TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW YOU WILL BE MORE DISAPPOINTED BY THE THINGS YOU DIDN’T DO THAN BY THE ONES YOU DID DO. SO THROW OFF THE BOWLINES,

SAIL AWAY FROM THE SAFE HARBOR. CATCH THE TRADE WINDS IN YOUR SAILS. EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER.

MARK TWAIN, AMERICAN WRITER

THEY HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER SINCE THEY WERE KIDS. SAILED TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF MILES. ONE IS PEACEFUL, STRONG MINDED AND FOCUSED ON THE FINISH LINE. HE WILL FIGHT UNTIL THE VERY LAST MOMENT, BECAUSE NOTHING IS SURE UNTIL THE LINE IS CROSSED. THE SECOND ONE IS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, TALKATIVE AND MAN OF ALL TRADES. IF THE FIRST DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT SOMETHING, THE SECOND ONE WILL KNOW IT FOR SURE. IF THE SECOND IN HIS RUSH FORGETS SOMETHING, THE FIRST WILL NOTICE IT DURING HIS METICULOUS CHECKING.

MAGIC WAS THE FIRST PERSON GUTEK USED TO CALL FROM THE SEA IN THE VERY FIRST HOURS OF VENDEE GLOBE OR VELUX 5 OCEANS. „WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE JUICE OPEN? WHERE IS THE TOOTHPASTE?” – THESE ARE ONLY TWO EXAMPLES FROM A LONG LIST. MAGIC WAS NEVER SWITCHING HIS PHONE OFF, AND RESPONDING TO ALL QUESTIONS FROM GUTEK

REGARDING ANY MATTER.

ZBIGNIEW „GUTEK” GUTKOWSKI & MACIEJ „ŚWISTAK” MARCZEWSKI ONBOARD ENERGA – FIRST POLISH CREW IN TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE HISTORY

01„I DON’T KNOW HOW IT IS GOING TO BE THIS TIME, WITH BOTH OF US ONBOARD” – SAYS MAGIC. „ALL THESE QUESTIONS WILL DROP ON ME IN THE VERY FIRST HOURS, BUT THIS TIME DIRECTLY, NOT ON THE PHONE. THIS MAY NOT BE THE EASIEST TIME FOR ME, BUT I WILL SURVIVE” – HE SMILES.

DO THEY HAVE DIFFERENT DUTIES ONBOARD? „I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERY DECISION IS ON ME” – SAYS GUTEK. „I DO THE STRATEGY AND DECIDE ABOUT THE SAILS. BUT HAVING MAGIC ONBOARD MEANS I WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO REST FROM TIME TO TIME. OF COURSE, TWO HEADS IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN ONE, AND TWO MORE HANDS MEANS WE CAN GO FASTER. AND WE’LL SAVE ON TELEPHONE CALLS, BECAUSE I WILL NOT BE CALLING HIM THIS TIME”.

BORN: 24.06.1973 R., GDAŃSK, POLAND

LIVES IN HIS NATIVE CITY. SAILOR SINCE HE WAS 10 YRS OLD. FORMER 470, 49ER, 730 CLASS COMPETITOR. WATCH CAPTAIN IN THE RACE 2000 ONBOARD WARTA-POLPHARMA CAT. SKIPPER OF ORMA 60 BONDUELLE DURING NOKIA OOPS CUP 2005. SAILOR OF THE YEAR 2011 IN POLAND. SINCE 2012 AN AMBASSADOR OF YOUTH SAILING

EDUCATION PROGRAMME ENERGA SAILING.

GUTEK IS THE FIRST POLISH SAILOR WHO TOOK PART IN VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010-11 ROUND THE WORLD RACE. HE FINISHED SECOND, BUT HAD TO FACE SOME HEALTH AND TECHNICAL ISSUES ON HIS WAY. NOW HE IS 183RD PER-SON WHO ROUNDED THE WORLD SOLO (ACCORDING TO

SIR ROBIN KNOX JOHNSTONS’ STATISTICS.)

IN 2012 GUTEK WAS THE FIRST POLE TO START IN THE HARDEST SAILING CHALLENGE EVER – VENDEE GLOBE. UNFORTUNATELY HE HAD TO RETIRE AFTER SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES.

IN JULY 2013 HE TOOK NORTH ATLANCTIC RECORD ATTEMPT (AMBROSE LIGHT – LIZARD POINT).

HIS TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE 2013 PARTICIPATION IS A NEXT STEP IN HIS SAILING CAREER AND A PREPARATION

FOR BARCELONA WORLD RACE NEXT YEAR.

