Cruise of Independence: around the world under sail

08.04.2019

313 DAYS. 38 000 MARINE MILES. 23 HARBOURS ON FOUR CONTINENTS. 934 PARTICIPANTS, SGH STUDENTS AMONG THEM.

Dar Młodzieży has recently returned from the Cruise of Independence, an amazing journey around the world, on the most famous Polish sailing ship that started over 10 months ago to celebrate the centenary of Poland's return to the map of Europe.
The setting of the aforementioned return looked extremely spectacular. The White Frigate grandly entered the Gdynia Port at noon on March 28 this year, emerging from the fog in a picturesque way, assisted by the company of honour. Cheering crowds awaited the ship on the waterfront - the families of the cruise participants and the inhabitants of Gdynia, who, they say, have already longed for the showcase of the port of Gdynia.

GREAT CIRCLE

They sailed from Gdynia on May 20 last year.

After nearly 10 months of travelling, the White Frigate closed the Earth loop in the Cruise of Independence, which was announced by the ship's siren on March 13 at approx. October 21.

It was the third Great Circle of Polish sailing ships. In the years 1934/1935 Dar Pomorza did it. The ship’s successor, Dar Młodzieży, crossed the most difficult route around the three capes and closed the sea loop during her journey in the years 1987- 1988.

„100 METERS OF POLAND”

The cruise of Dar Młodzieży served primarily the promotion of Poland and commemoration of the 100th anniversary of regaining Polish independence.

One of the key points of the cruise programme was the participation of the sailing ship in the World Youth Day in Panama on January 22-27, 2019. The Pope Francis granted a special audience to the participants of the Cruise of Independence.

As the cruise participants emphasised, the reactions to Dar Młodzieży mooring in ports around the world were extremely enthusiastic. Every time we enetered the harbour we saw someone dressed in white and red, people had flags with them - recalls one of the participants in a conversation with Radio Trójka (the Radio Three). – It is obvious. Dar Młodzieży is over 100 meters of Poland, because we sail under the Polish flag.

WINDFORCE 10 ON THE BEAUFORT SCALE…

... and waves 5 meters high - these were the first lessons of maritime craft that the participants of the cruise received.
When the sea was calmer, they got acquainted with Dar Młodzieży and the specifics of the service on a ship. And these were not light, easy and pleasant classes:

- We learned the whole rigging of the ship, we practiced entering the yards, maneuvers, and we also maintained a watch at the ship rudder and as navigators - wrote Wojciech Ciemiński when the frigate reached Bordeaux. - There were also traditional sailor classes, such as scrubbing the deck and polishing brass, which took us eight hours yesterday. Thanks to this, we can proudly welcome guests and visitors on our deck today.

GUESTS

Dar Młodzieży was once again the Polish ambassador in the most remote parts of the world.

- Another port is behind us, Hong Kong, where we were received very warmly and we were able to show hundreds of people around the ship, telling about its history and about Poland - wrote Michał Domagała. - In addition to open sightseeing, we organised, among others, a Polish language lesson for children from the Polish families living in Hong Kong or a meeting with local scouts and representatives of the oldest yacht club in Asia.

- We had an opportunity to host on our deck the great Polish ambassador in the USA, in figurative and literal terms - recalls Patrycja Pietrzak. - Marcin Gortat not only came to Dar Młodzieży twice, but he also invited us to the winning NBA match of his team (LA Clippers) with Sacramento Kings.

INDEPENENCE DAY

On November 11, 2018, Dar Młodzieży moored in Osaka.

- We have just washed the deck thoroughly and we are waiting for the Independence Day - said Rafał Szymański, the Captain. - Young cruise participants practice singing of the Mazurek Dąbrowskiego (Dąbrowski Mazurka - the Polish National Anthem). On Sunday, there is the premiere of our performance of the anthem aboard Dar Młodzieży in Osaka.

- I would like to express my deepest admiration for the wonderful voyage around the world to celebrate the centenary of Poland's independence. I am honoured and pleased that the Dar Młodzieży planned to visit Osaka during this trip. It will be our greatest pleasure to welcome the ship in our port. Osaka residents remember the sailing ship of 1983 and 1997, now they want to show it to their grandchildren and children - said Hiromu Yabuuchi, the general director of the Port of Osaka.

O-HO-HO, LISTS AND LISTS!

Oceans - even the Pacific Ocean - put the participants through it.

- Over the past few days we have struggled with a typhoon, which brought us gusts of wind even at a windforce 12 on the Beaufort scale, so we are past a hurricane and waves of several metres that flowed across the deck - described Michał Domagała. - We also lost a few sails that could not withstand such a strong wind. After the storm, it was time to repair the damage and bring the ship to order before reaching the nearest port.

- The Pacific Ocean turned out to be not so calm - says Patrycja Pietrzak. - After a few days of reduced schedule, we felt the effects of changing weather such as torn sails and we realised that sailing across the ocean is serious business. However, we faced ‘serious business’ in the student and crew mess room. The soup overflowed from right to left, the cups escaped from the tables, and it was hard to keep on the stool or chair. Some people even chose the strategy of eating while lying down, sometimes in an upright position, with their backs resting on… the floor. We crawled on walls, literally!

‘O-ho-ho, lists and lists ...’

Ah, those lists: sometimes they reach up to 30 degrees, and TV sets leave the rails.

‘O-ho-ho, the wave follows the wave ...’

Ah, these waves: they flow over the deck, from one side to the other.

‘O-ho-ho, girls hold on - to the ropes!’

Oh hold on, hold on! And boys, too. Hold on to jacklines. Of course, as soon as they cancel the ban on going out on deck.

‘The wind is so strong, it’s probably windforce eight!’

Oh, may it be eight! It is even ten so sails sometimes can't stand it, but we boldly sail towards America.

One thing is certain. None of the participants of the Cruise of Independence will forget this trip.

SGH Ambassadors during the cruise were: Hela Sałasińska, Jan Rogowski and Wojtek Chamier Ciemiński (Szczecin – Tenerife), Łukasz Chrabański and Karol Radzik (Cape town – Singapore), Cezary Jaroni, Michał Domagała and Mikołaj Kuna (Singapore – Osaka). Patrycja Pietrzak sailed to the United States from Japan via the Pacific Ocean, and Paulina Błaziak completed the last section of the route from Panama, through Miami, Azores and London to Gdynia.

The Cruise of Independence was also a training cruise during which 534 students and high school maritime students gained their maritime professional practice.