The Roschier Baltic Sea Race continues to challenge participants with strong northerly winds, providing tough upwind conditions for the fleet still on the course. Notable finishes have been achieved, including Tschüss 2 (USA) claiming line honours on day three, and Niklas Zennström’s Carkeek 52 Rán (SWE) crossing the finish line on day four with an elapsed time of 2 days, 15 hours, 34 minutes, and 24 seconds, just outside the IRC corrected time of Tschüss 2.
Rán, despite finishing second, was greeted warmly by the RORC Race Team, including Race Officer Chris Jackson. The crew, visibly tired but in good spirits, enjoyed a welcome of cold beers. Zennström, a seasoned sailor who learned to sail in Stockholm, expressed his continued support for Baltic racing. Navigator Steve Hayles and tactician Bouwe Bekking highlighted the race's challenging nature, affirming it as a significant addition to the offshore racing calendar.
Following closely, Arto Linnervuo’s Infiniti 52 Tulikettu Redkik (FIN) finished with an elapsed time of 2 days, 22 hours, 25 minutes, and 2 seconds, becoming the first Finnish boat to complete the 2024 race. Linnervuo, who also led the first Finnish boat in 2022, noted significant changes from the inaugural race, emphasizing the presence of faster boats, professional crews, and a diverse mix of cruiser-racers.
Linnervuo remarked on the Baltic Sea's varying conditions, from light winds to rough weather, and highlighted the importance of staying alert due to frequent wind shifts. He conveyed his excitement for the future of the race, hoping it will soon attract as many competitors as the RORC Caribbean 600.
With 32 boats still racing, all have rounded the southern tip of Gotland and are heading towards the Helsinki finish line. Weather forecasts suggest the strong northerly winds will shift to the west, offering more favorable reaching conditions.
IRC ONE:
Taavet Hinrikus’ MAT 1220 Nola (EST), skippered by Margus Uudam, leads on the water but is second after IRC time correction. Per Roman’s JPK 1180 Garm (SWE) leads after time correction with 95 miles to go. Dirk Clasen’s Humphreys 39 Ginkgo (GER) is third, just two hours behind Nola on corrected time.
Navigator Nacho Postigo on Nola commented on the close competition with Garm, praising the crew's performance and Garm's impressive speed-to-rating ratio.
IRC TWO:
The Royal Swedish Youth Team, racing First 36.7 Team Pro4U (SWE) and skippered by Linnea Floser, leads with 135 miles to go. Pro4U has a nine-hour lead over J/109 Irie (FIN), raced doublehanded by Julius Haartti and Sanna Moliis, who are 191 miles from the finish. Philip Schroderheim and Madeleine Lithvall’s J/99 Vitesse (SWE) is 180 miles out, less than an hour behind Irie on corrected time.
IRC TWO-HANDED:
J/121 Jolene (SWE), raced by Fredrik Rydin and Johan Tuvstedt, still leads the six doublehanded teams, but their lead has been cut to just over two hours after IRC time correction. Figaro II The Spirit (DEN), raced by Swedish couple Ander Lundmark and Louise Edgren, is in second place.
MOCRA:
The TS42 Catamaran Squid (FIN), skippered by Janne Kjellman and Marko Maki, is just 50 miles from the finish and is expected to beat its 2022 multihull record by over 24 hours.
Arto Linnervuo extended a warm message to the boats still racing, encouraging them with the promise of a warm reception at Marina Bay Helsinki, where the last boat to finish will receive the warmest welcome.
Credits: Pepe Korteniemi/RORC