Nord Stream Race, the race is under way

Saint Petersburg – The third edition of the Nord Stream Race started from Saint Petersburg, Russia today with over 100 competitors from a diverse mix of 13 nations onboard the six strong Gazprom Swan 60 fleet. With a 150 nautical mile leg to Helsinki ahead and light headwinds forecast, the front runners are expected to arrive in the late afternoon of Saturday 31st May.

The Gazprom Swan 60 fleet has a number of new entries for the 2014 Nord Stream Race broadening team entries to now cover Europe and Asia, with crew from Russia, China, South Africa, Great Britain, Ireland, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Holland, Switzerland and Finland.

Team Russia sponsored by Gazprom – Swan 60 Bronenosec – Skipper Igor Frolov
Team China – Swan 60 Windward – Skipper Lorenzo Bortolotti
Team Estonia – Swan 60 Petit Flamme – Skipper Alar Volmer swan 60
Team Europe sponsored by Nord Stream – Swan 60 Spirit of Europe – Skipper Tim Kröger
Team Germany sponsored by SGM – Swan 60 SGM – Skipper Alexander Holstein
Russian Youth Sailing Team sponsored by Gazprom– Swan 60 Tsaar Peter – Skipper Sergey Borodinov

Before leaving the dock in Saint Petersburg, Tommaso Chieffi, co-skipper and team coach of Team Russia stated: “We have two legs for the Nord Stream Race this year. The first leg is 150 miles from Saint Petersburg to Helsinki and the forecast for that is very light. We will probably start downwind and then slowly the wind will go very light and fluky. We chose a sail inventory with some light air sails and being Mediterranean, we normally sail well in those conditions. In Helsinki, we will have a windward leeward fleet race which will be anyone’s race to win. Perhaps Team Europe with Ulrike Schümann as the starting helm has the best opportunity with her skill set. Finally we have a long offshore leg to Warnemünde (GER). The forecast has changed a lot in recent days but now it is likely to be a mostly downwind leg in big breeze before becoming very very tricky towards the end. As in previous years, I think we have the boat and crew that have sailed the most miles. We have made some changes with the crew and are all looking forward to a good race and enjoying it along with the results that will come.”

Competition on the first leg amongst the Swan 60 fleet will be fierce following a close start in 8 knots of wind from the West, particularly with the introduction of the new Swan 60, Windward to the fleet representing an unknown force for the Gazprom Swan 60 Class stalwarts.

Lorenzo Bortolotti, Skipper onboard Swan 60 Windward commented, “This is going to be a very challenging race as there will be light winds and in light wind the shift in gears and techniques are very important. It has only been a week since we took delivery of the boat from the Nautor’s Swan yard in Pietarsaari so we are still learning, but the crew is very good and we have been looking forward to this race for a long time.”

Follow the Nord Stream Race with the live tracker: http://www.nord-stream-race.com/eng/race-tracker

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