Race Two, Report Six: Positions holding

As of this evening’s communication schedule, the positions in class remain as earlier, which are as follows:

Class A – on corrected time

1st Royal Helena (Bulgaria) – pictured crossing the start line

2nd Nadezhda (Russia)

3rd Mir (Russia)

Class B – on corrected time

1st Johanna Lucretia (UK) and also 2nd overall

2nd Bodrum (Turkey) 

3rd Adornate (Romania) 

Class C – on corrected time

1st Akela (Russia) and also 1st overall

2nd  Sea Adventure (Bulgaria) and also 3rd overall

Leader on the water, Akela, is expected to cross the finish line in the early hours of tomorrow morning (Thurs 22 May).  Atyla (Netherlands), who retired yesterday and is motoring in, is also expected to arrive tomorrow.

Mir (Russia), Nadezhda, Johanna Lucretia, Bodrum and Royal Helena have all now passed Waypoint 1, as well as Akela and Sea Adventure, who passed prior to the last communications schedule.  

The three Class A ships, Kaliakra (Bulgaria), Sedov (Sedov) and Mircea (Romania), who are further south and struggling with little wind, currently 2 knots WSW, will find conditions improve slightly as the night goes on – SE between 6 and 10 knots expected, which will help push them up towards the waypoint.  An easterly wind then remains consistent although is expected to decrease on Thursday evening.

The larger group, currently just passed the waypoint, will find more favourable winds – easterly 8 knots and as the night goes on, backs a little to the NE but remains between 10 and 15 knots, which will help them on the second leg to Constanta.

The race committee have decided that, in order for all the fleet to be in port by mid-day local time on Saturday 24 May, the race time limit will be brought forward by 24 hrs.  The new race time limit will be 0200 hrs local Friday 23 May for Class A and 0230 hrs for Class B and C.  

You can follow the fleet on the Yellow Brick system by clicking on this link.  

29 sail training vessels entered the SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta, with 17 having raced from Varna (Bulgaria) to Novorossiysk (Russia), including one Ukranian and seven Russian ships. 12 are now racing from Sochi (Russia) to Constanta (Romania). 

ends

About Sail Training International (STI)

STI is the international voice of Sail Training, a registered charity (not-for-profit organisation), which has worldwide membership and activities. Its purpose is the development and education of young people through the Sail Training experience, regardless of nationality, culture, religion, gender or social background. It organises the annual Tall Ships Races and other international Tall Ship sailing events. STI members are 29 national Sail Training organisations around the world and STI’ head office is in Gosport, Hampshire, UK.

The organisation was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2007 for its work in promoting international understanding and friendship. www.sailtraininginternational.org

What is sail training?

Sail Training is an adventure activity, which includes far more than sailing instruction. Participants are required to confront demanding challenges, both physical and emotional. It is an activity that inspires self-confidence