The AOS Sports Centre in Kaszuby is located 43KM from the port of Gdynia, in the Gulf of Gdansk, on Poland’s Baltic coast.
Set among beautiful lakes and forest, it offers seafarers activities such as
* tennis
* volleyball
* basketball
* pool
* gymnasium
* hiking in surrounding forests
The Centre is also known for its excellent food and famous barbecues.
On a sunny Sunday in August, 2005, a group of Indian seafarers from the D.S. Mirage visited the centre in Kaszuby. Later a group of Filippino seafarers working for the Norwegian Petrobaltic arrived. The crews challenged each other to volleyball and basketball matches. The following day, Fr Edward Pracz, National Director of AOS Poland, received this letter from some of the Indian seafarers.
To Father Edward
Yesterday, 28-08-2005, was a day that we at D.S. MIRAGE considered as one of the best outings when onboard. At the end of the day or rather from the time we stepped out from the ship and entered the countryside we were like in seventh heaven. We felt relaxed in no time. Our short stay at the Sports Centre was also splendid, mainly because we got a chance to flex our muscles and show our talents. Our Phillipino friends were too good for us at basketball but we did show them that we were good at vollayball.
The lake was a very soothing experience. Some of us had a hand at lawn tennis for the first time. The food was marvellous, especially vegetables which were a very good change from what we normally eat on board.
All in all it was an experience that we will never forget and all thanks to Father Edward, Kasia and everyone else who had a hand in making the evening what it was for us. May God bless you all. We are sure looking forward to coming here once again sometime and have great time again.
Thank you Father Edward
On behalf of our colleagues:
Shermin D'Cunha
T. Rasesh Kumar Fitter
Praveen Noez Mascarenhas
Ramesh Samsans
Fr Edward and the visiting seafarers
The seafarers pose in their Team Stella Maris strips
Seafarers exercise on the volleyball court
