Connecting the Baltic Rim countries through a sailing competition

Nord Stream Race fleet at the start © NSR / Anya Semeniouk

The Nord Stream Race will take place from June 23rd to July 5th. Five sailing clubs representing five countries will participate in the 1,000-mile race from Kiel to Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki until they reach their destination in St. Petersburg. This race is all about connecting the countries of the Baltic Sea through a combination of sport and shared culture.

Five Clubs, five beautiful cities and five extraordinary racing yachts. The Nord Stream Race is a remarkable competition. The five participating clubs are the champions of their respective sailing leagues from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The theme of "Connecting Baltics through Sports" will be fulfilled with a schedule of cultural events in each of the host cities' harbours, with St. Petersburg's prestigious Yacht club being the main organiser of the Nord Stream Race.

Elena Soloveva, Head of projects, Saint Petersburg Yacht Club: "Our goal is to make the Nord Stream Race not only a regatta, but an event in the Baltic Sea, broadening the notion of our "Connecting" Concept. The Nord Stream Race unites sportsmen who fight for the title of the best Baltic team. National teams are supported by thousands of fans."

The Nord Stream Race begins on the 23rd June in Kiel, and the start will take place as part of the biggest annual sailing regatta in the world known as "Kieler Woche". Over the course of the following 12 days the fast ClubSwan 50 racing yachts will follow the route of the Baltic Sea pipeline. The race sets out from the Kieler Innenförde to the centre of Copenhagen (expected arrival date of 24th June) and it will finish in front of the spectacular Copenhagen Opera house. The longest part of the race lies in between Copenhagen and Sandhamn, an island in the famous archipelago that leads the way to Stockholm.

The fleet will sail on the open sea for two days, continuing from the start/finish line in Sandhamn (27th of June), to go straight to the centre of Stockholm for three days. The five yachts of the Nord Stream Race will leave Stockholm on the same day as the 260 boats of the ÅF Offshore Race. While the ÅF Offshore Race heads out to sail around the island of Gotland, the Nord Stream Race sets its own course for Helsinki (1st July), a modern but at the same time compact capital city - perfect for a two-day stopover.

Then it's the final offshore leg from Helsinki to St. Petersburg (expected arrival date of 4th July), one of the most beautiful cities in the world, built by Csar Peter the Great as his residence at the end of the mighty River Neva.

www.nord-stream-race.com

Nord Stream Race route for 2019 - photo © NSR