Waldek Zaleski

Bio

Waldek Zaleski (pronounced Val-deck) and his twin brother Chris were born in 1960 in Olsztyn, Poland.
They started sailing dinghies ( Cadets and 420 ) at the age of 15 on Poland's famed Masurian Lakes. During winters they actively racing DN ice boats. In 1980 they moved to seaside Gdynia, a suburb of Gdansk to study at the National Maritime Academy. During these years the twins got involved in keel boats sailing IOR Quarter Tonners on the Baltic Sea. In 1985 and 1987 the twins become Polish Champions in the class. They graduated the Maritime Academy in 1985 with a Master degree in Sea Navigation. Their degree put them in a position to receive positions as officers on merchant vessels. However it was presented to them that to get these positions they must join the Communist Party. Their refusal to do so on ethical grounds put an end to their merchant marine career
This turn of events pushed them to get involved in building boats and sails. As a matter of fact the boat and sails they used to win the Polish Championship, they built themselves. The sails were made of Kevlar in their newly open loft - the first high tech sails made in Poland!
Waldek left Poland and moved to Ireland in 1987 where he worked for McWilliam Sails in Crosshaven. Then in 1989, he emigrated to the United States.
To pursue their passion for racing they picked the J/24 as it’s similar to their quarter tonners and a very competitive class - following the mantra “if you want to be the best you have to compete against the best”. At the same time the twins joined Chris Wentz at Sailspar Sailmakers. After a few years the company changed its name to “Z Sails” ( Z being the last letter of Wentz’s name and first letter of Zaleski’s).
From Zsails.com