The Sailing Club was established at the Janusz Korczak II General Secondary School in Bolesławiec. “The young people reacted very positively to this initiative,” says Jacek Maj, a German teacher and the club’s supervisor.
In January, the young sailing enthusiasts met Zdzisław Czyżowicz, vice-commodore of the Bolesławiec Yacht Club and head of the II Private Middle School, an institution that cultivates sailing traditions. “There is a club in our county that trains children from primary schools, and there is our middle school. What was missing was an organization where students from upper-secondary schools could develop their passions,” the vice-commodore emphasized. “Now the Sailing Club at II LO will be that link.”
At the turn of April and May, three students from II General Secondary School (Anna Goleńska, Gabriela Zarzycka and Michał Stopyra)—together with Jacek Maj—took part in a voyage across the Mediterranean Sea aboard the sailing ship Pogoria, organized by the head of the II Private Middle School. Importantly, the three participants are graduates of II PG. They all hold yacht sailor licenses, but this was their first voyage on such a large sailing ship.
The journey began in Genoa. The route also included Portovenere, Elba, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Nice and San Remo. “It was the opposite of a beach holiday,” says the head of the Sailing Club. “We were divided into watches: day, night and so-called dawn watches. There was no leniency.
“The weather varied greatly, from beautiful sunshine, when all that was missing was suntan lotion, to storm conditions—with five-metre waves and winds at force 8 on the Beaufort scale,” Jacek Maj continues. “There were times when the situation became truly serious. But all the voyage participants were very disciplined, which is why the adventure is now remembered so fondly.”
“The greatest fun was climbing onto the yards and setting the sails,” Anna admits. “Twenty-five metres above the water. It was a truly remarkable experience.”
There was certainly no shortage of experiences. One day, when it began to rain and the waves were already large, Michał volunteered to go to the very end of the yard (the yardarm). “I did not fully realize what that involved. I stood on the last footrope [linie rozciągniętej pod reją – przyp. ii], untied the sail and realized that I did not have the strength to return,” the young sailor recalls. “I was hanging 15 metres above the deck.”
An officer from one of the watches came to his rescue. “He told me what to do,” Michał recalls. “The worst reaction in such a situation is panic. But I think that nobody on this voyage would have been unable to cope in those circumstances.”
Of course, the sailors also had the opportunity to visit many wonderful places. “The coastal towns and views took our breath away,” Anna says. “Sailing makes it possible to see the world and fulfill your dreams. I had always dreamed of going to France. Thanks to this voyage, my dream came true,” Gabriela adds.
Michał has been involved in sailing for nine years. “It is a second life for me. I can no longer imagine a holiday without a sailing camp,” he says. Anna admits that the voyage on Pogoria helped her overcome her fears. “I now know that you cannot be selfish at sea. You have to cooperate and help one another, because the sea does not forgive mistakes,” she says.
“This voyage made me realize that sailing is something I truly love and would like to pursue in the future. It brings me great happiness and satisfaction. It shapes character and teaches self-discipline,” Gabriela emphasizes. “It means working on yourself and your character, because every mistake will sooner or later have consequences,” the club head adds. “On the other hand, it is simply a very enjoyable sport.”
“I am glad that at II General Secondary School you have the opportunity to continue and develop your passions,” Mirosław Sakowski, the head of the institution, told the three voyage participants. “I thank Jacek Maj, who established the Sailing Club at our school. I hope this will make you even more passionate about sailing.”
(information: ii)