Jacek Chabowski with Polled 2 was first to the finish line in Visby!

First leg of SailBook Cup, the longest long-distance sea regatta in Poland, is almost at the finish – we’re waiting in Visby for the final yachts. The 4^th edition of the SailBook Cup has started in Sopot at 12.00 on Saturday, July 19. 18 yachts crossed the start line heading to Visby, Gothland. During the day first of the regatta, several boats had to return to the Tricity. Goodspeed had some problems with the engine and sailed to Gdynia, where the crew was going to fix it and from there, they were going to go to Visby and take a part in the second leg. Blagodarnost II had to retire from the race because of the major problem with the electronics.

The wind conditions between Sopot and Visby were difficult – very light breeze and a lot of holes without wind at all. Jacek Zieliński on Quick Livener became a leader after Blagodarnost II retired. However, at night from Saturday to Sunday, he was overtook by Jacek Chabowski on Polled 2 and than by Eugeniusz Jadczuk on Barnaba in the morning.

These three boats were leading in the race, the rest of the participants were far behind and they split all over the route. But as they came near to the Gothland, they were within sight almost to the finish line in Visby, where the wind  has decided who’s going to be first at the finish line.

„There was no place for strategy than – it was a long shot. It was a bit of luck – if you are at right place where the wind is blowing, you will go forward.” – says Jacek Zieliński, skipper of Quick Livener.

The winner of the first leg was skipper Jacek Chabowiski with his Polled 2. The unofficial classification in particular classes after the first leg you can see below:

Class KWR – “Facil” Lukasz Politanski (JK Elblag)

Class ORC – “Polled 2 ” Jacek Chabowski (JSG Gorki Zachodnie)

Class Open -” Barnaba” Eugeniusz Jadczuk

The beginning of second leg of SailBook Cup is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23 at. 7.00 p.m. The boats will have to take a lap around the Gothland and Gotska Sandön by starboard and return to Sopot. The entire route is about 600 nautical miles. Thanks to Yellowbricks, you can follow the position of the participants – just check the TRACKING tab.

Tracking will also be available during the race at the Tourist Information at Plac Zdrojowy in Sopot.

This year edition of the regatta SailBook Cup is a tribute to the pioneers of Polish sea sailing, it celebrates the first Polish sea regatta from 1934 (Route Gdynia – Visby).

The ambassador of the race is Zygfryd “Zyga” Perlicki, one of the most famous Polish sailors and Olympian from Kiel, skipper of the  “Copernicus”, which took a part in the Whitbread, is multiple Polish champion of the sea and Olympic classes and great referee.

Organizers: SailBook.pl, Pomorski Związek Żeglarski

Partners: Gmina Miasto Sopot, Urząd Morski w Gdyni i Liga Morska i Rzeczna, Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Warmińsko-Mazurskiego, Sopocki Klub Żeglarski Ergo Hestia Sopot, Fundacja Helios, Jachtklub Stoczni Gdańskiej, Polski Klub Morski, Puchar Bałtyku Południowego, Navinord

Sponsors: Naftoport, Voith, Work Service, Navcomm, Seldén, ICOM, Aero-Vaerft, 3 Sails, Ocean Sails, Henri Lloyd, AlmaPress Księgarnia Morska

Media patronage: SSI Jerzy Kuliński, Radio Gdańsk, Tawerna Skipperów, Magazyn Prestiż, Magazyn W Ślizgu, Młody Elbląg, Nowyj Kaliningrad, Solovela, Batsaans