“It was Reija who started it all,” smiles Leszek, talking to me from his home in Dublin, Ireland.
The idea of crossing the Atlantic had been brewing in grandfather Leszek’s mind for some time. As a keen cruising sailor, he had purchased a Vancouver 32 in Sweden in 2017. In 2019 he sailed the entirety of the Norwegian coast up to Lofoten and back to Dublin, then during the Covid years he circumnavigated the Faroe Islands and Ireland.
THE CATALYST
But it was granddaughter Reija who intervened. “The original plan was to cross the Atlantic in 2022,” says Leszek. However, fate had other plans. Leszek’s brother fell terminally ill and following his brother sadly passing away, Leszek instead visited his daughter, Sorcha, and granddaughter Reija in New Zealand in early 2023.
“It was during this time in New Zealand, while discussing the aborted voyage, that Reija, then 13, asked me, ‘If you cross the Atlantic later this year, grandad, can I go with you?’” explains Leszek.
“Although I instinctively agreed, I had a difficult time thinking through the choices,” says Leszek. “Would her parents allow it? Was it an acceptable risk, or was it pure recklessness? But the moment I agreed, it was, like, game over. Reija’s determination meant there was no turning back.”
Fourteen-year-old Reija had only recently learned to sail at the New Plymouth Yacht Club, North Island of New Zealand, completing the Learn to Sail programme in the Optimist. It wasn’t a surprise that her parents were initially sceptical of the idea, although they were also very committed to allowing Reija to do what she wanted to do.
“Reija is very determined, strong and feisty,” says mother Sorcha. “And we believe in her. Yes, we had our fears, but we know that family is number one for my Dad Leszek, so we knew he would do everything within his power to make the trip a successful one.”
THE PLANNING PHASE: PREPARATION AND TRUST
Planning for this trip was no small feat. It required not only logistical precision but also a deep level of trust, particularly from Reija’s parents. Leszek reflects, “The trust extended by her mum and dad was immense. It’s rare for a grandparent to take their grandchild on such a voyage. Even the Commodore of the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) had never heard of a similar case.”
Leszek’s primary concerns were ensuring Reija’s safety and engagement. To address these, he realized the need for a balanced crew dynamic. “It was crucial to have someone closer to Reija’s age on board as well, rather than another parent figure. That’s when Marija entered the picture,” Leszek explains. Marija, a keen Croatian rock climber living in Ireland with some sailing experience, was a serendipitous addition to the crew. Her presence provided the necessary peer support for Reija and an intergenerational bridge.
The preparation process was rigorous. Leszek needed to ensure that both Reija and Marija could handle the boat independently and singlehandedly in any situation. “I wanted them to be able to sail the boat on their own, navigate without electronics and respond to any potential emergencies,” Leszek says. This included all the minutia of sailing, from raising the sails to mastering the art of taking bearings of approaching ships to determine whether they would pass in front of or behind them.
Their training continued with three intensive weeks of practice in the Canary Islands, focusing on essential sailing techniques and navigation. “I had them handle everything from tacking and reefing to plotting positions on paper charts with a Portland plotter,” Leszek explains. The emphasis was on building their confidence incrementally to prepare them for the challenging Atlantic passage.
The OCC played a pivotal role in the trip. It changed its rules to allow Reija to become an associate member and modified its Youth Sponsorship Programme (originally only open to 18 to 25-year-olds) to enable her to receive a grant to pay for equipment and travel. After her voyage, the OCC awarded Reija the 2023 Qualifiers Mug, for the most ambitious or arduous voyage by an OCC member.
“Fiona James at the OCC became the most amazing resource and facilitator of our trip,” says Leszek. “With her help, I designed a training program and she gave me a list of safety factors that needed to be mitigated. Basically, my outcome before we set off from the Canaries was to have both crew able to navigate and sail safely, even if all electrics were lost and I wasn’t available.”
All procedures were broken down into lists, detailing every step. For example, raising the main had 21 steps and getting the boat ready for passage had over 40. Every “what if” and “what then” was talked through and practiced.
