Dar Młodzieży’s Transatlantic Voyage to the USA

 2026

16 April

The Dar Młodzieży set sail on a transatlantic voyage on 16 April 2026. Gdynia Maritime University's sail training ship will take part  in Sail 250 – maritime celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. At approximately 14:00, Gdynia Maritime University’s sail training ship put out to sea from its home port in Gdynia, setting a heading for the Isle of Man. 

The departure of the Dar Młodzieży was preceded by a press conference held on board with the participation of Gdynia Maritime University leaders and representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure. The University was represented by HM The Rector, Professor Adam Weintrit, and the Director of the Maritime Operations Department, Captain Dariusz Jellonek. Giving a speech on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure was Minister Dariusz Klimczak. The City of Gdynia was represented by Mayor Aleksandra Kosiorek.

In bidding farewell to the ship, GMU Rector Professor Adam Weintrit spoke of the GMU students and secondary school pupils on board:

I hope the voyage will prove to be a proper test for these young people. For the majority of them, it will be the first voyage of their lives. Therefore, it will be an opportunity to discover whether the choice they made a year or two years ago was the right decision.

During the 131-day expedition, the Dar Młodzieży will leave in its wake around 12,000 nautical miles. The ship is captained by Captain Michał Sadowski.

The Dar Młodzieży was waved off from the quay in Gdynia by University leaders, national and local government officials, representatives of the maritime community, the families of students and pupils taking part in the first leg of the voyage, and many Gdynia residents.

The ship is scheduled to reach the US in the second half of June and will take part in the global gathering of tall ships on 4 July in New York.

       

 

20 April

The Dar Mlodzieży rounds the ‘Horn of Europe’

First Officer Tomasz Maracewicz wrote:

Today at 13:45 UTC, the Dar Młodzieży, under the command of Captain Michał Sadowski, sailing under sails, rounded the Pentland Firth – the body of water between the Orkney Isles and the coast of Scotland.

The ship made a similar passage under the command of Captain Leszek Wiktorowicz during its historic circumnavigation of the globe from 1987 to 1988. The passage through the Pentland Firth is one of the most difficult to navigate on account of the strong tidal currents, which often exceed 10 knots.

The strait has instilled fear in sailors for centuries. Here, the waters of the Atlantic and the North Sea meet, creating chaotic currents, whirlpools and short, steep seas. In the age of sail, the passage often had to be planned down to the minute – it was essential to catch the tidal window exactly.

To this day, navigating the Pentland Firth is regarded as one of the most demanding passages in Europe. Photos: Michał Sadowski

       

 

24 April

Gdynia Maritime University's sail training ship dropped anchor in the port of Douglas on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea – the first stop for the Dar Młodzieży on its transatlantic route. The ship has already covered 1200 nautical miles since it departed from its home port just over a week ago.

During the weekend of 25-26 April, spent in port, the Dar Młodzieży was open to the public for visits. Visits to the ship were made by the Consul of the Republic of Poland, the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, Poland's Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization - IMO, and diplomats from various countries visiting the Isle of Man. The ship was also visited by the local media and members of the Polish diaspora.

On 27 April, the white frigate weighed anchor and headed south towards its next port of call – Cadiz, Spain. The ship will navigate the Bay of Biscay under sail.

Photos 1,4: Facebook / Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London; Photos 2,3: Piotr Kwieciński; Photo 5 Karolina Marek
 

              

 

28 April

On 28 April at 09:47 hours, the Captain of the Dar Młodzieży, Michał Sadowski, gave an update on the ship’s progress:

The Dar Młodzieży is making her way across the Irish Sea under sail towards the Bay of Biscay. We are enjoying beautiful, sunny weather, with the wind from astern, and at times our speed reaches 11 knots. 

Daily work continues on board — there’s the sound of hammers as maintenance work is underway, and preparations are being made for the weekly Captain’s inspection, which was postponed due to the ship’s stay in port.

We are scheduled to arrive in Cádiz on 8 May, and are hoping for favourable conditions and further valuable experience for our trainees.

Photo 1: Adrian Cowin; Photos 2-3: Michał Sadowski; Photos 4-5: Adrian Dopke

       

 

8 May

On 8 May, the Captain of the Dar Młodzieży, Michał Sadowski, provided the following update:

This morning, at 10:15 hours, we docked in the port of Cádiz. We have a few intensive days of preparation ahead of us. Today we will we will take on fuel and load deliveries of supplies.

Tomorrow we will welcome on board the ship port representatives, local government spokespersons, and the Polish Chargé d'affaires in Spain.

The most challenging day will be Sunday: the changeover of trainees and the start of intensive basic training necessary for the ship to continue its journey under sail.

Photos: Michał Sadowski

       

         

 

12 May

The Dar Młodzieży has left Cádiz and entered the Atlantic. The Commanding Officer of the sail training ship, Captain Michał Sadowski, wrote of the ocean-going nature of this stage of the voyage:

It is on a passage such as this that the essence of sail training is most clearly seen.

Conditions at sea remain very good. The ship is maintaining a speed of between 7 and 9 knots, while the increasingly high temperatures are conducive to activity on board. 

The crew and trainees are carrying out their daily duties in line with the schedule. Both training and maintenance work connected with the operation of the sail training ship are on-going

Photos: Michał Sadowski

       

 

18 May

The Dar Młodzieży is crossing the waters of the Atlantic. At 08:30 local time, the sail training ship was located exactly between the Canary Islands and Cape Verde – around 360 nautical miles from both archipelagos. During the night, the vessel crossed the Tropic of Cancer.

Before reaching its destination, the vessel will cross a further five time zones. The Dar Młodzieży is expected to arrive in the port of Nassau in the Bahamas on 8 June.

Photos: 1-2 Michał Sadowski; 3-4 Adrian Dopke; 5-10; Piotr Kołakowski

        

         

 

24 May

For the first time in the University’s history, GMU Sports Day was also held on board the training sailing ship Dar Młodzieży, sailing in the waters of the Atlantic.

Photos: Michał Sadowski

     

 

26 May

Students of the Faculty of Navigation currently training aboard the Dar Młodzieży sent Mother’s Day wishes to their mothers directly from sea.