A triple victory in tug-of-war for Poland

A significant part of the Tall Ships Races, in addition to sailing, includes competitions between the ships’ crews. In each port, Crew Games are organized, where young sailors and ship staff form teams and compete against each other. The events vary by port. In Helsinki, the traditional seafaring sport of tug-of-war was the chosen event. The tournament was decisively won by the team from the Polish ship Dar Mlodziezy. The next two places also went to crews from Polish ships, with Fryderyk Chopin taking second place and Pogoria fighting their way to third.

The Dar Mlodziezy team celebrated their own and other Polish successes. In the final match, the victory was achieved in an overwhelming manner.

“At first, we were a bit tired, but then it started to go better,” the winners said.

Triple victory in tug-of-war for Poland

A significant part of the Crew Games is participation and friendly competition. Among the participants in the Helsinki event was 19-year-old Oskari, a crew member from the traditional sailing ship Valborg, who donned a humorous Santa Claus costume. Oskari first experienced Valborg at just two weeks old and has taken part in many youth sailing events. The other members of the Finnish-Lithuanian team wore colorful animal costumes. Their primary goal was to enjoy themselves and maintain a good spirit.

“Fun costumes and shared enjoyment are Valborg’s tradition, fostering good camaraderie on the ship,” Oskari summarizes.

Organized by the Voimalajiliitto

The competitions were organized by the Finnish Power Sports Federation. According to the federation’s chairman, Jyrki Rantanen, the Tall Ships Races are an excellent way to introduce the federation and its sports, such as strongman competitions, grip strength, and pole dancing, to a broader audience. The federation organized the Finnish Tug-of-War Championships in 2019, but these were put on hold due to the pandemic. Now, they plan to revive them.

An important part of the federation’s work is its anti-doping program, aiming to eradicate doping from power sports.

“We inform athletes and their coaches about the dangers of doping and promote clean sports. Our activities are under the supervision of the Finnish Anti-Doping Agency (SUEK) domestically, and the federation also conducts international doping tests for its athletes,” Jyrki Rantanen explains.

Prize Giving Ceremony

The tug-of-war awards will be presented at the Tall Ships Races Prize Giving Ceremony on Friday at 5 PM in Lasipalatsi Square.

Photos: Juha Hautakangas