Lithuanians spread across the world’s oceans. In 2003–2004, a captain Valdemaras Vizbaras from Panevėžys and his sons set out on long voyages around the Norwegian fjords on the yacht “Rėja”, visited the Faroe Islands and Iceland. In 2008–2010, Andrius Varnas with his daughter Rasa and son-in-law Egoi set sail from Mingė on his self-built yacht “Ragainė 2” and sailed around the world. A solo traveller Saulius Menkevičius crossed the Pacific Ocean on his yacht “Karina” in 2009–2010.

In 2014–2015, Rokas Milevičius with a Dutch team “Team Brunel” participated in the “Volvo Ocean Race” regatta and became the first Lithuanian to start in this prestigious offshore yacht race. Currently, Linas Ivanauskas can be safely called the most experienced Lithuanian sailor at sea. He sailed around the world twice (on the yacht “Lietuva” (meaning ‘Lithuania’) in 1993–1995 and on “Ambersail” in 2008–2009) and participated in all the world’s most important offshore regattas.

Southern Europe has become a common holiday destination for Lithuanians who rent sailing yachts for leisure and sightseeing voyages. More and more Lithuanians moor their sailing yachts in the Mediterranean region. Lithuanians increasingly bravely set out on long-distance sailing voyages for the family: some live while continuously travelling on a catamaran (Emilija, her husband Steve and daughter Adelyna), others choose challenging voyages in the Arctic latitudes (Kęstutis and Živilė Juška), yet others are sailing around the world (Joana and Vytautas Juškevičius and their daughter Luka, medical professionals from Klaipėda Dalia and Linas Jarašiūnas).

“Sailing means freedom.” (Ignas Miniotas, 1932–2026)

Romualdas Adomavičius, 
15 July 2026