projects In 1976, Gailis built one of the first windsurfing boards in Latvia and participated in the first windsurfing regatta on Lake Ķīšezers. In 1985, he developed the Latvian SSR Culture Pavilion in the World Youth and Students’ Festival in Moscow. He was also Director of the Acting Committee of the International Film Forum Arsenāls (1986–2011). Together with Augusts Sukuts, Māris founded the International Film Forum Arsenāls, the first of which took place in 1988. He led the yacht expedition Milda around the globe: on 9 July 2001 (his 50th birthday), he departed for a 2-year expedition around the globe on the yacht Milda (21 m long and 50 tonne two-mast schooner). On 22 April 2003, after a journey of approximately 40,000 nautical miles during which visited more than 30 countries, Milda arrived at Ventspils Port. In 2005 he established a non-governmental organisation Žaņa Lipkes memoriāls (a memorial to Žanis Lipke, a Riga Port worker who saved 55 Jews by concealing them in his family property during the 2nd World War). In 2008, the foundation was laid in Ķīpsalā for the construction of a memorial (architect Zaiga Gaile) that was completed in 2012. Together with his wife Zaiga Gaile, Māris Gailis was awarded the Riga City Council Award Resident of Riga for 2013 (Gada rīdzinieks 2013). Books Zaiga and Māris Gailis "Furniture for young people" ("Mēbeles jauniem cilvēkiem"). Riga, publishing house Avots (1987, 143 pages). This book was also published in Russian, by the publishing house Молодая гвардия in Moscow (1990, 172 pages). "Technologies of Power" ("Varas tehnoloģijas"). Rīga, publishing house Jumava (1997, 314 pages). This book was also published by Jumava in Russian, entitled "Six years in Power" ("Шесть лет во власти") (1997, 334 pages). "Milda Around the World" ("“Milda" apkārt pasaulei"). Rīga, publishing house Valters un Rapa (2004, 223 pages). Family Gailis is married to architect Zaiga Gaile. He has four children: Iveta Leinasare, Agnese Irbe-GAile, Gatis Gailis, and Mārtiņš Gailis. He has eleven grandchildren. See also Gailis cabinet References 1951 births Living people Engineers from Riga Latvian Way politicians Prime Ministers of Latvia Deputies of the 5th Saeima Deputies of the 6th Saeima Riga State Gymnasium No.1 alumni Riga Technical University alumni Businesspeople from Riga Politicians from Riga