Tom MacSweeny: Jakub welcomed back to Cork after epic 200 days at sea

“Life is a journey, it’s not about the destination.”

That piece of philosophical reflection was given to me in a small space on Sunday afternoon.

There was no room to stand upright in the space — where the man who spoke it had spent 200 days, 13 hours, 18 minutes and seven seconds alone, crossing 24,000 nautical miles of the world’s oceans, sometimes in fear, in worry about the sea conditions, more times in delight because he loves the sea.

I was aboard BIBI with Jakub Ziemkiewicz, moored alongside the pontoon at Aghada Pier, where he had just been given a great ‘welcome home’ by the community of Lower Aghada on the eastern side of Cork Harbour.

That was where he built the 19-foot timber yacht to compete in the first ‘race around the world for the smallest of yachts,’ — the McIntyre Mini Globe Race, the MGR 5.80 challenge, the figure denoting the metric size of the boat. 

The challenging voyage took over a year for the fleet of 15 yachts, with ‘rest’ stops in seven ports. Jakub finished sixth out of the 11 competitors.

“I am a kind of lonely guy, I like my loneliness, you can decide for yourself, you can be happy with yourself. I never struggled with the loneliness. I like my small space, my cabin was quite small, but everything within reach,” said Jakob.

Struggled during storm

There were times when he was worried, such as when he struggled for 30 hours in the first storm he encountered.

“It was psychologically tough because I lost my tracker, which meant I disappeared from those people who were following me.”

That was worrying, but after the storm he was spotted by a plane and conveyed a radio message via a passing vessel to confirm his safety.

“I was happy then!”

He “gradually started” to trust himself, “putting aside fear.”

There is a strong community spirit in this part of the harbour, evident at Sunday’s ‘welcome ceremony’ organised by Lower Aghada Pier Development Group.

Its chairperson Deirdre O’Sullivan told me: “The community gave him great support when he was building the boat, getting it ready and setting-off. It was an immense achievement that he finished in March, but that had not been celebrated. Sailing does not get big national media coverage. We showed how the community appreciated what he has done.”

Flotilla of vessels escorted Jakub

Sunday was annual ‘Regatta Day’ at Aghada, attracting a crowd when a flotilla of vessels escorted Jakub aboard BIBI through Cork Harbour to the pier.

Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat, a fleet from Cove Sailing Club, Guileen Coast Guard and local Aghada boats took part.

Jakub, the Polish immigrant who studied at his country’s national maritime academy and came to Ireland originally to join the Irish fishing fleet, flew the Tricolour on ‘BIBI of Cork’ as he had done around the world during the race.

He was the only Irish entrant. It cost him thousands of euro to take part, starting from Antigua last year and finishing back there this year.

Don McIntyre, race founder, described Jakub as “a diligent technician, always prioritising safety, a fun guy, who represented Ireland proudly. In the stage from the remote outpost of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic to Recife on the Brazilian coastline there were boisterous seas, blistering heat, tactical duels and profound solitude.

“He grappled with a cracked daggerboard housing and a diet leaning heavily on canned goods, but remained the consummate sailor, prioritising boat integrity over speed. 

"He completed his dream of sailing solo around the world on a shoestring budget, deeply connecting with his boat, keeping it well-maintained during severe weather while balancing an appreciation for books, fishing and the sea.”

Now there is probably a parting of the way with BIBI, which Jakub is planning to sell — because he wants to do another round-the-world race, again alone — this time non-stop and for it he needs a bigger boat.

No more big sailing passages alone

He had told me he decided that there would be no more big sailing passages alone in small boats, but he has since changed his mind.

“I belong more to the sea than the land,” he said.

So he has started a four-year campaign to take part in the McIntyre Golden Globe Race, also solo, but this one is a non-stop circumnavigation — the ultimate challenge, single-handed, no electronics, no GPS.

“It is hard to have to sell BIBI, but I need to buy another boat. This is the next step. I don’t like risky things, but good preparation and planning gives you a certain level of safety on the ocean. I love the sea, I am happy there.”

So the journey – without a destination – may go on….

Seascapes monthly podcast: This month – Securing Ireland’s Food From The Sea, listen on https://tommacsweeneymaritimepodcast.ie or wherever you get your podcasts. Email: tommacsweeneymarine@gmail.com.