Nord Stream Race - Tight racing for the Gazprom Swan 60 Class

by Emma Upton on 19 Sep 2013 In the Nord Stream Race, the Gazprom Swan 60 Class is into their third day’s racing in the second edition which is a race taking them from Flensburg, Germany to Saint-Petersburg, Russia. The boats are currently about to by-pass the Swedish island of Gotland on their way to Russia, vast approaching their half way mark.

Between the current leading boat Team Germany onboard Swan 60 SGM, and the fifth boat, current Gazprom Swan 60 World Champions Team Russia onboard Swan 60 Bronenosec, there is only a gap of only six nautical miles. With approximately 400 nautical miles to go, it is going to be a tight race to the finish line.

Team Turkey are a new edition to the Nord Stream Race this year and are the only crew to consist of both male and female sailors. Racing on Swan 60 Petite Flamme, this is the first time that the team will be contending with the tough Baltic conditions. Team Turkey commented on the race so far; 'We recorded a maximum wind speed of 18 knots during the night sailing into Tuesday morning, launching the spinnaker several times to boost our speed. We are currently passing Bornholm Island as part of our tactical manoeuvre.'

The wind dropped during the day today which saw the Swan 60 fleet make slow progress, but teams are hopeful for more wind as they pass Gotland this evening.

The Gazprom Swan 60 fleet will continue through the Baltic Sea passing through the Gulf of Finland, neighboured by Helsinki and Estonia, and are expected to arrive into St Petersburg, Russia in the early hours of Friday morning, marking the finish of the second edition of the Nord Stream Race.