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124 LEISURE
Disaster at Sea
The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff on January 30,
1945 rates as the worst maritime disaster in history.
Originally used as a deluxe Nazi cruise liner, the vessel
had been based in Gdynia for much of the war. With
the Eastern Front collapsing, German Admiral Doenitz
ordered the evacuation of German civilians and
wounded troops from the Tri-City region. Overcrowded
with refugees seeking safety from the advancing Red
Army, the Gustloff limped out of the port of the Gdynia
apparently destined for either Rostock or Szczecin.
Just minutes after relaying an address to the nation
by Adolf Hitler, the Gustloff - named in memory of the
assassinated leader of the Swiss Nazi party - was hit
by three torpedoes from the Soviet submarine S-13.
Within 50 minutes the 650foot vessel had sunk to the
bottom of the Bay of GdaDsk. Freezing temperatures,
overcrowding and a shortage of lifeboats meant
that of the estimated 10,000 passengers, only 500
survived; a figure that is seven times the number that
died on the Titanic.
Ignoring rules of engagement S-13 continued to fire
torpedoes at rescue ships. The captain of the Gustloff,
predictably, managed to scramble to safety. Today the
ship lies 42 metres below the ocean surface, marked
as a maritime grave. Following the war S-13’s captain,
Alexander Marinesko, was awarded the honour of Hero
of the Soviet Union. But in a final twist Marinesko fell
out of favour with communist officials and was sentenced
to hard labour in the Gulag after being caught
selling bricks on the blackmarket. He died in 1963 a
forgotten man.
There’s more to the city and region than just castles,
churches and bars. Depending on the time of year you can
ski, canoe, cycle or even paraglide. The following are the
current season’s offerings.
Activities
Centrum U7 Gdynia N-2, ul. Świętojańska 133,
Gdynia, tel. (+48) 58 662 27 77, www.u7.pl. Entertainment
centre located in the main street in Gdynia with 9
bowling lanes and 4 pool tables. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Fri,
Sat 10:00 - 01:00. Y
Pirate ships O-1, Al. Jana Pawła II, Gdynia (Nabrzeże
Prezydenta), tel. (+48) 507 96 91 83, www.dragondragon.pl.
A pair of mock pirate ships (Dragon and
Regina) which take turns to offer cruises of the bay with
on-board bar and grill restaurant. Also available for private
charter, the ships anchor at the end of the breakwater
opposite the aquarium. QOpen 11:00 - 22:00. Regina
offers 30 minute cruises until August 27 sailing on the
hour from 11:00 with the last sailing at 18:00. Dragon will
take over on August 28 and will offer 50 minute cruises at
11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 15:30, 17:00 and 18:30 until the end
of October when it will moor for the winter and become a
floating bar/restaurant.
Bike hire
Nie dotyczy rowerów C-4, ul. Młyńska 14, tel. (+48)
503 71 40 73, www.niedotyczyrowerow.pl. QOpen
10:00 - 18:00. Closed until May, when they will move to an
as-yet-named location. 15zł for one hour, 29zł/ for three
hours, 49zł for a day. Y
Rent a bike O-1, Al. Lipowa (30 m from Skwer
Kościuszki), Gdynia, tel. (+48) 798 46 35 54. Despite
the name, these folks have no bikes to rent - - they’ve moved
them all to their Sopot location - - and are only renting
go-karts this season. Q Open during weekend only 09:00 -
21:00. From June 8 open 09:00 - 21:00. You need to be over
18 and have ID. Deposit required. Go-carts 7-9zł/30mins,
12-15/1hour.
Rent a bike M-4, Al. Wojska Polskiego (next to Zhong
Hua Hotel), Sopot, tel. (+48) 798 46 35 51. Bike hire
available close to the pier. Found outside of the Zhong
Hua Chinese hotel, 2 minutes walk to the south of the pier,
bikes can be hired for an hour up to a week. Also available
are 3 wheel pedal go-karts. Q Open during weekend only
09:00 - 21:00. From June 8 open 09:00 - 21:00. Bike hire
- 10zł/1hour, 25zł/3hours, 35zł/5hours, 50zł/day, 200zł/
week. You need to be over 18 and have ID. Deposit required.
Go-carts 7-9zł/30mins, 12-14/1hour.
