Yacht from the 1980s Returns to the Water. MicroPolo Gains a Second Life at Gdańsk Tech
MicroPolo is a unique yacht designed in the 1980s by Dr. Eng. Jacek Centkowski and Dr. Eng. Jan Młynarczyk. The vessel was never launched and has waited for its opportunity over the years. Thanks to the initiative of the staff and students of the Ship Design Institute at Gdańsk Tech, it underwent a thorough metamorphosis. The launching of the renovated yacht will take place on Tuesday, June 30.
MicroPolo is a unique yacht designed in the 1980s by Dr. Eng. Jacek Centkowski and Dr. Eng. Jan Młynarczyk. The vessel was never launched and has waited for its opportunity over the years. Thanks to the initiative of the staff and students of the Ship Design Institute at Gdańsk Tech, it underwent a thorough metamorphosis. The launching of the renovated yacht will take place on Tuesday, June 30.
[UPDATE]
Due to reasons beyond the organizers' control, the launching of the MicroPolo yacht at the Tamka marina has been cancelled.
The first part of the event remains unchanged, i.e. raising the sails on the MicroPolo yacht in front of building no. 30 at Gdańsk Tech, the seat of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology. The meeting will start at 10:30 AM.
We will announce the new date for the launching in a separate communication.
MicroPolo belongs to the "Micro" class, which includes small racing and cruising yachts, with their basic parameters defined back in 1977. Over the years, these boats have been the first contact with cabin sailing for many sailors. Today, however, they increasingly require repairs, modernization, or end their history as waste.
– What is "Micro"? When we ask such a question to an older colleague who has been sailing for years, we often hear a deep sigh. It's like asking about the "little Fiat," often the first car in life for two generations of Poles. The analogy is striking, and most people remember both designs with sentiment – says Prof. Wojciech Litwin, Director of the Ship Design Institute at Gdańsk Tech.
As Professor Litwin emphasizes, about 20 variants of yachts complying with the regulations of this class have been developed in Poland, and a total of approximately 600 such units may have been produced.
– The "Micro" yachts were intended to reach a wide audience of enthusiasts, and this has happened. Hundreds were built, and they can still be found today, although increasingly rarely. After many years of use and wintering in various conditions, the laminate ages, and some yachts end their life in landfills. This fate has befallen many vessels of this class, but not all – adds Prof. Wojciech Litwin.
The Yacht That Waited in the Garden
In 2024, it was discovered that one of the yacht models designed by Dr. Eng. Jacek Centkowski and Dr. Eng. Jan Młynarczyk, scientists and designers associated with Gdańsk Tech, had been preserved. For years, the vessel remained in the garden of one of its creators – Dr. Eng. Jan Młynarczyk.
Thanks to the initiative of the staff and students of the Shipbuilding Institute at Gdańsk Tech, and with the support of MicroPolo partners, it underwent a thorough transformation. The project aims not only to restore the yacht to use but also to demonstrate that sustainable sailing can also mean rescuing existing vessels.
The undertaking is being carried out as part of the international TeCoNaut project, which aims to promote a more responsible approach to sailing. In the case of MicroPolo, it is not only about modern materials or ecological propulsion systems but also about reusing a yacht that had been forgotten for years.
A Practical Project for Students
MicroPolo also has educational significance. Students enrolled in yacht design and construction at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at Gdańsk Tech have the opportunity to work on the yacht’s refurbishment. This is a chance to gain practical experience on a real vessel – from design work, through interior fitting, to preparing the yacht for launching.
Currently, work is underway on assembling the new interior fit-out of the yacht. The design was developed by Michał Warmiński, a design student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, as part of his bachelor's thesis supervised by Dr. habil. Paweł Gełesz from the Shipbuilding Institute at Gdańsk Tech.
It was assumed that the interior fit-out would be made primarily from simple materials, such as uniaxially processed panels, e.g., marine plywood or other materials, preferably sourced from recycling.
– High-quality education is ensured by a staff that combines scientific work with practical professional and sailing experience. Equally important is the support from entrepreneurs and yacht manufacturers who implement new technologies, accept students for internships, and share their experience with the academic staff – says Prof. Wojciech Litwin.
The Yacht Design and Construction program has been attracting a lot of interest from applicants for years. According to data from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, in 2025 it ranked among the top fifteen most sought-after programs in Poland in terms of the number of applications per available place.
Launching of MicroPolo
The launching of the renovated yacht will take place on Tuesday, June 30. The event will begin at 10:30 AM in front of building no. 30 at Gdańsk Tech, the seat of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology. Afterwards, participants will move to the Tamka marina in Gdańsk, where the assembly and launching of the yacht will take place.
Event program:
10:30 AM – ceremonial raising of the sails on the MicroPolo yacht in front of building no. 30 at Gdańsk Tech, the seat of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology
12:00 PM – departure to the Tamka marina in Gdańsk for the assembly and launching of the unit
During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to see the yacht up close and learn about the history of its renovation.
