The regatta was held in the Optimist and Cadet classes. Wincenty Grochowski (12), a sailor from the Sail Swim sailing school in Bolesławiec, competed in the Optimist class. Optimist is a one-person racing class for children up to 15 years of age.
On the first day, no races were held because there was no wind, despite four being scheduled. The following day, there was no shortage of wind, and five races were held in very demanding conditions. Gusts exceeded force 4 on the Beaufort scale. Such strong gusts caused many competitors not to finish the third race because their boats capsized.
Despite the difficult conditions and a capsize, the sailor from Bolesławiec finished every race and ultimately took ninth place. It was Wincenty's second start in a district regatta. His first took place in October in Uraz, on the Prężyckie Reservoir. At that event, the Bolesławiec sailor finished only 16th. It is clear that each regatta brings an increasingly better result, raising hopes for even better performances next season.
Wincenty began his sailing adventure at sailing day camps organized by the Sail Swim school on the Krępnica Reservoir, at the Yacht Club Bolesławiec base. This is where he took his first steps in an Optimist. His first regatta starts took place this season. He finished first in regattas organized by KŻ Posejdon on Lake Kunickie near Legnica. He decided to take the next step and compete in higher-ranking regattas. He prepared for these events in Kunice. The season has now ended, but starts for next season are already being planned. The season is scheduled to begin in April next year.
This season, the sailing school’s competitors also had the opportunity to train on marine waters. At the beginning of August, training took place on the Baltic Sea, based at Marina Dziwnów. This year, the Optimist World Championships were held in Dziwnów. The training lasted five days and took place in changing conditions. During the training, the competitors had the opportunity to experience difficult and demanding sea conditions. They learned that what is easy to do on inland waters is more difficult, and sometimes impossible, at sea. Some experienced the effects of seasickness.
The coming season includes planned regatta starts and other training trips.
The school will enroll children from the age of five. Training is led by Jakub Jakubowski, a PYA sailing instructor.
Sail Swim/ii