Dar Młodzieży Sets Sail on Transatlantic Voyage

Immediately before the ship headed to sea, a press conference was 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 representing the Ministry of Infrastructure was Minister Dariusz Klimczak.

The press conference provided an opportunity to present the objectives of the voyage, its importance for the education and training of future maritime professionals, and the role of Dar Młodzieży in the international Sail 250 regatta, organised to mark the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the US Declaration of Independence. Ministers also had an opportunity to tour the ship before the voyage and talk with the students and members of the crew on board.

A speech was given on the occasion by Minister Dariusz Klimczak, who underlined the importance of the voyage for the promotion of Poland and the development of competencies of future maritime personnel. 

We have a significant voyage ahead of us. A voyage that is both educational and promotional, but also diplomatic in nature. This is a voyage that will promote Polish sailing, the Polish blue economy, and Polish abilities. I am pleased, as this provides an excellent opportunity for all students and pupils of maritime schools to test their knowledge and further develop their skills.

A competition is currently being held to choose a name for the new tall ship. Entries close at the end of May. So far, there have been more than 2,800 names submitted. We would like to encourage everyone to take part in this competition.

During his speech, HM The Rector of Gdynia Maritime University, Professor Adam Weintrit, pointed out the educational character of the voyage and its importance in the education of future officers of the merchant fleet.

With certainty, we can say that this will be the last of the great voyages of this ship. We have divided the route into three stages [...] In total, almost 400 cadets and students will take part in the voyage. Preparations for this journey have been ongoing for almost three years. We were invited to embark on this journey back in 2022, when we were invited to visit the American ports of Boston, New York, Norfolk, and Baltimore. 

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.

Addressing those gathered, the Mayor of Gdynia, Aleksandra Kosiorek, highlighted the fact that the voyage of Dar Młodzieży to the USA is taking place at a historic time for Gdynia and its residents – the year in which Gdynia celebrates its 100th anniversary.

The voyage also has a symbolic dimension for our city. This year, we are celebrating the centenary of the founding of the city of Gdynia. In connection with this milestone, the Dar Młodzieży was presented by the City of Gdynia with a sail bearing the logo for the 100th anniversary and the name of our city. [...] As the ship sails under full sail, the city’s centenary logo will be seen around the world. I think this is a significant message and a great joy for Gdynia residents that their city will be promoted around the world.

The last to speak was Captain Dariusz Jellonnek, Director of the Maritime Operations Department. Referring to the remarks of the Mayor of Gdynia, he pointed out to the audience that they would have the opportunity to see Dar Młodzieży leave port under sail in the Bay of Gdańsk:

The Captain has already prepared the sails to be set, so I hope that when the ship leaves port, we will see them hoisted. It will certainly be a remarkable sight. It is very rare for our tall ship to leave port under sail in Gdańsk Bay. 

As the Mayor has said, we have a magnificent sail on the foremast bearing the logo of the centenary of the City of Gdynia, and we are very proud to be able to promote the City of Gdynia around the world, including in the United States. I wish the Captain, the crew and the trainees fair winds and following seas. Good luck!

During the ceremony, Dariusz Klimczak, Minister of Infrastructure, presented the commander of the Dar Młodzieży with a commemorative book for the voyage in remembrance of the start of the expedition and the international significance of the event.

The event follows in the wake of the historic voyage of the Dar Pomorza in 1976 for the USA’s 200th anniversary. Back then, the White Frigate also set sail on 16 April and during the journey took part in races on the route Plymouth – Tenerife – Bermuda – Newport, finishing in leading positions in the classifications. The ship then visited some of the most important American ports, including New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, taking part in the tall ship parade on the Hudson River during celebrations for the 4th of July.

The voyage of the Dar Mlodzieży in 2026 draws on this tradition. The event is not only a training voyage for Gdynia Maritime University students, but also has a promotional character – strengthening Poland’s presence on the international stage and supporting the development of relations as part of the Celebrations of the USA’s 250th anniversary and the Sail 250 international maritime celebrations.

The voyage to the USA began, just like 50 years ago, on 16 April. The return of the Ship to Gdynia is planned for 24 August 2026.

The voyage has been divided into three stages. The first stage begins in Gdynia and will end on 10 May in Cadiz. The crew and trainees on board – students from the GMU Faculty of Marine Engineering and pupils from the Maritime Schools – will stop at the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea on the journey to Spain.

On the second stage of the voyage, on the route from Cadiz through the Bahamas to the USA, 120 first-year students from the Faculty of Navigation will undergo sea training.

The Dar Młodzieży, commanded by Captain Michał Sadowski, together with a 33-person crew and GMU students, will arrive stateside in the second half of June, where they will visit Norfolk, New York, Boston and more.

On July 3, the final stage of the voyage will begin in New York. Here, the first-year Faculty of Navigation students will be replaced by 120 second-year students who, after embarking the ship, will sail to Boston. From Boston, the ship will set off on its return journey to Europe, calling at Ports in Great Britain and Germany, before returning home to Gdynia.

The culmination of the voyage will be the participation of the frigate in the international tall ships parade on July 4th in New York.

During the entire expedition, the Dar Młodzieży will leave in its wake around 12,000 nautical miles.

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 stage of the voyage, and many residents of Gdynia.

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