Sail consciously. ECOMARINAS at LOTTO Gdynia Sailing Days 2026
How can we sail while minimising our impact on the Baltic Sea? What should we do with wastewater from boats? Why is it important to reduce noise on the water, and how can we use marinas responsibly? These were some of the topics we discussed this summer in Gdynia, Poland during LOTTO Gdynia Sailing Days 2026, where Fundacja MARE ran the ECOMARINAS educational stand twice – on 27–28 June and 25–26 July.
This year’s 27th edition of LOTTO Gdynia Sailing Days was exceptional in scale. The festival lasted six weeks – from 20 June to 31 July – and was one of the highlights of Gdynia’s centenary celebrations. More than 1,100 sailors from 50 countries competed on the waters of the Gulf of Gdańsk, representing 22 racing and amateur sailing classes. The programme included European and World Championships, Olympic-class regattas and numerous events for residents and visitors.
Alongside the sporting excitement, there was also an educational, environmental and family programme. And this is where ECOMARINAS came in.
ECOMARINAS at the heart of the sailing event
Over two weekends, our stand became a place where visitors could not only talk about protecting the Baltic Sea, but also… play.
Visitors could take part in ECOMARINAS educational games and quizzes, testing their knowledge of the Baltic Sea, responsible sailing and good practices in marinas. They could spin the quiz wheel and answer questions on topics including wastewater from boats, waste, noise, saving water and protecting marine ecosystems. A large memory game laid out directly on the sand encouraged people to learn through play.
There were also activities for our youngest visitors. Photos of Baltic Sea animals helped children discover the species living in our sea and inspired them to create their own drawings.
We first met visitors to LOTTO Gdynia Sailing Days on 27 and 28 June. A month later, on 25 and 26 July, Fundacja MARE returned with the ECOMARINAS stand, continuing conversations about more sustainable sailing and solutions that can help reduce the environmental impact of marinas and their users.
The choices we make while sailing matter
Another important element of the stand was a series of ECOMARINAS educational posters created by Polish illustrator, graphic designer and muralist Aleks Skrok. Through humorous illustrations, they show how the everyday behaviour of sailors and marina users can affect the sea, while highlighting simple rules that can help reduce that impact.
Wastewater discharged into the sea, hazardous substances, excessive noise and improper waste disposal – each of these topics became a starting point for conversations about how even seemingly small decisions made on the water can make a difference to the health of the Baltic Sea.
Visitors could also discover the Code of Conduct for Sea People – seven principles based on respect for water, taking responsibility for our own environmental impact and making conscious choices.
The posters caught people’s attention from a distance, but their most important role was to encourage visitors to stop for a moment, ask questions and reflect on their own habits.
More than just a stand
ECOMARINAS’ presence at the event was not limited to activities at the stand. Throughout the six weeks of LOTTO Gdynia Sailing Days, visitors could also see “Traces on the Water”, a photographic exhibition by Karol Tomaszewski.
The photographs were taken during a voyage aboard the sailing ship “Generał Zaruski” as part of the ECOMARINAS project. The exhibition tells a story about one of the project’s key themes – humility before the sea and the impact people have on its future.
The photographs show the sea from the perspective of people who have a close connection with it, while also reminding us that using this shared space always comes with responsibility. In this way, the exhibition becomes a starting point for conversations about protecting marine ecosystems, making conscious choices and sailing more sustainably.
Wherever there are sailors, we talk about the Baltic Sea
LOTTO Gdynia Sailing Days is about much more than sporting competition. The event combines regattas with a programme for residents, visitors and families, creating space for education and conversations about the sea as well.
For ECOMARINAS, above all, it was an opportunity to meet people who use the Baltic Sea and marinas every day – from experienced sailors to those just beginning their adventure on the water. Because more sustainable sailing starts not only with new technologies and appropriate infrastructure, but also with knowledge and the conscious choices each of us makes.
The ECOMARINAS project, co-funded by the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021–2027, brings together eight organisations from Poland, Germany, Lithuania and Sweden. Together, they are working on solutions that help reduce the environmental impact of marinas and sailing, while raising awareness among people who use and enjoy the Baltic Sea.
Thank you to everyone who visited our stand during both LOTTO Gdynia Sailing Days weekends, took on the quiz questions, played the memory game, explored the posters and found a moment to talk with us about how we can all take better care of the Baltic Sea. See you at the next ECOMARINAS events!
