The Whitsun festival for seafarers: 100th North Sea Week ahead: lots of high seas fun for the milestone birthday

The North Sea Week was recently cancelled twice in a row during the pandemic. But now it's back! Just in time for its 100th anniversary, the organisers of the Regattagemeinschaft Nordseewoche are serving up a sailing Whitsun festival with many highlights from 3 to 6 June. In addition to the varied racing programme, these include the International German Championship for double-handed crews and the long-distance classic Pantaenius Rund Skagen from Whit Monday, which will be sailed both in real and digital form. 100 years after the first North Sea Week in 1922, which only included Heligoland as a destination from 1925, the red rock, which rises out of the North Sea around 35 nautical miles off Cuxhaven, is once again very much in the spotlight of sailing.

In addition to the traditional races, the 87th North Sea Week, Family Cruiser Cup, IOR Classic Classification or the Classic Classification according to KLR, there are also new events on the programme for the anniversary, as Race Director Albert Schweizer explains: "After a two-year forced break, I am now looking forward to Whitsun with relief and great anticipation. With the organisation of the International German Doublehanded Sailing Championship, we have a real enrichment in the programme for the big anniversary, which will further strengthen the profile of the North Sea Week as one of the most important dates in the regatta calendar. We expect that after two years of abstinence from the high seas, not only familiar faces will find their way to Heligoland."

As every year, the traditional long-distance race on Whit Monday will be the highlight of the event. Pantaenius Managing Director Daniel Baum, himself a regular participant, comments on the importance of the regatta: "As the only true ocean race in Germany, the Pantaenius Rund Skagen from Helgoland to Kiel presents participating crews with a real challenge, not only tactically, with 510 nautical miles and three different sea areas. In terms of standards and experience, the regatta can compete in every respect with events such as the Rolex Fastnet Race or Sydney-Hobart and is a true classic." The safety regulations in the invitation to tender, which are formulated in accordance with the World Sailing Special Offshore Regulations, are correspondingly strict. The race starts on Whit Monday after the last North Sea Week regatta, the Helgoland Eight. Around 80 yachts are expected on the starting line for the long distance. As usual, they will be well equipped for the coldest hours on board with storm sails, certified safety equipment and a bottle of "Rum Skagen". Anyone who wants to follow the regatta from home can do so in real time using the tracking system provided by Pantaenius Yacht Insurance.

Pantaenius Round Skagen as a virtual challenge

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the North Sea Week, each of the more than 500 nautical miles will be contested virtually and digitally alongside the live experience. The eSailing fun will take place via the Virtual Regatta platform. Albert Schweizer is hoping for a new record number of participants: "What was planned in 2020 as a special solution due to the pandemic has turned out to be a real success with more than 20,000 participants. We are expecting thousands of virtual skippers on PCs, smartphones and tablets again this year." The virtual race can be contested both via the Pantaenius website and via the Virtual Regatta app or website.