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Velux 5 Oceans - Skipper Profile Zbigniew Gutkowski

by Velux 5 Oceans on 14 Oct 2010
Zbigniew ’Gutek’ Gutkowski Velux 5 Oceans
Velux 5 Oceans - Skipper Profile

Name: Zbigniew Gutkowski

Age: 36

Hometown: Gdansk, Poland

Born: Gdansk, Poland

Class: Eco 60

Boat: Operon Racing

Website: www.polishoceanracing.com.pl

Zbigniew Gutkowski is one of Poland's best known and most experienced sailors with a wealth of offshore and inshore racing. The 36-year-old first honed his talents as a member of the Polish national sailing team, representing his nation in the 470 dinghy class from 1987 to 1995. He also spent several years campaigning state of the art 49er dinghies and was one of the most successful crews in Poland.

In 2000 Zbigniew, known as 'Gutek', turned his hand to offshore sailing and that year he was Watch Captain onboard WARTA-POLPHARMA in The Race, the non-stop race around the world for multihulls. In 2005 he skippered the ORMA 60 Bonduelle in the Nokia Oops Cup. He also attempted to break the monohull record for a non-stop circumnavigation onboard the Volvo 60 Bank BPH (formerly ASSA ABLOY), but damage forced the crew to Cape Town after 9,500 miles.

Gutek on the bow of Operon Racing © Velux 5 Oceans
Gutek on the bow of Operon Racing © Velux 5 Oceans


Gutek hopes to be the first Polish sailor ever to race solo around the world. He has clocked up more than 100,000 nautical miles at sea and will be adding another 30,000 to his tally when he competes in the Eco 60 class in the Velux 5 Oceans.

The yacht

Boat Name: Operon Racing

Operon Racing under way © Velux 5 Oceans
Operon Racing under way © Velux 5 Oceans


Former Names: Bagages Superior, Cafe Legal, Exide Challenger, Cafe Legal, Le Harve 2000, Euroka - Un Univers De Service, Un Univers De Service, UUDS - Republique Dominicaine

Architect: Finot

Year Built & Boat Yard: CDK, 1991

Year Launched: 1991

Length: 18.28m

Beam: 5.8m

Draught: 3.96m

Displacement (weight): 10.95 tonnes

Mast height: unknown

Rigging: carbon

Keel Blade: canting

Upwind sail surface: 221 sq m

Downwind sail surface: 460 sq m

Previous Results: first Vendée Globe 2002/3, second Transat Jacques Vabre 1993, fourth Vendée Globe 1996/7, DNF Transat Jacques Vabre 1997, DNF Vendée Globe 2000/1, ninth Transat Jacques Vabre 2001

Gutek and his shore crew take his yacht, Operon Racing, for testing ahead of the race © Velux 5 Oceans
Gutek and his shore crew take his yacht, Operon Racing, for testing ahead of the race © Velux 5 Oceans

V-DRY-XMaritimo S SeriesZhik - Made for Water

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