From June 6–14, Gdynia transforms into the global sailing capital. Fifty-one teams from 20 countries have arrived to compete for the 470 World Championship title on the challenging waters of Gdańsk Bay.
And tricky is the right word. Gdynia’s racecourse is known for unpredictable weather and gusty winds caused by the steep shoreline – it’s a place where anything can happen.
“We know that on this course, literally anything is possible. You have to stay focused to the finish line,” says Agnieszka Skrzypulec-Szota, Olympic silver medalist in the 470 from the Tokyo Games.
“With Gdynia also hosting the World Championships in 2027, every race here really matters. We’re analyzing everything carefully and hope that all the time we’ve spent on the water will help us qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics,” adds Szymon Wierzbicki, who is crewing with Agnieszka.
After two days of equipment checks, the opening ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 7, at 6:30 PM. A practice race is scheduled for Sunday, and the races will start on Monday, June 9, through Saturday, June 14.
And it’s not just any fleet – the starting line will be packed with top-tier sailors. Spanish duo Jordi Xammar Hernandez and Marta Cardona Alcántara, the reigning 2024 world champions and newly crowned European champions, will be tough to beat.
But they’re not the only medalists. Britain’s Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris, along with France’s Matisse Pacaud and Lucie de Gennes, are also expected to be strong contenders.
Austria’s Olympic gold medalist Lara Vadlau returns to the 470 with her new teammate Niklas Haberle, and Portugal’s Diego Costa and Carolina João, who just missed the podium in Paris, are also among the top entries.
With a lineup like that, world-class racing is guaranteed and Gdynia is the place to be for sailing fans this summer.
Local supporters will have their eyes on the comeback of Olympic silver medalist Agnieszka Skrzypulec-Szota, now racing with her new partner, Szymon Wierzbicki – a 2024 Olympian in the 49er class. Both are new parents and ready to take on the world again.
“This is the biggest 470 event of the year, and for us, it’s all about growth and consistency. The results will come from the work we’re putting in,” says Wierzbicki.
“I’m still figuring out how to balance being a mom and a high-level athlete, but have already had a few months of travel, and I feel like I’m back in the groove. I’m in a good place, doing what I love, and my son is doing well. We’re happy with our progress on the water, and that gives us a lot of motivation for the races ahead,” says Skrzypulec-Szota.
The 470 class made its Olympic debut in 1976 and has been a key part of Olympic sailing ever since. Originally an open class, it was later divided into men’s and women’s events, and since Tokyo 2021, it has become a mixed class. It is confirmed for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, remaining one of the pillars of international sailing.
For Poland, the 470 holds a special place in sailing history – it is the class in which Skrzypulec-Szota and Jolanta Ogar-Hill won silver in Tokyo. Now, Ogar-Hill is coaching her former helm.
Event website: https://2025worlds.470.org/
Photos: Bartosz Modelski