The race is on and it is not yet clear what place the crew of the boat, owned by the Polish National Foundation, will take after adjusting the results due to the size of the monohull yachts. Two larger, faster units were faster, Brodowski noted.

“I Love Poland” returned to Malta after three days, four hours, 50 minutes and 45 seconds from the start. The PFN yacht, whose captain is Grzegorz Baranowski, took off at noon on Saturday from the port of the Maltese capital, Valletta. The crew of fourteen included, among others, graduates of the training courses provided by the Polish National Foundation for young sailors who wish to sail on the largest regatta yachts in the world.

This year, in cooperation with the Polish Yachting Association, the crew also included four competitors from the Olympic 49er class and a silver medalist from the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – Agnieszka Skrzypulec.

In the 43rd edition of the classic “Rolex Middle Sea Race” regatta, more than 100 yachts from all over the world took the start alongside the Polish ship, but due to weak winds many of them withdrew during the race. “I Love Poland” (Volvo Open 70) competed in the IRC / Class1 category with a dozen other yachts. The smaller boats of the other classes have not yet sailed around Sicily.

The start and finish of the regatta is Malta. To circumnavigate Sicily, the participants crossed the Strait of Messina, which, as always, was a great challenge for crews, navigators and yachts. The boat then sailed around the island of Stromboli in northern Sicily and passed between the islets of Marettimo and Favignana to the west.

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Then he sailed south, but the route back to Malta, according to the rules of the race, forced you to go around the small islands near Africa – Pantelleria and Lampedusa. From there, the Polish yacht crossed the strait between Malta and the small island of Comino to finish the race in the bay next to Valletta.

The president of the Polish National Foundation, Marcin Zarzecki, considered that the use of an offshore racing yacht to promote Poland is a difficult but also original undertaking.

– This is an element of a multidimensional strategy – showing the Polish traits and attitudes represented by the Polish crew members – discipline, bravery and the ability to win – he said. “It’s a training experience that, judging by the Rolex Middle Sea Race, is starting to pay off,” he added.

Captain of “I Love Poland” Grzegorz Baranowski recalled that the first recruitment for the PFN sailing project started in December 2019. Since then, almost 1,200 people have participated in the PFN training program – out of 430 applications, the jury of the program chose the finalists, of whom 44 moved on to the practical stage and 9 joined the permanent crew.

Vice-President of the Polish National Foundation, Michał Góras, said that the training formula of the “I Love Poland” project allows the development of the unique skills of young Polish sailors. “It brings great results and success at international regattas. It is an excellent tool for the development of Polish sport, and at the same time an excellent promotion of Poland abroad” – he underlined.

The start of the regatta around Sicily during the “Rolex Middle Sea Race” is one of many for the crew this year. Several other yachts under the Polish flag or with Poles on board also take part in the regatta.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for Friday.

MB, PAP

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