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On Sunday 19th January the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) and Saint Petersburg Yacht Club (SPBYC) announced the programme for the Nord Stream Race 2014, during a press conference held by partner Marinepool at Düsseldorf Boat Show. In 2013 the race route was non-stop northwards from Germany to Russia – this year the course starts in Saint-Petersburg, Russia and ends in Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany with a stopover in Finland’s capital Helsinki.

”The third Nord Stream Race will again be an exciting challenge for the participating yachts as we have planned an attractive programme for them”, says Arne Hirsch, deputy CEO of NRV and event director of Nord Stream Race. “The sailors will have to prove themselves in very different disciplines. To begin with the yachts will sail a medium distance race of 150 nautical miles from Saint Petersburg to Helsinki which starts on the 29th of May. When sailing through the many small islands in the Gulf of Finland with its inconsistent weather conditions, all of their tactical and navigational skills will be required. We already experienced this at the finish during last year’s race“, says Arne.

Match Race and Inshore Races in Helsinki

In Helsinki the boats will stop for four days (30th of May to 2nd of June). There the participants of the Gazprom Swan 60 class will compete in a match races series while the ORC yachts will complete inshore races. In addition the organisers are planning an extensive programme in the race village right in the city centre of Helsinki.

The highlight of the regatta will be the 600 nautical miles long-distance race from Helsinki to Rostock-Warnemünde. The course starts at the Gulf of Finland and passes Gotland and Bornholm following the Nord Stream gas pipeline, the eponym of the race. Depending on wind and weather the yachts will arrive at the finish in Warnemünde between 5th and 6th of June.

All legs as well as the match race series and inshore races respectively will count towards the overall result. More details about the race and the programme can be found in the notice of race on www.nord-stream-race.com.

Six Swan 60 yachts competing

Nord Stream Race 2014 is again open for Swan 60 yachts as well as yachts under ORC handicap. In the Swan 60 division six yachts are being expected to enter – one more than last year. A nation’s cup is also planned and last year’s contestant Team Europe with the German offshore expert Tim Kröger has for example already announced that they will participate again.

Of course Saint Petersburg Yacht Club is also sending a yacht into the race: Vladimir Liubomirov, commodore of SPBYC and skipper of the Russian Swan 60 Bronenosec said at the press conference: “I would very much like to organise for a team of young up-and-coming talents to sail the race on one of our boats!” Last year’s runner-up is well-known for his commitment to Russian sailing and to developing young talents.

Besides the Swan 60s, organisers would also like to see some ORC yachts participating in Nord Stream Race again. Especially for Finnish and Swedish owners the long distance race could be used as feeder race for Kiel Week at the end of June and the ORC world championships which take place in Kiel as well a little later. In addition, local yachts have the opportunity to only take part in the inshore races in Helsinki.

Extensive media coverage

Organisers are paying special attention to media coverage and informing the public. Up to date information is being published via the event website www.nord-stream-race.com, an online newsletter (http://www.nord-stream-race.com/eng/newsletter-sign) as well as social media channels like Facebook (www.facebook.com/nordstreamrace) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/nordstreamrace).

Of course all yachts will again be equipped with race trackers so that you can follow the race live on the internet. A specially recruited TV team will produce interesting and exciting videos which can be viewed on the Nord Stream Race YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/nordstreamrace). The current trailer for Nord Stream Race 2014 is already very promising.

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Viele Grüße/Kind regards

Annette Krüger

NORD STREAM RACE

www.nord-stream-race.com

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