25th of February The weather here is just amazing... Wind speed differs from 0 to 50 knots, its direction changes by 180 degrees, and all that is possible within a few hours. I was woken up at 8 today. Riggers brought tools in order to repair my rigging. It is fixed now:) The fog is terrible, you can’t see the tip of your nose (or you have an upturned nose). My Chilean friend, whom I have mentioned before (he lost his mast near Réunion), sailed in to a port  near Cape Town. He stays in a different marina, but he is healthy and safe. I was very happy for this meeting – I sent him straight away to climb the mast (twice!) and he helped me to fix the self-steering gear.

21st of February I was invited to a friend’s birthday yesterday. There is no better way to learn about cultures than to party with natives – the food was delicious and everybody danced no matter whether they were 5 or 90 years old. Ach, the “locals“ do have that “dancing” thing... They even played Basia Trzetrzelewska at the end of the party – Basia, you are great!!! I won’t sail out until March, the 5th (provided it is not Friday:) ) I have to stay here for a while. I’m not telling you why, though. I will do it next time :) NashaChata is sailing out today. I gave them some vitamins and warming ointment – after all, they are going to colder waters... I was also visited by a couple of Poles – the alternator fixed. PS.  s/y NashaChata crew sailed out at 50 knots in port. Tough guys, to be honest I considered running away from the pier when I was throwing their mooring lines back. We all keep fingers crossed! (

20 February Good that I took my outboard motor from repair, but it’s a pity that it went in the car to Hout Bay (my memory is good, but short). Loose hinges of my cooker are fixed, rust disappeared from the yacht, the front window got sealed and it’s not going to leak anymore; pulley teflon mats are being prepared, the railing will be done on Monday... Yesterday, I had guests in the yacht club – mostly members of the local Polish community, but there were some Canadians, too. It was very nice. We grilled, Joanna from Cracow showed us her paintings. After going back to the yacht I found a box of fruit. The tiny parcel I got is to be opened on Easter... I hope I will not have little chickens running around Tanasza before that:)

Cape Town 19 February, 2009 I don’t remember the exact words, but Joseph Conrad wrote something about ports, that they are useless, and that ships do nothing but go to ruin there. God, I agree with him on that! They become so sad, it’s so unnatural when they struggle with the mooring lines. They look as if they were dreaming about the open sea...   Anyway, the bottom is already clean, I have brand new zinc, the battery indicator works as well (thanks to the crew of Nashachata!), but unfortunately one of my loudspeakers has died, and the alternator will have to get “cured” tomorrow.  Oh, well, I cannot omit the famous white duct tape. A miracle, isn’t it? When I was walking to my yacht, there was a seal swimming by the pier, it was so close to me! These seals are really charming!

18 February Windy again. And it started just when I was about to unfold a sail in order to fix it and measure two missing battens. And the wind is strong here, I’m telling you! Yesterday I ate tripe, can you imagine that? Just like Mom’s. Delicious! Some of you may think that staying in port is like being on holidays. Wrong! I am in a constant rush – sailor shop, shipyard, marina, work at the yacht, e-mail, phone call, spare parts (and getting a car to fetch them)... a limitless number of things that occupy me all the time... I think I won’t be able to rest until I set sail.

17 February, Cape TownIt’s so warm in here... and so are my thoughts about those who snowboard... I bid farewell  to a friend yesterday. He sailed out of Hout Bay 40 miles south from Cape Town. I also visited Marta and gave her some Polish marsh-mallows... It’s good to see that the yacht built for me is OK, especially after it has been stranded on a shore... I got very beautiful flowers, they smell lovely on “Tanasza”. Big thanks for those. A battery power indicator broke; I have to climb the mast today and get an outboard motor. There is ”NashaChata” moored in the marina. Heniu Wolski is the skipper. They are heading for Australia, anyone want to tag along?

The Republic of South Africa, 12 February, 2009 On the 12th of February I was invited by the ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria, Mr. Marcin Kubiak. The Visegrád Group (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia) organised a party in the Embassy of the Czech Republic. I’ve met many diplomats there (not only from the European countries). Everybody seemed interested in my story, some of them even voiced a wish to visit me on my yacht. I met the ambassador once again in the afternoon. I had a chance to tell him about my cooperation with Mrs Dymna’s “Against the Odds” foundation and about my plan to take another disabled child onboard Tanasza in May, which will be fulfil his dream to see an ocean, palm trees, sea animals and to do some seafaring... Mr Kubiak supported our cause, as a private person, since he respects Mrs Anna Dymna a lot. Ambassador, I am very grateful for your help. We were accompanied by a journalist of Rzeczpospolita and Trzeci Program...

it’s warm, but windy. I am going through the weather systems over the Atlantic. Getting ready to set sail. Tomorrow my part of engine “arrives” and I’ll be climbing the mast in order to tie the steps to shrouds so that the mainsail or halyard do not get hooked anymore. A few more meetings, newspapers, and meetings with friends to go. I am on the open ocean in my mind, I do miss it.

