Baltic 500: Plucked fleet blown by the wind: "Red" pauses: "We bow to all those who continue to sail"

The fourth edition of the Baltic 500 is the expected endurance test for the daring 26 crews who dared to take to the starting line. The plucked field is now only half the size: 13 boats are still in the race, fighting their way through strong winds and rough waves towards the finish line. In the end, the crew on the line-honours favourite "Red", which had been in a commanding lead until then, also decided to stop at Tuborg Havn in Copenhagen. The experienced Class 40 sailors are still keeping an open mind as to whether they might resume the race. Skipper Mathias Müller von Blumencron said: "It's been a great race so far, but we've decided that we don't need to sail 50 miles against 30 to 45 knots. It's a sensible decision and I have the boat in mind."

The prospects were brutal for the "Red" crew, as Mathias Müller von Blumencron described: "Not only was a super-hard wind to be expected, but also two to three knots of counter-current. It would have been an eternal slog. We take a bow to everyone who kept going and got through it, and wish them all the best of luck. It really has been a mega race so far, starting with thundering down to Langeland after the start ... Then on to Læsø with lots of pressure and mighty swirling clouds. That was a lot of fun. The boat ran like the devil." The duo has already submitted a top speed video for the YACHT Speed Challenge: 23 knots! The paused "Red" is not completely out of the game yet. "We could still sail on tomorrow," says the skipper.

Many things about this fourth Baltic 500 edition are memorable. Among them are the five crews taking part for the first time and still sailing on Friday afternoon. These are Björn Demmin and Alexander Busher on the Dehler 30 od "PlayTime", in ORC Club the Elan 350 "Never say never" with Maximilian Höpfner and Nils Bunkenberg and the Luffe 43 "Stine" of Lucas Lange as well as two yardstickers with the Varianta "Diva" with Arne Rosenkranz-Ehlenberger and Fritz Schaarschmidt and the "High five" with Stephan Röpke and Lars Häger. "These are remarkable performances," said organisation manager Cord Hall, paying tribute to the resilience of the newcomers.

One and a half days after the start, the field of still sailing Baltic 500 tamers was led by the JPK 11.80 "Frida" with Tim Behrendt and Andreas Buchheim, which passed Helsingborg late on Friday afternoon. "Frida" was chased by the "Hinden", on which owner Jonas Hallberg - like a whole series of duos - had to make do without the A4, which had long since exploded. Behind the leading duo, Oliver Schmidt-Rybandt and Niclas Aretz on the fastest Dehler 30 od "Powerplay" put the pressure on and lived up to their boat's name. They in turn were stubbornly pursued by the JPK 10.30 "Lightworks" with Michael Höfgen and Max Gurgel. However, the duo is sailing in "safety mode", as Max Gurgel reported from on board in the afternoon: "The G3 and two kites are scrap. It's very frustrating." The prospects remain tough for the front of the fleet, but threatening for the boats at the back, as the wind could run out for them at the end of the stormy ride.