With head winds of up to 30-35 knots forecast for tomorrow (Sunday 29 July), the Race Committee has made a decision to postpone and relocate the start of Race 2.
The Tall Ships Races 2018 fleet will depart Stavanger as planned tomorrow and participate in a Parade of Sail before heading to the revised start area of Race 2 on Monday.
The fleet will now start Race 2 on Monday 30 July in a window between 16:00 and 22:00 UTC off Lindesnes Lighthouse off the southernmost tip of the Norwegian mainland.
On Saturday morning the Tall Ships Races 2018 Race Committee issued the following statement:
“Due to the weather conditions expected on Sunday night and Monday morning across the start area and the race course, the Race Committee has decided to move the start line to the south of Norway.
“The new start line will be 5 NM 180° off Lindesnes Lighthouse. The vessels will be able to pass the start line between 1600 and 2200 hours UTC (1800 and 2400 local time) from East to West.
“After the Parade of Sail the vessels will have time to proceed to the stating area. The approx. distance to the revised start line is 80 NM.”
Tall Ships Races 2018 Race Committee
Race Director Ben Stuart said the Race Committee has been monitoring the situation over the past days and met on Saturday morning to review the latest weather information before making the decision.
“The fleet will face head winds of up to 30-35 knots off Stavanger tomorrow so the Race Committee has decided to postpone and relocate the start of Race 2. The decision does not alter plans for tomorrow’s Parade of Sail out of Stavanger, and the start which was always planned for a position 20 NM from the port, will now take place on Monday when the winds are forecast to have moderated.”
Ben Stuart, Race Director, Sail Training International
The ships will start to depart Stavanger from 12:00 local time on Sunday for the Parade of Sail ahead of Race 2 to Harlingen in the Netherlands. The Parade of Sail is from Stavanger harbour (Vågen) to Tungenes between 12:00 and 16:00 local time. Viewpoints have been organised at Tungenes (by Randaberg Municipality) and Fjøløy (by Rennesøy Municipality).
ABOUT THE TALL SHIPS RACES 2018
The Tall Ships Races 2018 will be the 58th edition of the world famous international race series. This year’s event takes place in the North Sea visiting four ports in 27 days, taking the fleet from the UK to Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.
Participating in The Tall Ships Races 2018 is a fantastic experience that you can take part in too! There’s zero experience necessary and there are places are available on ships across the fleet on all race legs. There’s no need to wait – just do it!
RACE 1