Helsinki – The first leg of the 2014 edition of the Nord Stream Race from Saint Petersburg (RUS) to Helsinki (FIN) tested the Gazprom Swan 60 fleet with light winds that faded as dusk fell. The 150 mile sprint was shortened by the Race Committee at 03.00 local Helsinki time when boat speeds fell to below one knot leading to positions being determined remotely.
Team Russia, with Igor Frolov and Tommaso Chieffi as joint skippers for this race, took the first win having had an incredibly tight battle with the new Swan 60, Team China. Both teams were pushed hard by Team Estonia with the lead swapping between the three during evening.
Tommaso Chieffi, co-skipper and Team Russia coach, took us through the race from their perspective: “We started in the fog so it was difficult to see where the other boats were. The majority of the fleet started from the pin along with us except for Team China who went the other way. Luckily the fog cleared about half an hour after the start so we could see the fleet. We were leading the pack of boats going to the left side of the course, close to Team China so we kept exchanging sides upwind. We were probably leading the majority of that beat until we got to the exclusion zone and that’s where the Chinese got just ahead of us and the rest of the fleet was not far behind. About 6 miles after the start the wind got really light on the left hand side and that’s where we made a big jump on the fleet along with Team China and Team Estonia and we stretched away by more than a mile. After that the positions changed between the three of us as the wind went from North East to South East but luckily we had a better angle coming into the finish before the race was shortened. We came in with a better angle and were just able to sneak in front of Team China. It was a very close race and with all three of us in contention for the win with only 30 seconds between each of us at the finish”.
The finishing order when the course was shortened had Team Russia in first place followed by Team China and then Team Estonia in third. A few miles back, Team Europe were fourth and Team Germany fifth with the Russian Youth Sailing Team in sixth.
Igor Frolov, Skipper of Team Russia, sailing the Nord Stream Race for the first time commented:
“It was the first time I have sailed the Nord Stream Race because the first two editions I was onshore organising the race. To sail the Swan 60 with this beautiful team, a great mix of Russian and Italian sailors working hard together is a pleasure and I was delighted to win the first leg.”
For Team China, there was a degree of frustration at finishing in second place, their efforts hampered only by the lack of wind and weather. Mr Fan, expressed his pleasure in competing in the Nord Stream Race for the first time and the commitment which his crew onboard the newest Swan 60, Windward, have shown: “I am very honoured to participate in Nord Stream Race. We have prepared for it thoroughly; from the yacht, the equipment, the systems, the crew, the logistics planning and so on. It was a shame that the wind conditions weren’t very favourable for us all so the Race Committee had to shorten the race. From the start we were always at the front of the fleet and working very hard. Team spirit is strong and we are looking forward to racing tomorrow.”
Team China Skipper, Lorenzo Bortolotti, added: “It was a fantastic race, especially because we were so close with Team Russia and we know their team is a fantastic team. It was a very good test because we knew we had done all the possible preparation, but with only 2 weeks before the race, it was a nice surprise to finish second in the first leg of the race. We are not as quick as Team Russia in shifting gears while racing and this gave them the edge.”
Sunday 1 June will see the Gazprom Swan 60 fleet compete in a series of inshore races starting at 11.00 followed by the prize giving for Legs One and Two at the Helsingfors Segel Klubb.
Leg 3 from Helsinki to Warnemunde will start on Monday 2 June at 11.00.
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