Our doctoral student sails around Great Britain and Ireland

The Royal Ocean Racing Club Round Britain and Ireland Race is a sailing race around Great Britain and Ireland. Although Maciej had previously competed in events including the GARMIN Round Denmark Race and the Rolex Fastnet Race, this was the longest race he had ever entered.

The event was sailed double-handed, with a crew of two. Maciej raced with Jakub Szymański, his sailing partner and mentor. For more than a fortnight, they shared the helming duties, monitored forecasts, planned the successive legs of the route and made decisions about how to continue the race.

During the race, the crew encountered almost every conceivable condition. At times there was virtually no wind, while at others it reached force 7 on the Beaufort scale. The route crossed waters with very different characteristics: in some areas the greatest challenge was strong currents, while in others it was the ocean swell. Each successive leg therefore required not only good seamanship, but also careful planning and rapid decision-making.

"I was surprised by how well you can adapt to conditions on board. For most of the time, we managed to maintain a very good, regular routine, with proper meals, rest and, most importantly, the chance to get even a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. Before the start, I thought that after more than a fortnight at sea, fatigue would be a much greater problem than it actually proved to be," says Maciej.

According to our doctoral student, daily life aboard the yacht during the race was essentially organised around watches. Maciej and Jakub tried to relieve one another every two to three hours, while arranging one longer sleep break for each of them whenever possible. This meant that when conditions became more difficult or an important decision had to be made, they were sufficiently rested and able to act efficiently.

Pictured: Maciej Lato and Jakub Szymański

The greatest difficulties they faced were the lack of wind and fatigue during night watches. At times, the yacht remained virtually stationary for long periods and the crew had to fight for every additional mile. The east coast of Great Britain, dotted with gas platforms and wind farms, also demanded intense concentration, with heavy shipping traffic presenting an additional challenge. Especially at night, they had to monitor their surroundings carefully and make decisions quickly.

"The greatest reward was, above all, the satisfaction of finishing the race, but also the nature that surrounded us throughout: from dolphins and seabirds to beautiful skies filled with clearly visible constellations and shooting stars. One of the most unforgettable sights was the long Atlantic swell glowing in the darkness because of bioluminescent plankton. It is a sight that is difficult to experience anywhere else," he concludes.

Maciej Lato and Jakub Szymański covered 2,168 nautical miles in 14 days, 20 hours and 17 minutes