PRESS RELEASE: Biggest surprise in the first race of the A. Le Coq 60th Moonsund Regatta? The weather. |
The festivities of the anniversary regatta were kicked off on the 7th of July and the first race on Saturday took more than 140 boats on the Smarta.ee leg from Haapsalu to Kuivastu.
Friday night was in every way worthy of the big anniversary. Supported by a brass band, sailors from five different countries marched under club and country flags from Veskiviigi marina to Haapsalu’s Kuursaal where the regatta was opened with celebratory speeches. Urmas Sukles, the mayor of Haapsalu, could not have been happier to send the anniversary regatta off from his own town. Egon Elstein, president of the Yachting Union, expressed his gratitude to all sailors, especially to the record-breaking 34 teams from abroad as it is their endorsement that increases the number of foreign guests each year. Commodore of Kalev Yacht Club Kalev Vapper was proud of the never previously achieved 55 yachts from his club. Aime Kreis and Ülo Vooglaid, participants at the very first Moonsund regatta 60 years ago, came to see the anniversary regatta off and cheered all participants: “Let’s celebrate the SEA, our grand and generous teacher! May you enjoy a great regatta! Keep the dry side up!”
The wind forecast was so miserable for the opening race that there were moments when a successful start became highly doubtful but PRO Andres Talts did not lose hope and sent the fleet out. The weather gods must have felt benevolent as by noon the sailors were welcomed by sunny skies and chirpy southerly winds of 4-6 m/s. The planned start was at 2 p.m. and the first boats to take off towards Muhu were the 13 Folkboots racing to the title of the Estonian champion.
The three largest classes were set to sail 23 miles and the smaller classes 21 miles. The wind changed its course during the race so that almost no one could enjoy tailwinds but the first ORC I yachts reached Kuivastu in three and half hours. However, many smaller boats had no such luck. The first ones to arrive set finishing times and quite a big number of boats did not make it within the set limits as the winds died down considerably later in the day.
The first three placements of Haapsalu – Kuivastu SMARTA.ee leg of the A. Le Coq 60. Moonsund Regatta:
ORC I – 10 boats
I Forte, Kalev Yacht Club, skipper Jaak Jõgi
II Olympic, Yacht Club Dago, skipper Tiit Vihul
III Aurora Borealis, Russia, skipper Leonid Tkach
ORC II - 15 boats
I Amserv Toyota ST, Kalev Yacht Club, skipper Margus Zuravljov
II Cherie, Kalev Yacht Club, skipper Ivar Aru
III Vesikaar, Kalev Yacht Club, skipper Tanel Tamm
ORC III – 10 boats
I Blanca, Kalev Yacht Club, skipper Jaan Tiidemann
II Kvartet, Russia, skipper Vassili Alekseev
III Bamby, Russia, skipper Leonid Chizhik
ESTLYS I – 28 boats
I Põhjakonn, Pärnu Yacht Club, skipper Peeter Volkov
II Katarina Jee, Saaremaa Marine Sports Society, skipper Mart Tamm
II Extra Brut, Latvia, skipper Alexei Alexeev
ESTLYS II – 26 boats
I Brigitta, Kalev Yacht Club, skipper Mikk Metstak
II Centaur, Saaremaa Marine Sports Society, skipper Rain Riim
III Seabird, Kalev Yacht Club, skipper Toivo Roosma
ESTLYS III – 36 boats
I Mercurius, Saaremaa Marine Sports Society, skipper Margus Tasa
II Aurora, Haapsalu Yacht Club, skipper Pille Kaas
III Luisa, Haapsalu Yacht Club, skipper Henry Viiret
FOLKBOOT – 13 boats
I Linda, Kalev Yacht Club, skipper Pertti Neero
II Tee Chee, Kalev Yacht Club, skipper Peeter Välkmann
III Lind, Kalev Yacht Club, skipper Tiit Riisalo
Results
The prize ceremony of the first leg, hosted by Andrus Kaalep from Smarta.ee, was held in Kuivastu marina late in the evening.
The regatta will continue on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. with a race to Roomassaare that will host the regatta for two days, until Tuesday morning.
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