In the past, storms, metre-high waves and icy nights have demanded enormous efforts from both ships and crews in the Pantaenius Round the North Sea Week race, forcing many to give up.
The 2010 race was particularly tough: of the 92 registered ships, only 54 yachts took part, of which 24 ultimately reached the finish line in Kiel. Thanks to the good preparation of the yachts and crews - despite some dramatic incidents - none of the participants were seriously injured. Perseverance, excellent seamanship and, above all, tactical finesse are required to hold one's own here.
This is because the 510 nautical mile regatta course leads through extremely different sea areas: the North Sea, the Skagerrak, the Kattegat and through the Danish archipelago to Kiel. A route with very different water depths, tides and wind-driven currents in the Baltic Sea. In the Great Belt in particular, the yachts can expect wind conditions that are strongly influenced by the land masses.
However, those who enter the race with their crew will be rewarded with an unforgettable regatta experience that ranks alongside the Sydney Hobart, Newport Bermuda and Fastnet Race as one of the most outstanding races in sailing. In pursuit of a new course record and despite the hardships, around 80 crews are expected to take part in this edition of the event.
The Pantaenius Round Skagen Regatta has a modern look: The normally paid-for app from the manufacturer Yellowbrick can be used free of charge for this race. This means that everyone can take part live - with a smartphone, iPad and of course with any computer on which a current, HTML 5-capable browser is installed.
If you want to get into the right mood beforehand, you have through a download the opportunity to do so. The sailors' reports from the race are available again in the brochure "Hautnah", printed with the support of Pantaenius, as the first edition was quickly sold out.
This Skagen regatta also promises to be exciting from a purely sporting perspective. The "Thea" has sailed from Oslo to Helgoland especially for the Pantaenius Round Skagen Race. The Grand Soleil 37 with NOR-10584 belongs to Jarl Spandow. Dr Uwe Lebens and his "Scho-Ka-Kola" would like to build on their success at the last Edinburgh regatta. A tough opponent in the battle for the prize for the fastest boat is likely to be the "Opal", a 17.4 metre tilt-keel yacht from the high-tech racer Knierim. As always, the "Opal" will be skippered by Edward Reinholdt. Alternatively, Tilmar Hansen's "Outsider" is a reliable speed record aspirant. Although the Elliot 52 is around two metres shorter than its two opponents, it is storm-tested and has proven to be fast and reliable.
The special thing about this sea race is that it is not only reserved for "racing goats", but also challenges yachts that are actually used as cruising boats. Thanks to the ever-improving measurement formula, these yachts have a chance: in 2012, the Nicholson 32 "Tramontane" by Dr Jens Kohfahl from Cuxhaven, which is only 9.32 metres long, won according to calculated time.
In the old seafaring tradition, each yacht will be given a bottle of rum for the journey, which the regatta sponsor Pantaenius will bring on board at the start on Helgoland on Whit Monday. One of the final highlights of the event is the meeting at Dieter Kipcke's home at the Kiel Yacht Club in Strande. There, the crew members can share their experiences - they talk and laugh and make plans on how to sail even better and faster next time. In the past, breakfast has been offered - this year, Labskaus will be served from 1 p.m. until late in the evening.
The history of this regatta began in 1933. After the war, the first start took place in Bremerhaven in 1950, and since 1953 it has started again from Helgoland. Pantaenius Rund Skagen marks the end of the North Sea Week and has traditionally been sailed every two years since 1968, alternating with the Helgoland-Edinburgh Regatta. The speed record for monohulls has been held since 1973 by the "Diana III" with 55 hours and 1 minute; it was not until 2000 that the "Uca" set a new record of 43 hours and 46 minutes.
At the beginning of the 1990s, it looked as if this only German ocean race no longer had a future. In 1994, Pantaenius owner Harald Baum decided to promote the race and make it more attractive for sailors again under the name Pantaenius Rund Skagen. He not only provided the financial means, but also had a special challenge prize made: a bronze sculpture in the shape of a Viking ship, modelled on a cave drawing, equipped with club-wielding men, weighing 15 kilograms - designed and made by Admiral's Cup 1983 winner and artist Hermann Noack from Berlin. "The race passes through former Viking territory, and this trophy establishes a link between the achievements of these outstanding sailors and those of today's regatta sailors."
More information about the race: www.nordseewoche.org
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