THERE IS A CERTAIN KIND OF PEACE OF MIND YOU CAN SEE IN THE EYES OF A SAILOR. THIS IS A PEACE OF STORMS AND CALMS LIVED THROUGH AND PROBLEMS SOLVED. A PEACE COMING FROM EVERYDAY CONFRONTATION WITH ELEMENTS, AND AN ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES OF THE OCEAN. THIS PEACE IS PART OF GUTEK’S NATURE. BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF HIS CHARACTER IS THAT HE IS A MAN OF RACING AND COMPETITION. „I JUST CAN’T SAIL FOR PURE PLEASURE, EVEN WITH MY FAMIY. I JUST DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO IT” – HE KEEPS SAYING. IT DOES NOT REALLY MATTER IF THE RACE ROUTE COVERS 30 000 MILES THROUGH ALL THE WORLD’S OCEANS OR 3 ROUNDS OF INSHORE ROUND THE BUOYS SAILING, HE ALWAYS AIMS TO BE FIRST. „I CAN’T HANDLE THIS” – HE SAYS. „ANYWAY, IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE IN FRONT, SO YOU CAN CHASE HIM. YOU HAVE A GOAL AND A MOTIVATION IS HUGE” – HE ADDS. „BUT THE POINT IS TO CHASE HIM IN THE VERY LAST MOMENT AND TO COME FIRST ON THE FINISH LINE.”

ZBIGNIEW „GUTEK” GUTKOWSKI

02

BORN: 11.02.1975 R., GDYNIA, POLAND

FORMER OPTIMIST SAILOR, WENT THROUGH CADET, 420 AND 470 CLASSES AS WELL. TOGETHER WITH GUTEK HE WAS SAILING ONBOARD ENERGA ON EVERY CREWED EVENT:LAS PALMAS – GUADELOUPE (CZAS: 9 D 11 H 28 MIN, JANUARY 2013), CARIBBEAN 600 (3RD PLACE, FEBRUARY 2013 R.), 33 ST. MAARTEN HEINEKEN REGATTA (MARCH 2013), MIAMI – NEW YORK (MAY 2013), LIZARD – CHERBOURG – SOPOT (JULY 2013).

MAN IN CHARGE OF PREPARATIONS OF ENERGA IMOCA 60 TO NORTH ATLANTIC RECORD ATTEMPT. (THE RESULT ACHIEVED BY GUTEK IN JULY 2013 IS SECOND BEST IN THE WORLD – 8 DAYS, 18 HRS, 50 MIN).BOAT CAPTAIN OF ENERGA IN VENDÉE GLOBE 2012-2013.

PREPARATEUR OF OPERON RACING (EX. BAGAGES SUPERIOR) FOR VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010-11 REWARDED WITH 2ND PLACE

OF HIS BOAT.

CREW MEMBER AND PREPARATEUR OF ORMA 60 BONDUELLE IN NOKIA OOPS CUP 2005.

HE IS GUTEK’S RIGHT HAND ON THE WATER AND ON SHORE WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGA. AS A CHARACTER HE IS QUITE THE OPPOSITE. HE IS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, ON THE RUN, IN THE CAR, ON THE BOAT, UP THE MAST, WITH ONE HAND ON THE PHONE. THERE IS NO OTHER PERSON THAT KNOWS ENER-GA BETTER THAN HE DOES. IN EVERY SOLO RACE GUTEK WAS TAKING PART, IT WAS ALWAYS MAGIC TO CALL FIRST. HE HAS BEEN AROUND GUTEK SINCE 2005 AS A CREW AND PREPARA-TEUR. THEY HAVE SAILED TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF MILES.IN TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE 2013 WE WILL SEE HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A CO-SKIPPER AND OCEAN RACER. “I DON’T KNOW REALLY HOW IT IS GOING TO BE, AS ALL THESE QUESTIONS GUTEK HAD FOR ME DURING THE FIRST HOURS AFTER EVERY START NOW HE IS GOING TO ASK IN MY FACE, NOT ON THE PHONE” – HE LAUGHS. “THE FIRST 24 HOURS CAN TURN OUT NOT TO BE VERY EASY ONES, BUT I WILL TRY TO SURVIVE” – HE ADDS.

MACIEJ „ŚWISTAK” MARCZEWSKI

ENERGA IMOCA 60, EX. HUGO BOSS IS REGARDED AS ONE OF THE FASTEST IN THE WORLD ON A REACHING COURSE. SHE IS NOT EASY TO HANDLE, BUT DURING THE LAST YEAR GUTEK AND MAGIC SAILED THOUSANDS OF MILES ONBOARD OF HER.