I sleep only two hours in Ustka after the car event. At 8 am I go live on a radio. Then, I borrow my friend’s car and I go to do a few things – an interview for a TV station for a radio station, a meeting, another meeting, preparing some materials for tomorrow’s meeting... I am home at 9 pm, and I’m exhausted. Still, I have a few more things to do – wash my shirt, pack some things, send some materials, call a few people... thank God my Mom is there to help me! Packing, meetings, interviews, all kinds of business, trips and all other activities consume my time –again, I am at home literally only for a moment... A million things to do and I can’t even find time to deal with them – I need to pack up before the departure (and I have not yet fully unpacked after coming home from Cape Town). My TO-DO list grows instead of shrinking. My Mom drives me to the Gdańsk airport early in the morning, but we have to stop in Gdynia. Although we put off the live show on TV and...

Szczecin, 5 February I wake up in my bed in Ustka... At 6 am I am at a bus stop catching a hike to Słupsk where I get on a train. I keep working for an hour or so on my way – the list is long: writing, calling... I fall asleep. Luckily, Szczecin is the last stop and I can’t miss it:)  Maciej and Jana pick me up from the train station. They are wonderful! They let me stay at their place, feed, allow me to use their computer, take me to a radio station... enough time to make a recording and I run to a meeting in Pałac Młodzieży. The meeting started at 16.00 and I could talk about the planned event and my lone cruise around the world. I am so grateful to Wojtek, Wiesław, Zenon and all others who were involved in preparation of the meeting in Szczecin! I am grateful to all those who attended the meeting too, of course! Even Karolina found time and came with her parents to Szczecin – this way she helps me to promote another charity action. She “passes on” what she’s...

Kielce, 2 February The bus trip from Poznań to Kielce took almost the whole night. As promised in the timetable, I got there at 7.30 a.m. I had a plait bun and some yoghurt for breakfast, a  quick shower in a hotel and I was ready! I was invited to Kielce by  The Horn Sea Club (Klub Morski Horn). They have been supporting my project for a year. I owe my visit especially to Adam Rogaliński, who prepared my itinerary in Kielce and made all effort to make my stay there unforgettable. In the morning, I visited Radio Kielce, and then I met the Deputy Mayor of Kielce, Andrzej Sygut. It’s great that The Sea Club gets so much goodwill from their town authorities. In the evening, I met the people of Kielce in the University Library. What a great meeting with was! There were fellow sailors, friends of my cruise, friends of my friends and... new friends:) Just imagine how honored I felt – I was appointed an Honorary Member of the Horn Club! I also got many gifts – I will take a...

26-31 January Lots of meetings, all of which had to be set, reminded of, and attended at a right place and a right time. I had to send materials, authorise articles, receive a link, send a link, put a link on a webpage, send thanks... wash something, iron something, call somewhere, do this, do that... I HAVE NEVER EVER been so busy in my entire life... That was my greatest struggle with the lack of sleep, too... Luckily, my sister came round to help me out, otherwise I would have never managed to stay alive... Trip to Warsaw was a string of fruitful meetings, recordings, live shows on a radio and on TV, meeting with Karolina live in front of a camcorder... a few interviews for newspapers and a flat battery in my mobile – taking a spare one with me was one of my smarter choices ;) I was falling asleep while standing but I kept telling myself in moments of doubt that I am doing all this for a charge of the “Against the Odds” Foundation and I have to be strong. I have...

It was a long day yesterday. In the morning I left Ustka and drove to Warsaw, and in the evening I was already on a train to the former capital of Poland... And here I am – Cracow! I wonder where all that strength comes from? It allows not only me but also others to make an effort and prepare another event of this kind. Karolina’s journey proved to be a challenge for all the people involved – but it was Karolina who made us find all that strength in ourselves. Her smile, her cheerfulness and her bravery taught us that we can fight even harder. For all this, I am very grateful to you, Karolina. Sunday morning. In a rush again, but this time I will have a chance to meet the “Against the Odds” Foundation team and talk with Mrs Dymna about “Rejs z Nataszą 2” (Cruise with Natasza 2) in detail.   Cracow Market Square (beautiful at any time of year), the Slowacki Theatre – a moment of reflection at poetry, time for coffee and an open discussion... Meeting with Mrs...

Ustka At last, I’m in Poland !!! God, how I missed this place! I was so excited I hadn’t even changed into my pajamas before I fell asleep... my dog slept with me. There were so many things to do. It’s great to come home and eat Mum’s food... On the next day, first thing in the morning, I went to meet the Mayor of Ustka – my beautiful hometown, then I had an interview for „Ziemia Ustecka” and it’s going to be like that all the time now... Hope to „meet” you on TV, radio, in papers:) PS. the first picture I’m going to take to the Cape Town with me is a Polish fisherman with his rod sitting on an iced pond... by the way, it’s freeeeezing cold in here.

20th of January  Basia Chodacka – an amazing movie passionate, or rather a passionate of editing, recorded me today. She would run with her camera round the windy port, and then we had delicious dinner at Wandeczka and her daughter Beata’s (www.sunsetinn.net). You know, I must admit that our famous Polish hospitality is in fact our great national treasure. I hope we are not going to lose it... It’s “ours” more than anything else...