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Gdynia Train Station
The Polish rail network is coming in for some much needed investment after years of neglect. While track improvements are ongoing (and delay inducing), there is now a massive station modernization program underway which will see 40 stations either modernized or rebuilt at a cost of 980 million złoty over 5 years.... -
Sea Towers
At In Your Pocket we love Gdynia, but most certainly not for the way it looks. With its dull grey buildings and concrete boulevards the city has all the aesthetic pleasure of a wet Wednesday in Birmingham.... -
Gdynia beaches
Choose from two beaches one which can be found in the city centre and the other along the coast by the pier at Gdynia Orłowo.... -
Gdynia - The Tri-city's youngest member
Poland as a defined nation had existed in various shapes and sizes from the year 966, its composition being altered over the centuries by wars and alliances before the Prussians, Russians and Austrians succeeded in removing it entirely from the map in 1795 with the 3rd partition.... -
Disaster at Sea
The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff on January 30, 1945 rates as one of the worst maritime disasters in history.... -
Babie Doły
Gags about Japanese soldiers still fighting WWII in the jungles of Asia are ten-a-penny. But what about the Germans? You never know your luck, snoop around the concrete bunkers found by the coastline and you may be in for the surprise of your life....
The Tall Ship Race 2009
Party till dawn and live out your pirate dreams of yesteryear. The annual Tall Ships Race kicks off in Gdynia this July, promising to be one of the largest events to hit Poland this summer.
First held in 1956, the Tall Ships Race takes place each summer with around 70-100 vessels representing anything from 15 to 20 countries.
That’s 5-6,000 sailors from over thirty countries, and there’s a high probability you’ll be running into to them if you visit Gdynia between July 2nd and July 5th.
It’s the fourth time Gdynia has been chosen as a host city (previous years being 1974, 1992 and 2003), and the proposed route will take the vessels from Gdynia to St. Petersburg and Turku, before concluding in Gdynia’s twin town of Klaipeda.
Facts and figures first:
Tthe race is open to any monohull boat with a waterline length of 9.14 metres or more; if you’re thinking of entering the raft you made with the lads then think again, all vessels must meet Sail Training International’s stringent safety requirements.
On top of that, at least half of the crew must be aged between fifteen and twenty five. Fans will see wind-powered vessels of every shape and size converge on Gdynia, and a preview of the entrants suggests most eyes will be flirting with the big guns. Pride of place will no doubt go to the Russian Sedov, a four-masted barque which we’re promised is the largest training tall ship in the world.
But behold, there’s more. Also making an appearance will be the German Alexander von Humboldt, an impressive boat distinguishable by its green sails, and the Russian Shtandart – a replica of a 1703 frigate built on the behest of Peter the Great. It’s the Danish Georg Stage which is considered the most eye-catching of participants, though it’s the Gdynia born boats Dar Młodzieży (a white frigate, if you didn’t know) and Pogoria that you’ll find most locals backing. Yet the gathering of the world’s finest sailing vessels isn’t the only reason to swing by.
While the competitive element cannot be questioned the Tall Ships Race also celebrates youth and, more importantly, fun. Parades, concerts, fireworks and other shenanigans all play a part in proceedings, and better still observers are also allowed the privilege of clambering up a gangplank and observing many of the boats from a close-up prospective. A Kashubian folk fair has also made its way into the program, as have late night discos, seas shanty nights in Contrast bar, and a performance by Polski pop heroes Bajm – that’s on Saturday July 4th.
The official opening ceremony is penned for 2pm on July 2nd, with the main stage located at Poludniowe pier, and don’t miss the final sail by on Sunday July 5th at 1pm. The museum boat Dar Pomorza, celebrating her centenary, will take part in this finale as a guest of honour.It promises to be impressive, but to make the event truly memorable then consider putting on a pirate accent and becoming a crew member.
Yes, that really is possible.
No qualifications are needed other than an enthusiasm to learn, and possibly an affinity with the sea. For details contact Ms Aneta Religo at a.religo@gosirgdynia.pl.
For the full story on the race, schedules, history and other priceless pieces of eight then check out their rather natty English-language interweb page at zagle.miasto.gdynia.pl.
First held in 1956, the Tall Ships Race takes place each summer with around 70-100 vessels representing anything from 15 to 20 countries.
That’s 5-6,000 sailors from over thirty countries, and there’s a high probability you’ll be running into to them if you visit Gdynia between July 2nd and July 5th.
It’s the fourth time Gdynia has been chosen as a host city (previous years being 1974, 1992 and 2003), and the proposed route will take the vessels from Gdynia to St. Petersburg and Turku, before concluding in Gdynia’s twin town of Klaipeda.
Facts and figures first:
Tthe race is open to any monohull boat with a waterline length of 9.14 metres or more; if you’re thinking of entering the raft you made with the lads then think again, all vessels must meet Sail Training International’s stringent safety requirements.
On top of that, at least half of the crew must be aged between fifteen and twenty five. Fans will see wind-powered vessels of every shape and size converge on Gdynia, and a preview of the entrants suggests most eyes will be flirting with the big guns. Pride of place will no doubt go to the Russian Sedov, a four-masted barque which we’re promised is the largest training tall ship in the world.
But behold, there’s more. Also making an appearance will be the German Alexander von Humboldt, an impressive boat distinguishable by its green sails, and the Russian Shtandart – a replica of a 1703 frigate built on the behest of Peter the Great. It’s the Danish Georg Stage which is considered the most eye-catching of participants, though it’s the Gdynia born boats Dar Młodzieży (a white frigate, if you didn’t know) and Pogoria that you’ll find most locals backing. Yet the gathering of the world’s finest sailing vessels isn’t the only reason to swing by.
While the competitive element cannot be questioned the Tall Ships Race also celebrates youth and, more importantly, fun. Parades, concerts, fireworks and other shenanigans all play a part in proceedings, and better still observers are also allowed the privilege of clambering up a gangplank and observing many of the boats from a close-up prospective. A Kashubian folk fair has also made its way into the program, as have late night discos, seas shanty nights in Contrast bar, and a performance by Polski pop heroes Bajm – that’s on Saturday July 4th.
The official opening ceremony is penned for 2pm on July 2nd, with the main stage located at Poludniowe pier, and don’t miss the final sail by on Sunday July 5th at 1pm. The museum boat Dar Pomorza, celebrating her centenary, will take part in this finale as a guest of honour.It promises to be impressive, but to make the event truly memorable then consider putting on a pirate accent and becoming a crew member.
Yes, that really is possible.
No qualifications are needed other than an enthusiasm to learn, and possibly an affinity with the sea. For details contact Ms Aneta Religo at a.religo@gosirgdynia.pl.
For the full story on the race, schedules, history and other priceless pieces of eight then check out their rather natty English-language interweb page at zagle.miasto.gdynia.pl.