Training Tomorrow’s Mariners on Dar Młodzieży
During a cruise-in-company, the Tall Ships Fleet splits up and visits various ports or scenic anchorages en route to the next host port. The ships and crews congregate, relax, and explore these interim ports, making new friends and discovering places many have never even heard of before arriving.
Not all ships join the cruise-in-company; often, the larger military or university vessels take this opportunity for crew training. One such vessel is the Polish ship Dar Młodzieży (“Gift of Youth”), operated by the Gdynia Maritime University. This university has been producing highly qualified maritime officers since 1920. Dar Młodzieży has been their major training vessel since 1982. She is the second-largest ship in this year’s fleet, measuring 109 metres in length and carrying a total crew of 154, of which 122 are cadets.
The cadets on board undertake several voyages during their three-and-a-half-year course. They put into practice all aspects of life at sea: navigation, safety, watchkeeping, and shipkeeping. If they’re lucky, their practical voyage coincides with The Tall Ships Races. Imagine being in the middle of your university course and getting to join a race with other tall ships—then, when in port, going ashore to meet young people from around the world, compete in sports tournaments, attend crew parties, and join in the fun of crew parades.
For these cadets, however, there is also the serious business of earning their degrees and using their time aboard Dar Młodzieży to hone their maritime skills. They spend three and a half years at the Maritime University, of which three months—split into two separate blocks—are spent onboard the ship. The cadets participating in the TSR 2025 are all studying to become deck officers.
Agata is 22 years old and from Gdynia. Her ambition upon graduating is to sail on a gas carrier, although she’s also open to returning to Dar Młodzieży in a professional capacity for a year or two. Agata began her marine journey at around 13 years old, sailing dinghies on a lake. She had heard about The Tall Ships Races from fellow students and was thrilled when she learnt that her practical training would coincide with it. What she enjoys most about the races is the actual racing legs. Her most vivid memory so far is the sail alarm going off in the middle of the night. When this alarm—a very loud bell—sounds, all deck officers, crew, and cadets must be on deck, harnessed up to go aloft or change the sail configuration. She admits to complaining about it, especially when woken from deep sleep, but says it’s a real and unforgettable experience that pushes her out of her comfort zone.
Her family supports her career choice, although her grandmother thinks she’s “absolutely bonkers” for going aloft in all kinds of weather. Her long-term ambition (15 years) is to become a first mate on a commercial vessel.
Agata comments: “Training on Dar Młodzieży during The Tall Ships Races is hard and demanding work. I am grateful that it gives me the opportunity to gather knowledge and experience from the crew and have a wonderful adventure.”
Leonard is 19 years old and from Warsaw. Leo hopes to graduate from university and sail on a chemical tanker, inspired by his father; a chemist, and other family members working in the chemical industry. Despite living in landlocked Warsaw, Leo’s family used to holiday in Gdynia during the summer. One summer, during Operation Sail—a gathering of tall ships—Leo and his family visited the fleet. That visit left a lasting impression, and now he’s well on his way to a maritime career. While Leo enjoys the onshore activities and parties, he prefers the voyages and races. Being part of something bigger and achieving as a team is what he finds most memorable. Initially, he found going aloft challenging. In fact, his mum specifically asked him not to do it, so he avoids mentioning that part of the voyage when he’s home.
Leo’s long-term goal is to become a Chief Officer on a passenger ship.
Leo comments: “Sea training on Dar Młodzieży has taught me how to overcome my fears and improve myself every day. In combination with the opportunity to have fun in many ports abroad and create international connections, it’s a truly memorable experience.”
Karolina is 21 years old and comes from Włocławek (two hours northwest of Warsaw). Her dream job after university is to work on a passenger ship. She began sailing on her family’s boat as a small child, and her family is very supportive of her career choice. Karolina heard about The Tall Ships Races from a friend who is a year ahead at university and was excited to join in 2025. She has thoroughly enjoyed the races and visiting different ports. Her highlights include spending time with crews from different ships, especially those from cultures different from her own. A short visit to Shabab Oman II was particularly enjoyable. Her long-term ambition is to become a captain of a cruise ship or container vessel.
Karolina comments: “Dar Młodzieży is not only a maritime school at sea; it’s also a fully immersive journey that we will remember for the rest of our lives.”
The current captain of Dar Młodzieży is a graduate of the same university. He was appointed after a career commanding various cargo vessels. Both the current First and Second Mates also have careers sailing gas carriers and Roll-On/Roll-Off ferries. They are alumni of the university and former cadets on Dar Młodzieży. They work aboard during their time off from regular jobs because they enjoy tall ship sailing and are passionate about passing on their experience and knowledge to the next generation of Polish seafarers.
