MidsummerSail 2024 underway
by Robert Nowatzki 21 Jun 2024 06:31 NZST
20 June 2024
Longest Baltic sailing race sets off with largest fleet yet
80 boats set off on this year's Agora direct MidsummerSail, from the southernmost to the northernmost point of the Baltic Sea.
The record to beat for the 900 nautical miles is 4 days, 19 hours, 7 minutes, 46 seconds - which with light winds forecast, will be an extra challenge for the sailors.
Despite the light winds, a protest at the start of the first group, and three boats running aground, the biggest MidsummerSail fleet so far got off to a good start.
Leaving on June 20th, the longest day of the year, the participants have to cross the whole Baltic Sea to try and reach the famous yellow buoy that marks the northernmost point.
From solo sailors to 10-man crews on a variety of mono- and multihulls, all will take on the longest and toughest Baltic race from Wismar in Germany to Töre in Sweden.
Those completing the MidsummerSail challenge will not only be rewarded with prizes from line honours to smallest boat, but also with the endless white nights of the Scandinavian summer and a Swedish Midsummer festival.
More photos from the start can be found at www.picdrop.com/midsummersail/eAdCroKS1H
All information and the tracker route can be found on www.midsummersail.com