Leszek’s thorough preparation included building a robust tether system to prevent anyone from falling overboard. “Safety was always our top priority. We had chest-high safety lines and adjustable tethers to ensure we stayed secure,” he explains. Multiple safety redundancies, including two AIS systems and two VHF radios, were also implemented to ensure reliable communication and tracking.
THE VOYAGE: CHALLENGES AND TRIUMPHS
The girls chartplotting and steering is turning out extremely well. They’re plotting the GPS position onto the Atlantic 100 chart each day and working out the correction needed for the course to steer for that day. Sunday starting was 212, corrected for Monday to 208, Tuesday 215 and today’s CTS is 210 – all true. I loved their disbelief that variation could change so quickly.
We’re doing only average speeds as our sailplan at night is unbelievably conservation, last night was triple reefed main with staysail – slowish but zero drama in the gusts for them. Bless the acuity of their eyes, they’re catching even class B boats before they appear on AIS. (Photo/ Leszek Wolnik)
The first leg of the voyage took the trio from the Canary Islands to the Cape Verde islands. The crossing was rough, with four meter (13 feet)-swell seas and 30 knots of wind. “It was a true test of the boat and the crew,” Leszek recounts. Despite the rough conditions, both young women handled the situation with remarkable composure. For instance, when there was a breakdown of the main sheet attachment to the bow, on the first night of the voyage, Reija and Marija stepped up and fixed it. “Because we had prepared for every possible scenario, we were able to fix the problem in about five minutes,” Leszek notes. “It was tough, but the girls loved it. Their excitement and joy were palpable,” Leszek says. The incremental training approach meant they were well-prepared for the extremes, and their enthusiasm rarely wavered.
Leszek credits his “sea-kindly” boat and “working conservatively” as being critical factors in the crossing. Another success factor was the communication on board.
“Reija initiated ‘team meetings’ that proved very successful due to the three of us being of very diverse ages and life experiences,” says Leszek. “These meetings allowed us to remain curious, open and supportive of each other while discussing the things we were grateful for as well as those that were troubling us.”
Onwards from the Cape Verde islands to Guadeloupe and the voyage continued with joyous moments, despite the occasional challenges. One particularly special memory was when they hoved in the middle of the Atlantic for a “midway party” and a refreshing swim. “We were 5,000 meters deep, and it felt like a magical experience—just floating in the middle of the ocean,” Leszek recalls. Another highlight was a poignant moment when they played David Bowie’s “Space Oddity, Ground Control to Major Tom” while scattering Leszek’s brothers’ ashes in the ocean. The tune became a tribute to him and an anthem for the trip. “It was a beautiful, emotional moment, dancing and singing in the middle of the Atlantic,” he says.
The voyage was not without its emotional hurdles for Reija. She missed her friends and family, particularly during Halloween when she felt the pangs of homesickness. Leszek acknowledges, “It was tough for her at times. Being away from home for three months is a significant challenge for a teenager. It’s probably the equivalent of a year of an adult life!”
A LASTING LEGACY
After 20 days at sea, Reija spotted (of course she did!) land. Leszek’s reaction to the whole voyage was overwhelmingly positive, saying, “Reija handled the voyage exceptionally well, even during the tough moments.” As for Leszek, the experience deepened their bond and created lasting memories. “We were both physically, emotionally and mentally close. It was a profound experience for us both.”
Looking ahead, Leszek hopes to continue his adventures. “While my future plans depend on my health, I aim to continue sailing in the Atlantic and hopefully venture into the Pacific in the coming years,” he shares. “Reija is adamant about crossing the Pacific. She’s got her whole family into sailing now, and she’s just picked up the Women Sailor of the Year award from New Plymouth Yacht Club, home of the Solo Tasman Race.”
Far from being reckless, this journey was one showing the power of preparation, the strength of familial bonds, unwavering determination and the sheer joy of adventure. It was not just about crossing an ocean; it was about crossing into a new realm of shared experiences and unforgettable moments.
