On the last weekend of September in Gdansk took place Polish Olympic class Championships, including the Polish Finn Championship.
The regatta 19 Finn sailors competed from across the Poland, in age category from junior to master. During four days of racing, where the weather was beautiful with winds reaching up to 18 kts, eight races and medal race (only top ten best sailors in regatta) took place.
First place and the title of Polish Champion in the Finn class in 2012, won Piotr Kula (BTZ Biskupiec), the Olympian from the Olympic Games in London 2012, second place went to Tomasz Kośmicki (WKZ Wolsztyn), and third place went to Rafal Szukiel (AKS-OSW Olsztyn), the Olympian from the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008. I finished the regatta in fifth position and I found myself in the overall standings, just behind fellow from my sailing club SEJK Pogon Szczecin – Milosz Wojewski.
Exactly one year ago with the Polish Finn Championships regatta I began my adventure with Finn class, which was designed for the Olympic Games in Helsinki 1952 by Richard Sarby. Poland over the years raised many great Finn sailor, who have won the highest awards of modern sailing.
In the past year in my sport career much has happened. My adventure with Finn started from learning the basic techniques of control and steering of the boat, as well as improvement of my physical preparation. The next step was the development of specific techniques to master navigation, trim, accessories and the use of tactical and strategic activities during the regatta.
Last year I made a lot of efforts to train and develop through participation in a variety of workouts, camps and regattas, as well as searching for founds through which I can pursue my passion of sails.
My sailing can be divided into two areas: on land and on water. Both spheres have to interact with each other, you need to think about all aspects and try to predict what will happen. In sailing, as in life, there are good and bad times, they teach humility, discipline, perseverance, myself, analytical approach to all aspects, and finally result in progress that gives you great joy and strength to continue to the hard work.
In front of me there is still a lot of work that has to be done to match the best sailors. Intensive training and new targets give me the opportunity to actively achieve better results and motivate for further work. Progress made in the last months in upwind sailing techniques gives me great optimism. On the other hand, sailing downwind, so called „Pumping”, requires still a lot of work and commitment, to reach the level of the best sailors.
I am very glad that I had the chance to join the Polish FinnTeam. The last time couple months Finn class in Poland was reactivated and re-grows among juniors and masters sailors. All the help and advice of Polish sailors strengthened my conviction and the will to fight for the highest sailing trophies.
I want to thank very much to my colleagues from the Polish Team Finn: Rafal Szukiel, Jakub Dumara, Milosz Wojewski and Piotr Kula, without their advice, assistance and time spent together sailing, I would not have made such progress.
I wish to extend special thanks to the coaches: Andrzej Piasecki, Tytus Konarzewski, Andy Zawieja, Piotr Szymkowiak, Robert Siluk and Bogumil Gluszkowski, without their knowledge, experience, patience, valuable comments and my progress would not have been so big.