SAIL & RACE is close to the final announcement of a great new offshore sailing Event: a long distance non-stop race from Saint Petersburg (Russia) to Kiel (Germany) starting Sunday, July 18th 2010, organized in co-operation with the Russian Yachting Federation, the Yachting Union of Saint Petersburg, the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and supported by the Kieler Yacht Club, which at the same time will be implemented as race no. 14 in the hanseboot Baltic IRC Circuit.

Expected Rules: IRC (ORC Club as a parallel ranking). Eligibility: Minimum LOA 40ft, minimum TCC 1,000. A maximum size may be decided at a level to include all current maxi-racers. Race records to be reported to the ISAF WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council). The race is acceptable as a qualifier for the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2010.

A full web site tracking service is expected with specialist beacons supplied to each boat.

Great social events are planned in Saint Petersburg and Germany at a level equal to or exceeding the best of the renowned parties enjoyed in the Baltic Sprint Cup!

More Information here

The offshore racing scene has changed a lot during the last few years, so there was a need for an update on design, technical development, rating rules and race formats. So this weekend the German Offshore Owners Association (http://www.ger-oo.org/) together with Pantaenius, North Sails, hanseboot Boatshow and SGS arranged a free forum on the future in Offshore Yacht Racing.

The first edition of the International Yacht Forum was held in Hamburg with over 220 participants from Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, USA, Spain, Netherlands and the UK.

In the panel on yacht design there was presentations from Simon Rogers, John Corby, Mark Mills and Torsten Conradi from Judel/Vrolik & Co. And in the discussions afterwards, Michael Castania (ORM), Dobbs Davies (ORC/Seahorse), Rob Weiland (TP 52 Class Manager) Andrew McIrvine (Commodore of RORC) and many others presented their view on “The Future in Offshore Yacht Racing”.

Finland has amplified the circuit with one more race - the Gulf of Finland Race. The regatta is part of the Finnish series and will be a long distance race about 100 nm, starting outside the Espoon pursiseura harbour. The winner of Gulf of Finland Race shall be presented a special "HANSEBOOT BALTIC IRC"–price.
All participating yachts shall have a valid an endorsed IRC rating certificate.

Please click here for the notice of race.






FIN 45012, Two Fast, Swan 45, Olkkonen Laaksonen, EPS

For all sailors, whose intention is to take part in the Round Gotland Race and who have their home base in the south-westerly Baltic, we have planned a nice feeder-race, starting in Kiel.

With the kind support of the British Kiel Yacht Club (BKYC), the feeder-race will be started on 2nd July, 18:00 after having a barbecue in the marina to strengthen you for the night!

The race’s course will take you from the German coastline to the incredible Swedish summer nights, leaving Fehmarn and Bornholm to starboard, Oelland to port, Gotland to starboard to the finish line, right in front of the KSSS's clubhouse in Sandham.