While the majority of the participants in this year's North Sea Week headed back to the mainland yesterday afternoon, seven steadfast teams set off on what is probably the toughest part of the event. Since then, the Helgoland Offshore Triangle (HOT) has been sailed over a course of around 350 nautical miles. The course leads from Heligoland first towards Amrum, then north-west out into the North Sea, then back to Amrumbank and finally back to Heligoland.
Shortly after the start, however, the Humphreys 39 "Ginko" had to abandon the race due to damage. Race director Albert Schweizer assumes that the fastest of the remaining yachts will be back on Wednesday evening and that the last participant will cross the finish line off Helgoland by Thursday at the latest. The HOT is taking place for the first time this year and also serves as a qualifying regatta for the Fastnet Race. It replaces the Edinburgh Regatta, which was previously held every two years, always alternating with Pantaenius Rund Skagen.
Perfect conditions at the start
In contrast, the 88th North Sea Week got off to a traditional start on Friday morning with the first race from Wedel to Cuxhaven. The 20 boats were already on the starting line at 7.30 a.m. in almost perfect conditions. "At the peak, we measured up to 30 knots," said race director Jürgen Raddatz.
Daniel Baum was the first to cross the finish line with his new Tison 48 "Elida", which was good enough for fourth place out of eight starters in the ORCi group. The final winner was Christoph Mählmann on his Swan 46 MKII "Rarotonga". In the ORC Club group, the Comfortina 35 "Tinkerbell" won with Thorsten Schablinski at the helm.
While the official opening and award ceremony took place in the evening, the next field was already starting. The first starting signal for the Sundowner Regatta from Cuxhaven to Helgoland, the first part of the Glück-Early-Bird series, sounded at 8 pm. In blue skies and around 15 knots of wind from a north-westerly direction, 15 yachts crossed the starting line off Cuxhaven and reached Helgoland in the late evening hours.
Calm on the second day of the 88th North Sea Week
On the second day of the regatta, an area of high pressure brought bright sunshine but hardly any wind. While the lobster regatta waited on Helgoland, the crews of the feeder regattas from Cuxhaven, Hooksiel and Hallig Hooge were already on their way and battled with the light winds on the North Sea. After a few hours on the water, they too had to give in to the adverse conditions. The destination was brought forward and the time there was taken.
They were able to sail on Helgoland at around 2 p.m. after all: "We were patient and were able to complete two great Hummer Races," said race director Albert Schweizer happily in the evening. "Today was all about filigree tactics, light wind trim and sailing cleanly through the current edges," said Schweizer. The combined results of the lobster races and the sundowner regatta from Cuxhaven to Helgoland on Friday make up the classification for the Lobster Cup, the trophy of the prestigious Glück-Early-Bird-Series. Michael Schlee came out on top here with his X-35 "Alexis".
Good wind and sunshine made for a fantastic day of sailing at the Capitell Cup Rund Helgoland on Whit Sunday. Divided into three courses, 65 boats crossed a common starting line at 9.30 a.m. with a stern wind at the eastern dune. They sailed round Heligoland to the right, using fixed sea marks as course markers. The yachts in the Family Cruiser classification were around 24 nautical miles ahead, the course of the small course was around seven nautical miles longer and the large course was around 38 nautical miles long.
"Störtebeker" secures line honours, "Ginko" the victory
The Nordseewoche Rund Helgoland prize for the fastest yacht in ORCi on the big course went to Dirk Clasen's "Ginko". The Carkeek 47 "Störtebeker" from the Hamburgischer Verein Seefahrt took the line honours.
On Whit Monday, the fourth and final day of the 88th North Sea Week, the sea sailors were once again treated to the best sailing weather. In the morning, the Heligoland Eight around the main island was successfully completed. This also determined the winner of the Family Cruiser Cup 2023. This is aimed at crews who don't usually take part in regattas but still want to take part in the North Sea Week. The participating boats do not have to be measured and will be sailed without a spinnaker or gennaker. The overall ranking is based on the results of one of the feeder regattas, the result of the Capitell Cup Rund Helgoland and the Helgoländer Acht. The winner was Sven Maselowski's Duetta 94 "Maiti".