THE REAL TEST OF HER POTENTIAL WAS NORTH ATLANTIC RECORD ATTEMPT THIS YEAR (NEW YORK – LIZARD). IN JULY 2013 GUTEK CAME BEFORE ALEX THOMSON’S TIME, BUT ON THE WAY HE WAS TAKEN OVER BY MARC GUILLEMOT, WHAT MAKES ENERGA SECOND FASTEST BOAT ON THIS ROUTE. “BEING SECOND AFTER MARCO IS NOT A SHAME AT ALL” – TELLS GUTEK. “ANYWAY, WE HAD MOMENTS WHEN I WAS ON THE LEAD AND I KNOW IT’S POSSIBLE, FOR ME AND FOR MY BOAT AS WELL. OUR MAX SPEED WAS 31 KNOTS AND BEST 24HRS RUN 406 NM. IN TJV WE’LL BE SAILING DOUBLE HANDED,

SO I EXPECT SOME SIMILAR READINGS.

ENERGA IMOCA 6003

GENERAL INFO:

BOAT’S NAME: ENERGABUILT/LAUNCHED: 2007PREVIOUS NAME: HUGO BOSSPREVIOUS OWNER: ALEX THOMSON (UK)ARCHITECT: FINOT CONQ DESIGN BUILDER: NEVILLE HUTTONMATERIALS: CARBON / NOMEXLENGTH: 18,28 MWIDTH: 5,94 MDRAFT: 4,50 MDISPLACEMENT: 8500 KGKEEL: CARBON, BULB WEIGHT: 3200 KGBALLAST TANKS: FWD 1470 L, MID 1025 L, AFT 1750 LSTANDING RIGGING: PBO MAST HEIGHT: 28 MSAIL SURFACE UPWIND: 300 M2

SAIL SURFACE DOWNWIND: 550 M2

EQUIPMENT:

MAST: SOUTHERN SPARSSAILS: INCIDENCES SAILSROLERS: KARVERDECK HARDWARE: HARKENPILOTS, GPS, RADAR: B&GCOMMUNICATION: FLEET 77, SAILOR 250COMPUTERS: HPNAUTICAL SOFTWARE: MAX SEA

BOAT’S PRIZE LIST:

2013: SECOND IN THE WORLD ON NORTH ATLANTIC RECORD (AMBROSE LIGHT-LIZ-ARD POINT): 8 DAYS 18 HRS 50 MIN; 3RD IN CARIBBEAN 600; REFERENCE TIME FOR IMOCA ONLAS PALMAS – GUADELOUPE ROUTE

9 DAYS 11 HRS 28 MIN)

2012: VENDÉE GLOBE PARTICIPATION (RETIRED FOR TECHNICAL); BOUGHT BY ZBIGNIEW GUTKOWSKI

2008: SECOND IN BARCELONA WORLD RACE 2007/2008 (CREW: A. THOMPSON/ A. CAPE); 24 HRS RECORD RUN: 501,3 NM, AVERAGE SPEED 20.9 KN (CREW A. THOMSON/ A. CAPE DURING BWR)

2007: SECOND IN ROLEX FASTNET RACE 2007, OWNED BY ALEX THOMSON

THE 11TH EDITION OF TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE IS ALSO THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS RACE. NEW OPENING MEANS ALSO NEW DESTINATION – ITAJAI, BRASIL. IT’S QUITE EASY TO DRAW A LINE ON THE MAP BETWEEN LE HAVRE AND ITAJAI … “THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO COVER THIS PART OF ATLANTIC” – SAYS GUTEK. “HERE WE’LL GET A LOT OF SAILING EMOTIONS, AS IT’S VERY DEMANDING ROUTE. ONE MISTAKE CAN COST A LOT, AND THERE IS NOT TOO MUCH SPACE TO RECOVER LOST MILES”- COMMENTS POLISH SAILOR WHO HAS SAILED THIS PART OF THE

OCEAN MANY TIMES.

RACE ROUTE04

1 - ENGLISH CHANNEL

APART FROM INTENSE SHIPPING TRAFFIC THERE IS ALSO UNDER CONSTANTLY CHANGING WEATHER HERE. LOWS ARE MOVING FAST AND CAN GIVE YOU A BUST FORWARD OR COUPLE DAYS

OF BEATING UPWIND.

