As the New Year sailed off, the Gstaad Yacht Club was toasted with the discrete visit of Mateusz Kusznierewicz an unpretentious World Class sailor, that certainly contributed with his share to the success of the sailing sport at the international level.
Friendship is written in capital letters in the sailing world as much as in the Saanenland. Same has been felt when a few days back, GYC member, Anthony Bannwart, mentioned he was expecting the visit of a friend which also happened to be a Champion.The GYC had just fulfilled, again, the purpose of a Yacht Club; to welcome the sailors and honour the friendship of these men of the seas!
More than two decades ago, the GYC founding members intended to create a unique and global yacht club away from the waters instead of another local yacht club by the waters. This Vision became increasingly more real as time went by, and with that Gstaad made its way into the Swiss sailing scene through the GYC Racing Team, helping our sailors succeed by achieving their career objectives.
Not only that, slowly but steadily the GYC is now an important hub for sailors from around the world, happily harbouring and welcoming them into our safe “port” in the Swiss Alps.
Mateusz Kusznierewicz, holding an extensive palmares, always competed for the highest positions of the sport in the Finn and Star class, the same boat classes in which GYC current and past Racing team members have been competing; Nils Theuninck now in the Finn; Flavio Marazzi from 2000 to 2012 in the Star.
Mateusz conquered his own spot of glory winning important titles as the Gold Medal in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta (USA) in the Finn Class, Gold in 1998 in the Finn World Championships in Athens (GRE), Gold in the 2008 and 2019 editions of the Star World Championships in Miami (USA) and Porto Cervo (ITA) respectively, Gold in the Star European Championship in 2012 among many other.
Mateusz Kusznierewicz was also distinguished with the 1999 World Sailor of the Year award by the International Sailing Federation. His major sport achievements granted him as well other significant awards and recognitions away from the waters.
Nowadays Mateusz is sharing his knowledge and experience with others. He experienced great victories but also big setbacks. Lots of valuable lessons learned. He is mentoring other athletes. Sailors but also professional golfers and talented snowboarder. “Mentoring and coaching is a new very interesting experience and challenge for me. I found myself comfortable with it. I have a natural gift of seeing things others don’t see and being able to picture it when talking to someone” – said Mateusz when visiting Gstaad Yacht Club in January this year. “It also gives me a new perspective for my own sailing in the Star and 5.5 classes” he adds.
The most important project Mateusz is working on now is the Mundial in Sailing. Like the football World Cup, this is the ultimate challenge between sailing nations. The first edition of the SSL Gold Cup will be held in May and June 2022 in Switzerland. National representations from 56 countries will be competing against each other on the one design, 14-meter-long yachts provided by the SSL (Star Sailors League) with headquarters in Grandson. Qualification rounds will be sailed on lake Neuchâtel. Quarterfinals, Semis and the great Final on Lake Léman in Geneva. The SSL Gold Cup will be a great spectacle for the global audience, simple to understand, free to follow online and easy to access thanks to the location of the event village. Everyone will be able to meet sailing legends and the best sailors including Olympic Champions, Americas Cup winners, Volvo Ocean Race heros and many more. The young generation and experienced athletes, men and women will be working together to win the SSL Gold Cup. Mateusz, as SSL Gold Cup General Director, is working in the international SSL management team to deliver events like never before. One can follow the SSL National Teams trainings and preparations for Sailing Mundial by following SSL media in internet.
A sailor such Mateusz Kusznierewicz we know will always be directly connected to the sailing sport and so the GYC wishes him all but good winds. Meanwhile the GYC remain committed in the pursuit of the Vision and ideals of our founding members and working daily to bring them to reality.