All sails lead to Gdynia - bids for ISAF Worlds 2018

by Dan Ibsen on 16 Mar 2014 Gdynia is the sailing capital of Poland. Now it is time to become the sailing capital of the world, by organising the ISAF Worlds 2018. This is the goal for Gdynia as bidding city for this championship with the slogan All sails lead to Gdynia.

Gdynia has together with three other cities, Busan, South Korea, Aarhus in Denmark, The Hague in the Netherlands delivered bids to International Sailing Federation for the ISAF Worlds 2018. And on March 25 and 26 all bidding cities will present their bids to the evaluation committee at the ISAF headoffice in Southhampton.

Gdynia located in Pomerania Region is committed to bidding for and presenting a world-class event plan to host the 2018 ISAF Sailing World Championships - Gdynia.

The potential Polish host organizer has the full support of the Pomerania Region Government as well as the Ministry of Sport and Tourism of Polish Government.

In an understanding of the significance of this event for ISAF, the international sailing community and event hosts, Gdynia 2018 will provide a lasting sporting, economic and social legacy for Poland, Pomerania Region and the city of Gdynia in particular by hosting this high profile championship.

It gives unique opportunity to discover well developed but still unknown sailing areas and to create the bridge towards emerging countries in the neighbourhood.

The Organizing Committee will consist of well experienced members in running races representing Polish Yachting Association, responsible for on the water areas as well as extremely committed shore management representing Gdynia Sport Centre responsible for on shore facilities.

The base for all sailing events will be the marina in Gdynia and its neighbourhood - the largest and most modern marina in Poland. One of its strengths is the location in the city centre. The base for a possible ISAF Worlds 2018 in Gdynia is expected to be a brand new marina in the city.

In 2014 the Polish Yachting Association and the City of Gdynia starts an investment called 'New Marina', which will include constructing new buildings along the yacht harbour. In addition to spaces for sailing clubs there will be also service areas, a shopping centre, restaurants, an apartment hotel and offices. The final investment will be ready in 2017 – in time for the ISAF Worlds 2018.

According to Eurobuilder, a team from the Kwadrat Architectural Studio has won first prize in the competition to select an architectural concept for Nowa Marina in Gdynia (see picture). Four studios entered the competition, which was organised by the Polish Yachting Association (PZ?).

'The construction of a new modern marina, which will serve sailors and the public, is one element in the Polish Yachting Association's plan and it is supported by the city authorities. The project which has been chosen in the competition will be developed in a financial partnership with the Polish Yachting Association and sailing clubs. An SPV company is to be set up in order to do this. The project is expected to cost app. PLN 100 mio. And completion is scheduled for the end of 2017,' said Wies?aw Kaczmarek, the president of the management board of the Polish Yachting Association and a member of the competition jury.

Gdynia creates an excellent area to be running the Championships on behalf of Poland as it has become the countries sailing capital, well known of hosting world and continental sailing events such as ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships, numerous Olympic Classes world and European Championships such as 49er, 470, Laser, Optimist. This year they will among other events organise EUROSAF Youth Sailing European Championships, with the same classes as for the ISAF Youth Worlds.

Gdynia and Poland’s goal is to work on promotion of sailing and continuing innovation in the development, accessibility, participation and value across the world, regardless of race, religion or gender.

Sail-world.com has earlier presented another potential host city from Northern Europe – Aarhus in Denmark.