Rowerownia ul. Fieldorfa 11/3, Gdańsk (Orunia),
tel. (+48) 58 320 61 69, www.rowerownia.gda.pl. The
thrill of walking around Gdańsk in the sun with thousands of
other people all day long soon wears off, so if you’re looking
for something to do before the clubs warm up that doesn’t
involve drinking beer in a chair, why not do yourself and your
health a favour and rent a bike? Rowerownia offers lots of
ideas on where to go in the surrounding area. QOpen 10:00
- 17:00. 40zł/day, 50zł/24h, 250zł/week.
Segway Travel, tel. (+48) 602 62 51 23, www.segwayrent.pl.
Segways available to rent by phone. Prices
start from 199zł/per hour with the second hour priced at
160zł, third at 110zł, fourth and next at 60zł or all day rental
for 699zł.
Gdańsk In Your Pocket gdansk.inyourpocket.com
COME AND TRY US OUT
1ST TRAINING SESSION FREE OF CHARGE
Telebike ul. Druskiennicka 30, Gdynia (Orłowo), tel.
(+48) 504 57 66 47, www.telebike.pl. Bike rental with
collection from their office in Gdynia Orłowo or delivered
to your door wherever in the Tri-city (minimum 2 bikes) by
telephone order (45zł/per day). Electric bikes 90zł per day,
scooters 150zł per day, roller skates 30zł per day. Child
trailers (20zł) and seats (10zł) also available. Q Open
07:00 - 23:00.
Bowling
Aquapark Bowling M-2, ul. Zamkowa Góra 3-5,
Sopot, tel. (+48) 58 555 85 46, www.aquaparksopot.
pl. Part of the Aqua Park complex, available are six lanes
as well as the adjacent pool and waterpark. Also of note is
the Pick & Roll restaurant/bar which offers a good range of
classic American style food in modern sports bar surroundings.
QOpen 16:00 - 22:00, Fri 16:00 - 24:00, Sat 12:00
- 24:00, Sun 12:00 - 22:00. Closed Mon. Price for one hour
game 40-55 zł.
Centrum U7 Gdańsk C-3, Pl. Dominikański 7,
Gdańsk, tel. (+48) 58 305 55 77, www.u7.pl. Bowling
alley and pool hall. QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 -
01:00. Y
Południe Centrum Sportu - Fitness & Bowling ul.
Kurierów Armii Krajowej 15, Gdańsk (Orunia), tel. (+48)
58 322 83 50, www.cspoludnie.pl/bowling. A brand
new gym and bowling alley in the Orunia district of Gdańsk
with English-speaking trainers and the best bowling lanes
in the Tri-city. Q Open 15:00 - 23:00, Fri 15:00 - 24:00, Sat
11:00 - 24:00, Sun 11:00 - 22:00. Groups can bowl before
regular opening hours by prior arrangement. Y
gdansk.inyourpocket.com
LEISURE
Go-carting
IndoorKarting H-3, Al. Zwycięstwa 14, Gdańsk (Multikino),
tel. (+48) 601 53 22 80, www.indoorkarting.pl.
Gdańsk’s largest go-karting track. QOpen 14:00 - 23:00,
Sat, Sun 12:00 - 23:00.
Kart Center L-5, ul. 3 Maja 69c, Sopot, tel. (+48)
692 27 79 78, www.kartcenter.pl. If you like karting,
you’ll love Kart Center. A high-speed 520 metre track full
of twists, turns, chicanes and reputedly the only bridge on
a Polish go-kart circuit. You race the clock, not each other,
and you will be presented with a set of lap times after your
8-minute series of laps with which you can retreat with
to the on-site bar to compare with your mates. Special
functions catered for, all equipment available to hire and
late night racing have made this a very popular venue
for budding Kubica’s. Phone ahead to check availability,
and note that the Sopot location is closed until March so
check out their winter location inside the Fair Halls on
ul. Beniowskiego mid-way between Sopot and Gdańsk.
QOpen 10:00 - 22:00. Race sessions last approx. 8 mins.
Adults 30-35zł. Children 25zł. Y
PitStop ul. Węglowa 22, Gdynia (Śródmieście), tel.
(+48) 58 782 17 98, www.pitstop-gdynia.pl. Q Open
14:00 - 22:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 22:00. From June open
12:00 - 22:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 22:00.
Golf
Postołowo Golf Club Postołowo, tel. (+48) 58 683
71 00, www.golf.com.pl. Green fees from 60-250zł at
this beautifully laid out course about 45 minutes drive from
Gdansk. QOpen 08:00 - 18:00.
May - July 2012
125