Was Janusz Zbierajewski more than just a name? He was a legend. Janusz Zbierajewski, born in 1942, was a jachtowy kapitan żeglugi wielkiej. That means “yacht captain of great navigation”. He wasn’t just any sailor. He was a master of the seas.
Janusz Zbierajewski sailed over 500,000 nautical miles. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean more than 20 times under sail. He was a captain on the Zawisza Czarny. This was part of the “See the Sea” project.
Zbierajewski’s life took an interesting turn. He studied journalism and became known for his humor. But he left journalism. He wanted to pursue his passion. He wanted to get paid for what he loved. So, he turned his hobby into his profession: sailing.
He quickly rose through the ranks. In just seven and a half years, he went from a yacht helmsman to a yacht captain. He gained the title of jachtowy kapitan żeglugi wielkiej in 1977.
In 1978, Zbierajewski became the captain of the Zawisza Czarny. During a voyage to Cuba, he met his future wife, Władysława. She was an architect and an officer on the ship. They married two years later.
He captained the Pogoria and sailed on many other vessels. These included the Zew Morza and Kapitan Głowacki. Zbierajewski even led parts of the Zawisza Czarny’s journey around the world.
Zbierajewski was the first to receive the Leszek Wiktorowicz Award. He agreed to lead 20 voyages for blind and visually impaired people. These voyages were under the banner “See the Sea”. Half the crew were blind.
He was a teacher and mentor. Zbierajewski authored “Practical Astronavigation”. He jokingly called it “Celestial navigation step by step for complete idiots including you”.
Zbierajewski’s skills as a journalist stayed with him. He reviewed books and corrected texts. He humorously wrote about his life. He focused on his sailing experiences.
In 2020, he created the website “Yacht Accidents”. It collected maritime court decisions and reports on yacht accidents. He helped organize the JachtFilm Sailing Film Festival.
People remember Janusz Zbierajewski as a great storyteller with a fantastic sense of humor. He simplified complex topics. He created the three-point “Zbierajewski Regulations” for sailing trips: Be safe. Be nice. End of regulations.
Janusz Zbierajewski received many awards. These included the Bronze Cross of Merit and the Silver Badge of Honor. He also won the “World of Sails” award.
Janusz Zbierajewski passed away in Warsaw in 2022. He was a month past his 80th birthday. His legacy lives on in the sailors he trained. His spirit continues in the stories of the sea. Janusz Zbierajewski remains a symbol of passion, humor, and dedication to the maritime world.