Despite being a newly formed duo, Antonina Puchowska and Alicja Dampc are already making waves in the 2025 29er EuroCup, currently sitting in 2nd place overall. With Alicja’s impressive track record—including gold at the ISAF Youth Worlds and a European Championship title—and Antonina’s fresh determination, they’ve quickly become a competitive force.
Balancing training in Gdynia with international events, they take pride in competing against male and mixed teams, proving that skill and strategy can level the playing field. While their focus is on World and European Championships, they’re pushing hard this season—setting the stage for an exciting future.
1.Can you both introduce yourselves? How old are you, and where are you from?
Antonina: Hi, my name’s Antonina Puchowska, I’m 17 years old and I’m from Gdynia in Poland.
Alicja: Hi, my name is Alicja Dampc , I’m 17 years old and I am from Chojnice in Poland
2. How did you start sailing, and what led you to the 29er class?
Antonia: My parents are engineers and they’re building motorboats, so it was obvious that one day I’ll start sailing. After optimist I started to sail on 29er because I love speed and it was the perfect class for me.
Alicja: My PE teacher at school was a sailing coach. He convinced me to start sailing. After school lessons I went to sail on Charzykowskie lake. I finished my optimist career with success and went to the 29er class.
3. How did you team up as a sailing duo?
We just finished sailing in our old teams and we thought that it will be great opportunity for as to achieve high results.
4. You’re currently sitting in 2nd place overall in the 2025 29er EuroCup—what’s been working well for you this season?
We are both competitive so we are pushing each other to be better. We are surrounded by a very strong group that we train with
5. You’ve had a 2nd place finish in the first event and a 7th place finish in the second—how do you feel about your performance so far?
We are happy with our results but we still have things to be better at. Our target is obviously the World and European championships so we are not focusing at those eurocup that much, it’s mostly training for us.
6. Will you be competing in most of the EuroCup events this year?
Unfortunately not because in spring and summer we have outstanding conditions in Gdynia so we train there.
7. How often do you train, and where do you do most of your training?
Our plan is to sail 10 days per month but when we have great weather in Poland we sail there almost every weekend. Between camps we have trainings at the gym.
8. What’s your favourite venue to sail at, and why?
Palamos in Spain because there are many different types of conditions.
9. What’s the toughest part of sailing a 29er, and how do you manage it?
The toughest part of sailing is communications and mental strength.
10. What’s your favourite thing about skiff sailing?
Everyone thinks its speed and we are no exception.
11. You’re one of the top teams in the EuroCup, competing against both male and mixed teams—how does it feel to be performing at such a high level?
We are proud of representing women in such male dominated field.
12. Do you feel that male teams have any physical advantage in the 29er, or is it all about skill, technique, and teamwork?
In stronger wind male crews have advantages of strength and weight so we need to focus more on our own technique and strategy
13. What advice would you give to other young female sailors who want to succeed in skiff racing?
Don’t get discouraged if you haven’t achieved high results in previous classes because there is still plenty of time to develop and discover your own strengths. So don’t give up and get pushing.
16. What previous sailing achievements are you most proud of individually and as a team?
Alicja: I had outstanding results in last season with my previous helm Alicja Tutkowska because we won ISAF, European Championship in women’s and we were second in Worlds Championship in women’s category. When it comes to my helm, the previous year was her first one so she was learning the boat.
17. What are your goals for the rest of the 2025 EuroCupseries?
We are not focusing on the Eurocup series as we spend most of the time preparing for the championships
18. Do you have ambitions to move into the 49erFX or other sailing classes in the future?
Alicja: I have great physical predisposition so I would like to continue my great results on 49erFX
Antonina: Absolutely I would like to sail on 49erFX, but for now I’m focus more on this season and I’ll see what future holds.
19. Is there a particular event or championship you dream of winning one day?
It would be nice to win Youth World Championship also both European and World Championship
20. Do you have any pre-race rituals or routines?
We are not sailing together long enough so we haven’t discovered our own rituals yet
21. If you weren’t sailing, what other sport would you be doing?
Alicja: I am quite good at basketball because beside sailing I really enjoy playing it
Antonina: I really like skiing or kitesurfing
22. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received in sailing?
To not care about others and do your own plan
