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Race Report 2: Flat Seas and a Sky Full of Stars


Posted on: 31.08.16

The racing fleet of the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016 made good progress overnight and early arrivals into Gothenburg Sweden are expected – well ahead of the official start day of the event on Saturday 3 September.

“The fleet continues to benefit from favourable weather with 10-15 knots of wind from the south or south west through the night. The winds are forecast to increase slightly up to 20 knots today and still from the south west, veering more to the west later.

“Some leading ships are making over 10 knots. At the other end of the fleet is the wonderful, oldest ship in the race at 116 years old, Swan from Lerwick in the Shetland Islands. Her 10 trainees, including one sponsored by Blyth’s principal sponsor Fergusons, will be experiencing a terrific race and experiencing many challenges as they cross the North Sea.”

Mike Bowles, Race Director, Sail Training International.

As part of the racing rules, all vessels are required to relay twice daily communications, reporting their positions to Sail Training International Communications Officers sailing on board Class A Dar Mlodziezy (Poland). This report was received from one of the vessels this morning:

“Everyone on board is in good spirits – we have been reaching through the night in good winds and flat seas with a sky full of stars, with some other vessels in sight.”

Class C, Challenger 3 (UK)

Current class placings on corrected time (at 12:00 (UTC)) – as shown on the leader board of YB, the satellite tracking system. These results are updated every 15 minutes.

Class A

  1. Shtandart (Russia)
  2. Christian Radich (Norway)
  3. Oosterschelde (The Netherlands)

Class B

  1. Vega Gamleby (Sweden)
  2. Maybe (UK)
  3. Brabander (Lithuania)

Class C and D

  1. Black Diamond of Durham (UK)
  2. Urania (The Netherlands)
  3. Challenger 3 (UK)

Photo: Class C, Challenger 3 (UK), racing from Blyth, UK, to Gothenburg, Sweden. Photo by Richard Sibley.