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Nord Stream Invitational Race 2016

750 nautical miles – 70 sailors – 5 participating nations – 3 countries

The Saint Petersburg Yacht Club, assisted by the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein in co-operation with Helsingfors Segelklubb and Rostocker Regatta Verein, is organising the Nord Stream Invitational Race. Starting on 5th June 2016 the route of this challenging offshore regatta will follow the Nord Stream pipeline, leading the participants from Saint Petersburg, Russia to Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany with a stopover in Helsinki, Finland.

Taking on the challenge to sail the approximately 750 nautical miles across the whole of the Baltic Sea with all its demanding weather conditions are five brave teams on board of elegant and fast Gazprom Swan 60 yachts. They have been invited by Saint Petersburg Yacht Club, owner of the Swan 60 fleet, to increase friendship between nations. The teams consist of a mixture of young talented sailors and experienced offshore professionals, representing some outstanding sailing clubs from different nations. In order to encourage young talents at least three crew members will be under the age of 25.

First up there is Team Russia with skipper Sergey Borodinov, Olympic athlete and participant in the Whitbread Round the World Race. Team Finland will be skippered by Samuli Leisti, who brings a lot of experience to the team for example from helming the 100ft Maxi superyacht LEOPARD 3 on the Transatlantic Race 2014. Germany will take part with their own team as well as Great Britain who will be led by Adrian Lower, Rear Commodore at Royal Ocean Racing Club and participant in many Fastnet and Round Britain and Ireland Races. Last but definitely not least is Team Europe with well-known skipper Tim Kröger, Admiral's Cup winner, Whitbread Round the World Race and America's Cup participant, who is also the defending Nord Stream Race champion from 2015.

"This year, the participants represent in a perfect way what Nord Stream Race is all about", said Vladimir Lubomirov, commodore of Saint Petersburg Yacht Club. "The regatta has been initiated four years ago in order to bring people from different countries together in a high profile sporting contest, focussing specifically on the Baltic region. Sailing is a great way of building bridges between nations. With SPYC and NRV two honourable clubs with a long tradition and experience in organising large regattas have joined forces for this great project."

Starting on Sunday, 5th June the boats will first set sails in the direction of Helsinki where they will arrive in the morning of the next day. After a few hours of rest, the fleet will leave Helsinki again in the late afternoon of Monday, 6th June. Depending on the wind conditions the yachts can be expected to cross the finish line in Warnemünde on 9th or 10th June.