Race Report 2: Flat Seas and a Sky Full of Stars

The racing fleet of the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta

on Saturday 3 September.

äóìThe fleet continues to

benefit from favourable weather with 10-15 knots of wind from the south

or south west through the night. The winds are forecast to increase

slightly up to 20 knots today and still from the south west, veering

more to the west later.

äóìSome leading ships are making over 10

knots. At the other end of the fleet is the wonderful, oldest ship in

the race at 116 years old, Swan from

Lerwick in the Shetland Islands. Her 10 trainees, including one

sponsored by Blyth’ principal sponsor Fergusons, will be experiencing a

terrific race and experiencing many challenges as they cross the North

Sea.äó

Mike Bowles, Race Director, Sail Training International.

As

part of the racing rules, all vessels are required to relay twice daily

communications, reporting their positions to Sail Training

International Communications Officers sailing on board Class A Dar Mlodziezy (Poland). This report was received from one of the vessels this morning:

äóìEveryone

on board is in good spirits – we have been reaching through the night

in good winds and flat seas with a sky full of stars, with some other

vessels in sight.äó

Class C, Challenger 3 (UK)

Current class placings on corrected time (at 12:00 (UTC)) – as shown on the leader board of YB, the satellite tracking system. These results are updated every 15 minutes.

Class A

1. Shtandart (Russia)
2. Christian Radich (Norway)
3. Oosterschelde (The Netherlands)

Class B

1. Vega Gamleby (Sweden)
2. Maybe (UK)
3. Brabander (Lithuania)

Class C and D

1. Black Diamond of Durham (UK)
2. Urania (The Netherlands)
3. Challenger 3 (UK)

Photo: Class C, Challenger 3 (UK), racing from Blyth, UK, to Gothenburg, Sweden. Photo by Richard Sibley.