The 56th edition of the prestigious Voyage of the Year Gala, summarizing the most important achievements of Polish offshore sailing from the past season, was held at the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre. Although the ceremony gathered the sailing community to honor the courage and determination of expedition participants, this year's event went down in history as unusual. The jury decided not to award the Silver Sextant, the event's main prize, which gave the ceremony a unique character focused on collective accomplishments.
No Silver Sextant Awarded
The main prize was not awarded in the 56th edition of the gala, which is a rare occurrence in the event's history.
Location in Gdańsk
The ceremony was organized in the modern interiors of the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre.
Honoring Attitudes
Distinctions were awarded to sailors demonstrating exceptional courage and determination at sea.
Gdańsk once again became the center of Polish offshore sailing thanks to the 56th Voyage of the Year Gala. The event, held at the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre, was a ceremonial summary of sailors' feats on seas and oceans over the past year. This year's edition, despite its long tradition, brought a decision that dominated discussions in the community: for the first time in a long while, no winner of the main prize was selected.
The most important point of the program, and simultaneously the biggest surprise, was the absence of the Silver Sextant. 0 — Silver Sextants awarded in 2025 This decision meant that the attention of participants and observers focused on the remaining distinctions, which primarily emphasized intangible values such as fortitude. Change in award structure: Main prize: Central point of every edition → No laureate in the 56th edition; Criteria: Specific feat of the year → Emphasis on courage and determination Although the gala did not point to a single winner, numerous expeditions were honored for their effort and professionalism in difficult sea conditions.
For over half a century, the Voyage of the Year Gala has been the most important barometer of Polish sailing successes, building the discipline's prestige and documenting the history of maritime expeditions. During the ceremony, it was repeatedly emphasized that sailing is not just a sport, but above all a school of character. 56 — number of this year's gala edition The organization of the event in Gdańsk confirms the city's status as the capital of Polish sailing, and the choice of the theatre as the gala venue gave it a solemn, cultural dimension. 56th edition statistics: Edition: 56, Main prizes: 0, Location: 1 Despite the lack of the main trophy, the sailing community considered the past season successful, pointing to the high quality of the maritime projects undertaken, which, although they did not receive the Sextant, deserved public recognition in the spotlight of the Gdańsk stage.
The event closed another chapter in the history of Polish yachting, yet leaving a certain informational void. Due to the lack of official statements regarding the jury's detailed justifications, this year's gala will be remembered as the edition of strict criteria. However, sailors leaving the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre took away a message about the high standards set for them by the jury, which foreshadows even greater competition for the Silver Sextant in the coming years.