2 - BAY OF BISCAY

IT’S REPUTATION IS WORSE THAT THAT OF ENGLISH CHANNEL. SHIPPING IS A BIT LESS INTENSE, BUT IT IS MORE LIKELY TO FACE LARGE AND UNPREDICTABLE WAVES PATTERN. THIS IS THE PLACE TO LEAVE BEHIND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

3 - ATLANTIC

THIS PART OF THE RACE ROUTE IS STRETCHING UP TO THE EQUATOR. THERE ARE NO MANDATORY “GATES” OR MARKS, SO EVERY CREW CAN WORK OUT THEIR OWN STRATEGY. THEY NEED TO CONSULT AZORES HIGH AND TRADE WINDS. HERE IS A LOT OF TACTICS TO BE PLAYED AND WE WILL SURELY SEE DIFFERENT OPTIONS OF GETTING THROUGH. NO OUTSIDE WEATHER ROUTING AVAILABLE.

4 - DOLDRUMS

THIS IS THE AREA THAT REALLY TESTS NERVES AND CHARACTERS. IT HAPPENS THAT THERE IS RAIN COMING FROM EVERY CLOUD TOGETHER WITH HEAVY SQUALLS. AND A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER THE SAILS ARE FLAPPING, AND THE BOAT IS NOT MOVING A KNOT. AND THEN AGAIN COMES RAINY SQUALL, BUT FROM PRECISELY THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THIS CAN BE REPEATED DOZENS OF TIMES IN A DAY. AND YOU HAVE A TROPICAL HEAT, OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE BOAT ON TOP OF THAT. SO THE REAL TRICK HERE IS TO PICK UP THE BEST MOMENT TO CROSS THIS AREA AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AND IN THE MOST FAVOURABLE PLACE.

5 - COAST OF BRAZIL

LEAVING THE DOLDRUMS MEANS CATCHING THE TRADE WINDS TRAIN FOR A WHILE, BUT THE ROUTE LEADS TO THE REGIONS WHERE NO FORECAST IS ACCURATE. SO YOU CAN GET UNDER THE CHARM OF ST HELEN’S HIGH AS WELL AS HAVE LOCAL THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL.

WELCOME TO THE TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE!

SPONSORS & PARTNERS05ENERGA GROUP IS ONE OF FOUR BIGGEST ENERGY GROUPS IN POLAND, WITH A LEADERSHIP POSITION REGARDING RENEWABLE ENERGY FROM COMPANY’S OWN RESOURCES. BASIC ACTIVITY OF ENERGA GROUP IS DISTRIBUTION, PRODUCTION AND TRADING OF ELECTRIC ENERGY. ENERGA PROVIDES ELECTRICITY TO OVER 2,9 MLN CLIENTS, BEING HOUSEHOLDS AND COMPANIES.

ENERGA GROUP IS ALSO PROUD OF RUNNING EDUCATION PROGRAMS, ONE OF THOSE BEING ENERGA SAILING. WITH A HELP OF ENTITLED SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN, WORKING WITH ENERGA SAILING IN THEIR SPORT CAREERS, THIS PROGRAM PROMOTES PASSION FOR SAILING AMONG KIDS. THE PARTICIPATION FOR EVERY KID QUALIFIED IS FREE, AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK FOR EVERY YOUNG PARTICIPANT. IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF POLAND OUR OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS, WORLDS AND EUROPE’S CHAMPIONS ARE SUPPORTING THIS INITIATIVE.THE VERY FIRST STEP AND AN INAUGURATION OF THIS ACTIVITY WAS “GUTEK’S” PARTICIPATION IN VENDEE GLOBE RACE IN 2012. ZBIGNIEW GUTKOWSKI IS A PROUD

AMBASSADOR OF ENERGA SAILING PROGRAMME.

VOLVO CAR CORPORATION IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST BRANDS IN CAR MARKET, HAVING LONG AND PROUD HISTORY OF INNOVATIONS. THE FOUNDERS OF COMPANY BASED IN GÖTEBORG, SWEDEN, WERE GUSTAF LARSON AND ASSAR GABRIELSSON. FIRST CAR, NAMED ÖV4 (JAKOB) LEFT THE PRODUCTION LINE ON APRIL 14TH 1927.VOLVO IS ALSO KNOWN OF NUMEROUS SPORTS INITIATIVES, AS PRESTIGIOUS VOLVO OCEAN RACE. ONE OF VOLVO AMBASSADORS IS ZBIGNIEW GUTKOWSKI, WHO WAS A VOLVO REPRESENTATIVE IN VENDÉE GLOBE, EXTREME SOLO ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE.

