By Lindsay Tice,Staff Writer

POLAND – On a screen in the darkened school auditorium, Bruce Schwab’s 60-foot sailboat quivers and bobs on a vast gray sea.

The video flashes: Schwab climbing the 85-foot sail; Schwab talking about the weather with a French reporter over the satellite phone; Schwab exhausted, eyeing the waves as winds toss his boat.

“The ocean is up and down, up and down,” he says in the video.

Hundreds of Poland Regional High School students watch. Many are wide-eyed.

The tape ends with shots of French schoolchildren chanting, “We love Bruce,” while the sailboat glides into port. After 109 days alone at sea, Schwab, 45, became the first American to finish the Vendee Globe around-the-world race.

Tuesday, as the Poland students cheered, he brought a lesson home.

“It just shows, if you’re stubborn and plug away, people will help you do what you want to do,” Schwab told the crowd. “I never thought I’d pull this off.”

Schwab racked up thousands of dollars in debt to compete in the nonstop, 25,000-mile race for solo sailors. While other competitors spent millions on the venture, Schwab couldn’t even afford to insure his boat, Ocean Planet.

He made history in February when he came in ninth, the first American ever to complete the race.

Worldwide, hundreds of schoolchildren followed Schwab’s route over the Internet, e-mailing fan letters and encouraging notes. Since his return to the United States, Schwab has toured schools to foster an interest in science and to inspire kids to follow their dreams.

He stopped in Poland on Tuesday to meet with students from the high and middle schools. Sixty sophomores had traced Schwab’s completed journey in science class. Most others knew nothing about him until he took the stage.

Video clips showed Schwab’s journey in tranquil seas and rough waves. He talked about his preparation for Vendee Globe and the people – from Maine, California and Canada – who donated money and helped him ready his boat to race.

“I’m hoping they get the message you can do anything you want to in this life, on this earth. If you work hard enough, you can do anything,” said Schwab, who spent more than a year at Portland Yacht Service working on his boat.

Several of the teenagers lined up for his autograph after the presentation.

“I loved it. It was amazing. I’m so impressed with his accomplishments and all he had to do,” said 15-year-old Mimi Knowles.

Some high-schoolers said Schwab taught them about determination. Others were encouraged to follow their dreams.

“Don’t ever give up, no matter how bad things look,” said 16-year-old Zachary Chase.

At least one student said Schwab’s story gave her a new dream: life on the open water.

“It inspired me,” said Emily Dionne, 16. “I don’t know about a solo trip around the world, but I might go sailing sometime.”