in Gdynia. Prof. Duda led, among others, to the construction of “Antoni Garnuszewski” – a training and cargo ship in the operation of Polish Ocean Lines and the training sailing ship “Dar Młodzieży.”
Dar Młodzieży won its first victory in the international Operation Sail regatta in 1972. It was a very important historical event for Polish sailing and maritime education. The spiritus movens of these great events was Professor Daniel Duda, Rector of the Maritime University in Gdynia since 1972. Professor Duda sent Dar Pomorza for the first time to a meeting of large sailing ships, to a great regatta. In 1974, he was on the Honorary Committee of Gdynia’s Operation Sail’74. The Honorary President of the Polish Nautical Society co-created the sailing element of Polish maritime history.
The Polish Nautological Society presented the “Dar Pomorza” and the National Maritime Museum with a plaque on the occasion of the 1st Polish Operation Sail 1974 on 17 July, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Operation Sail Copenhagen – Gdynia.
Prof. Daniela Duda, honorary chairman of the Polish Nautical Society, presented a plaque to Szymon Kulas, director of the National Maritime Museum. The plaque reads: “To the Commander, crew, students taking part in the Polish Operation Sail 1974, on the Copenhagen – Gdynia route, great recognition for their great attitude and adherence to the old sailing principle of “Fair Play”.
The ceremony was attended by: Provost Marek Grzybowski, President of the Polish Nuatological Society, judge Witold Kuczorski, vice-president of the Polish Nuatological Society and the commandant of the museum ship “Dar Pomorza”.
“Dar Pomorza” returned to Gdynia after a sensational victory in the Tall Ships Races ’72 on September 9, 1972. “Dar Pomorza” under the command of Kazimierz Jurkiewicz started for the first time in the Tall Ships Races. The Polish sailing ship, with students from the Maritime University in Gdynia and the Maritime University in Szczecin on board, turned out to be the best in the race of sailing ships from all over the world.
– The “Dar Pomorza” was too heavy to race in light winds – recalls Romuald Dudziński. – It was in our favour during storms, but not in light winds. Commander Jurkiewicz then ordered all the water to be poured out of the sailing ship, including fresh water, so that we would be lighter and could maintain a half-mile advantage over the “Gorch Fock”. It was at the finish of the regatta. The “Dar Pomorza” was not only the first to cross the finish line, but also won after calculating the sailing ships’ parameters.
The enormous success of the Polish sailing ship allowed Poland to organize another edition of Operation Sail ’74 two years later. The National Maritime Museum, of which the “Dar Pomorza” is a branch, decided to celebrate the round anniversary of the event.