HEWLETT-PACKARD IS AN AMERICAN AMERICAN MULTINATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION. THE NEW SOLUTIONS HAVE NOTICEABLE INFLUENCE ON PEOPLE’S LIFE, BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIETY. HP DELIVERS WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS, BEING PRINTING DEVICES, PERSONAL COMPUTERS, SOFTWARE AND NETWORKING PRODUCTS FOR COMPANIES AND INSTITUTIONS HELPING THEM FIND MOST USEFUL SOLUTION FOR THEIR NEEDS.

PARKER POLAND IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED PRODUCER OF RIGID INFLATABLE BOATS WHICH RANGE FROM 5.1  METRES TO 16.0 METRES IN BOTH OPEN AND CABIN VERSION. THE PRODUCTION OF RIGID INFLATABLE BOATS  KNOWN TODAY AS PARKER RIBS STARTED IN 2000.THE COMPANY PARKER POLAND IS A SUBSIDIARY OF AH PARKER & SONS (GB) LTD, FOUNDED IN 1886 AND INCORPORATED IN 1940 AND  ACTIVE IN POLAND SINCE THE  EARLY 1970S.PARKER POLAND  HAS ALREADY  INTRODUCED  FOUR DIFFERENT MODELS ONTO THE  MARKET: THE PARKER 660 PILOTHOUSE & WEEKEND, THE PARKER 800 WEEKEND AND THE PARKER 660 MULTI. THIS YEAR AT THE SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW  AN ALL NEW PARKER 770 WEEKEND WILL BE SHOWN. THE PROPULSION IS PROVIDED BY A YANMAR 145 HP DIESEL ENGINE. 

CITY OF GDANSK THOUSAND-YEAR HISTORY, LOCATION AT THE CROSSROADS OF IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNICATION ROUTES, AN EXTENSIVE PORT AND MERCANTILE TRADITIONS - ALL THIS MAKES GDAŃSK A MEETING PLACE OF MANY CULTURES, NATIONALITIES AND DENOMINATIONS. THE DEFENSIVE AND URBAN COMPLEX AS WELL AS A PORT STARTED TO REALLY FORM IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 10TH CENTURY. JOINING THE LEAGUE OF HANSEATIC CITIES (IN 1361) AND THE FAST DEVELOPMENT OF THE PORT ARE JUST SOME OF THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE STRONG POSITION

OF GDAŃSK IN EUROPE.

THIS PROSPERITY WAS CHECKED BY THE SWEDISH WARS AND PARTITIONS OF POLAND IN THE 18TH CENTURY. THE CITY WAS CUT OFF FROM POLAND AND IN 1793 IT WAS ANNEXEDTO PRUSSIA. IN 1919, THE FREE CITY OF GDAŃSK WAS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES, WHICH BROUGHT THE CITY BACK TO THE ELITE OF EUROPEAN PORTS. ON SEPTEMBER 1ST 1939, AT AROUND 4.30 IN THE MORNING, IT WAS HERE, IN GDAŃSK, THAT THE SECOND WORLD WAR STARTED WITH SHOTS FIRED FROM THE BATTLESHIP SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN. AUGUST 1980 AND THE MARTIAL LAW PERIOD ARE THE SUCCESSIVE DATES SYMBOLIZING THE FIGHT OF THE CITIZENSOF GDAŃSK AGAINST THE PREVAILING COMMUNIST REGIME. IT WAS GDAŃSK THAT BECAME THE CRADLE OF “SOLIDARNOŚĆ” WHICH WAS TO TRANSFORM THE THEN MAP OF EUROPE. HISTORY HAS COME A FULL CIRCLE. CONTEMPORARY GDAŃSK – A DYNAMICALLY DEVELOPING AGGLOMERATION OF HALF A MILLION PEOPLE – IS VIBRANT WITH LIFE.

DAILY INFORMATION REGARDING PREPARATIONS AND OTHER NEWS CAN BE FOUND ON ENERGA SAILING WEBSITE:

WWW.ENERGASAILING.PL.

BOAT TRACKING FOR ALL THE BOATS FROM TJV FLEET WILL BE ALSO AVAILABLE THERE.

FACEBOOK NEWS FEED:www.facebook.com/EnergaSailing

TWITTER:www.twitter.com/EnergaSailing

VIDEO - YOUTUBE :www.youtube.com/user/EnergaSailing

TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE OFFICIAL MEDIA CHANNELS:

www.transat-jacques-vabre.comwww.twitter.com/TransatJV_fr

www.facebook.com/Transat.Jacques.Vabrewww.dailymotion.com/Transatjacquesvabre

ENERGA SAILING IN THE MEDIA -TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE 2013 06

PRESS OFFICER, INTERNATIONAL MEDIA RELATIONS:

MILKA JUNGMILKA.JUNG@GAZETA.PL

M: 00 48 601 245 131