Operation Sail first time behind the Iron Curtain. The history of The Tall Ships' Races was being written in Gdynia. From right to left: Kruzenshtern, Dar Pomorza, Tovarisch, Gorch Fock, Georg Stage, and the French Etoile and Belle Poule. (Photo by: Halina Wasielke-Cieślak)

The Russian Kruzenshtern - the biggest sailing ship in the first Tall Ships' Races held in Gdynia. (From the archives of the Museum of the City of Gdynia)

The Russian colossus under full sail during the parade crowning the Gdynia leg of the Races in 1974. In 2011 she sets her course to Gdynia again, so there will be a chance to catch a glimpse of views like this one, yet in full colour. (From the archives of the Museum of the City of Gdynia)

The smallest square-rigger in the world - the Danish Georg Stage during the parade in 1974
(From the archives of the Museum of the City of Gdynia)

Fleet parade alongside the Seaside Boulevard in Gdynia in1974.
(From the archives of the Museum of the City of Gdynia)

Undisputed winner in the 1974 Races, the Russian Tovarisch.
(From the archives of the Museum of the City of Gdynia)

It took long 18 years for the races to come back to Poland. Therefore it was not surprising that the event attracted crowds of visitors to Gdynia. (Photo by: Janusz Uklejewski)

View of the Gdynia harbour from Kamienna Góra, 1992. (Photo by: Halina Wasielke-Cieślak)

Parade finishing The Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races 1992. (Photo by: Marek Czasnojć)

A new century, a new Tall Ship event in Gdynia. In 2003 the sponsor's name Cutty Sark was included for the last time in the Tall Ships' Races logo. The event attracted 1.2 million visitors to Poland's Sailing Capital. (Photo by: Maurycy Śmierzchalski)

Main actors of the Gdynia 2003 Races: (from left to right): Lord Nelson (Great Britain), Stad Amsterdam (Holland), Mir (Russia), Nadiezda (Russia), Sedov (Russia). (Photo by: Maurycy Śmierzchalski)

The Mexican barque Cuathemoc was a sensation in Gdynia, 2003. (From the archives of Gdynia City Hall)

Fireworks display is a highlight of each gathering - and so was in Gdynia 2003. (From the archives of Gdynia City Hall)

Gdynia's President Basin full of ships in the morning, 2003. (From the archives of Gdynia City Hall)

Forest of masts and crowds of visitors. Sedov in the foreground, 2003. (From the archives of Gdynia City Hall)

Visiting ships' decks is the top TSR attraction for many visitors. (Photo by: Maurycy Śmierzchalski)

Gdynia's President Basin by night, The Tall Ships' Races 2003. (Photo by: Maurycy Śmierzchalski)

View from the Seaside Boulevard on a feast of lights in the harbour full of grand ships, Gdynia 2003. (Photo by: Maurycy Śmierzchalski)

The Russian Sedov, the biggest sail training ship in the world, setting sail before the parade, Gdynia 2003. Mir in the background. (Photo by: Maurycy Śmierzchalski)

Compared with a giant ship like Sedov, all the others seem small. Even the German barque Alexander von Humboldt, one of the most distinctive sailing vessels - owing to her green hull and sails. (From the archives of Gdynia City Hall)

Parade of Sail in 2003. (Photo by: Maurycy Śmierzchalski)

One more snapshot of the Parade of Sail in 2003. (Photo by: Maurycy Śmierzchalski)

In 2009, during the fourth Tall Ships' Races held in Gdynia, Sedov showed her different face - with the black hull. She was welcomed by Dar Pomorza, celebrating her 100th birthday. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

The Gdynia docksides were crowded from early dawn. The port was visited by 2.5 million people during the four TSR'09 days. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

The Tall Ships' Races 2009 Gdynia turned out to be the largest event of this kind ever held on Polish soil. As many as 21 from the 101-strong fleet were Class A vessels, the largest in the world. No wonder ships moored alongside cuddling each other tightly. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

A forest of masts, yards, and tops; a real jungle of ropes. This is what every port used to look like in the past. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

Who said you can meet The Little Mermaid only in Copenhagen? (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

The Crew Parade was one of the second day highlights. A colourful cavalcade of young people strolled (or sometimes ran and danced) through the city streets. Everyone wanted to look their best. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

The crew parade was followed by the prize-giving ceremony during which the crew of Utopia of Denmark was handed the skippers' fun dinghy race prize. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

The Marina Gdynia is Poland's biggest yachting harbour. Smaller vessels participating in TSR 2009 found their safe and hospitable port there. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

Crowded on land, crowded on water. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

A bird's eye view of Gdynia reveals the perfect conditions ‘the city built on sea and dreams' has to host great sailing events. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

Sorlandet of Norway is the world's oldest full-rigged ship still in operation. Moored in the very heart of the President's Basin (Basen Prezydenta), she was the jewel in the crown of the whole TSR 2009 fleet and attracted huge crowds of visitors. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

A harbour full of masts does provide a magnificent foreground for sunsets... (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

A spectacular fireworks display lit up the sky to conclude the third day of TSR 2009. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

The TSR 2009 fleet in the warm light of dawn. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

At dawn the sky is an ever-changing kaleidoscope of colours. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

Fortunately, history does not always repeat itself. The weather on the parade was impeccable this time, contrary to 2003 when it was misty and drizzly. (Photo by: Andrzej Gojke)

A lovely chaos of the parade. The great tall ships surrounded by sailing "plankton". (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

The parade could be perfectly seen from numerous spots in Gdynia. Also from Orłowo. (Photo by: Joanna Pawlus)

Dar Pomorza took part in parade assisted by tugs. The chance of sailing in the company of old friends was the most splendid gift for her 100th birthday. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

When the parade has finished, the ships set course for the race start. located to the north of the town of Hel. That is where serious competition begun. Every vessel under full sail wanted to secure the best starting position. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

Once towards the sun, once with the sun on your back - just like in real life. Pogoria and Alexander von Humboldt. Who would have thought then that the journey would prove disastrous for the Gdynia barquentine as she would be dismasted in gale-force winds. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

A close race between Dar Młodzieży and Georg Stage of Denmark. (Photo by: Krzysztof Romański)

Owing to her charming appearance, Dar Pomorza was considered world's most beautiful full-rigger. The White Frigate under full sail caught by the photographer's lens - the sight no longer available. (Photo by: Marek Czasnojć)

Setting sails onboard Dar Pomorza. (Photo by: Marek Czasnojć)

Shanty music is a must onboard a tall ship. (Photo by: Marek Czasnojć)

The daily grind during races. (Photo by: Marek Czasnojć)

Don't look down, go up high! (Photo by: Marek Czasnojć)