Press release The Moonsund Regatta is here to stay! |
Stormy beginning of the A. Le Coq 63rd Moonsund Regatta in Pärnu.
Estonian ORC
sailors are over the moon to be able to race the Moonsund regatta for the 63rd
time in the face of all the challenges this year has taunted them with. This is
a long-standing tradition that unites all clubs in a week full of races.
The storms that blew over Estonia today were unprecedented even for the most experienced but as Egon Elstein, president of the Yachting Union, emphasised: “the Moonsund regatta will prevail regardless of any viruses or storms, the biggest Estonian ORC race is here to stay!”
The regatta will use the ORC (Offshore Rating Congress) measuring system, which is the system of choice of the Estonian Yachting Union since last Autumn. The boats will race in four groups based on their length and speed and the group parameters were established after the registration ended.
For Folkboots the Moonsund will be a championship regatta and last year’s winner Tiit Riisalo will be defending the title on his W-Lind. ORC Estonian champions will be established during the Baltic Offshore Week in August only.
In ORC I the competition will be tight as the 25 yachts include last year’s winner Olympic with Tiit Vihul at the helm (2018 ORC World Championship bronze) from Yacht Club Dago, Sven Nuutmann and Postimees Sailing Team also from Dago YC (ORC Europeans bronze) and Europen champion Arne Veske with Matilda 4 from Kalev YC - last year’s silver and bronze respectively. But there are also 2014 ORC World Champion and 2015 European Champion Forte with Jaak Jõgi (Kalev YC) at the helm, Spirit from Latvia with Kristaps Remess (the fastest boat last year) and many others.
ORC II group has 27 teams in lineup. Sugar (Pärnu YC) with Marjaliisa Umb (2019 ORC Worlds C group champions) and Aivar Tuulberg’s Katariina II from Pärnu YC (2019 and 2017 ORC Europeans silver and 2016 European champion) would be the most noteworthy. But there is also the last year’s winner of the group Evelyn III (Saaremaa Merispordi Selts/Kalev YC), 2018 winner Adele (Baltsail YC), and 2017 champion Jazz (Kalev YC). Alar Ivanson’s Tessa (Kalev YC) and Ain-Eke Jalasto on Fanatic (Kalev YC), who used to race ESTLYS before, will be front-runners in the Cruising Division (boats from before 2000).
ORC III has mostly seen champions from Russia in recent years but, sadly, they are not able to participate this year due to the Covid-19. This would make all-female team Piloilleri 3 with captain Anne-Mari Luik (ROPK/Kalev YC) and Margus Beljakov’s team on Liliann (Saaremaa Merispordi Selts) the favourites.
In ORC IV you should keep your eye on Ülari Velviste’s Lagle III (Haapsalu YC), Vesileenu with Imre Marmor at the helm (Kalev YC), Janno Simm on La Folie (Pärnu YC), and Indrek Kivi Mercurius (Saaremaa Merispordi Selts) and also the junior team Liza 1 (Kalev YC) with Mattias Johan Kangur at the helm. It will be an intriguing regatta.
The opening ceremony in Pärnu Yacht Club on July 11, 2020. Photo: Piret Salmistu
All the pictures of the opening ceremony can be find here.
More than 100 boats and 700 sailors from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland will race. Unfortunately, we are not able to host our dear friends and long-time participants from Russia as due to the corona situation nearly twenty yachts are not able to attend. The list of participating teams can be found here: http://muhuvain.ee/regatt2020/osavotjad
The 63rd Moonsund Regatta will take place from 11th to 18th of July and will visit four harbours: Pärnu Yacht Club, Port of Kärdla, Haven Kakumäe and Kalev Yacht Club in Tallinn Pirita.
The entire regatta will be broadcast live on Sportrec website as all boats will have GPS-tracking devices.
A. Le Coq 63. Moonsund regatta route:
12th July – Pro Marine Trade Pärnu circle
13th July – Alter Marine Pärnu short race
14th July – Tactical Foodpack Pärnu - Kärdla leg
15th July – Hiiumaa Sadamad Kärdla circle/day off
16th July – Heimon Kala Kärdla – Haven Kakumäe leg
17th July – Santa Maria Haven Kakumäe – Kalev Yacht Club leg
18th July – Olympia 40 Tallinn circle
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