Zygfryd Perlicki

Zyga Perlicki started sailing in 1945 in the II Marine Scouting Team at the Harcers Marine Center in Gdynia. In the same year he won the degree of sailor, and a year later the yacht helm. In 1947, after the liquidation of the HOM, he joined the Skydiving Club, where he obtained a maritime patrol a year later. After the liquidation of the club in 1951, he was a member of the Gdynia Seamen’s Sea League Marine Club. In 1952 he joined the Yacht Club Stal Gdynia, connected with Gdynia Shipyard.

Perlicki was a seven-time Polish Champion in the Star Class (1960-66) and twice won the Polish Naval Sailing Championship. He competed at the 1972 Olympics in the Soling Class and also sailed in the first Whitbread Round the World Race, held in 1973-74, racing aboard the Copernicus. In 1977 and 1979 Perlicki raced in the Admiral’s Cup on the yachts Hajduk and Hadar, respectively.

Perlicki worked at the Gdynia Shipyard from 1952-81, but was then dismissed for his work with Solidarnosc, and was unable to find work. He then sailed a yacht from Ibiza across the Atlantic. In 1987 he was back at the Gdynia Shipyard and became manager of the Maritime Training Center of the PZŻ at YKP Gdynia, with the approval of the Polish Sailing Association to switch from YK Stal to the Yacht Club of Gdynia. Perlicki retired in 1993.

He was given numerous honors, among them the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland. Perlicki was honored as a Pomeranian Navigator on the 50th anniversary of the Pomeranian Naval Union. He was made an honorary member of the Polish Sailing Association and they gave him the Honorary Medal of Meritorious Polish Sailing.