Vegvisir Race: Two courses instead of three - and a three-year contract with Nyborg

Nyborg has come to stay. The municipality of Nyborg, Nyborg Sailing Club and the Shorthand ECM organisation have now signed a three-year contract that sets the course for the Vegvisir Race in the medium term. Nyborg will continue to be the start and finish location for the international single and double-handed regatta.

Vegvisir Race: Fewer courses, more racing fun

The aim of the organisers is to strengthen the position of the Vegvisir Regatta as one of the largest, most challenging and most adventurous long-distance regattas in Europe. The agreement also includes sporting innovations. In line with the motto "less is more", the Vegvisir Race will be reduced from three to two courses from 2025. The aim is to create larger fleets and more intense competition.

Vegvisir Race Conductor Morten Brandt Rasmussen (Shorthand ECM) explains the reduced course programme: "We are doing this partly because of the feedback we have received from the participants. It's simply more challenging and more fun to compete in larger fleets and against more competitors." Shorthand ECM holds the rights to the Vegvisir Race and organises the race, which is also popular with German sailors, in collaboration with Nyborg Sailing Club and the municipality of Nyborg.

At its core, the Vegvisir Race traditionally combines coastal and offshore elements. The hosts themselves describe their race and its challenges as follows: "The ability to adapt the boat and mindset to the constantly changing conditions is a key qualification for a true Vegvisir racer and for good seamanship in the broadest sense."

The event starts on 4 and 5 September

Another part of the Vegvisir DNA is that the courses change every year. This also applies to the upcoming edition in late summer 2025: participants can expect two courses: the long one over 184 nautical miles and the shorter one over 94 nautical miles. The long course starts on 4 September (Thursday), while the starting signal for the short course will be given one day later on 5 September (Friday).

For the first time, a Vegvisir Race course will pass close to Samsø and through the narrow and challenging waters between Skanse, Lindholm and Kyholm in 2025. Morten Brandt Rasmussen describes the picture-book area, which will be a new discovery for many participants, as follows: "It's almost like being transported back to the Ice Age in a time capsule." The well-known regatta organiser explored the area himself this summer.

After Samsø, the course takes the Vegvisir challengers further around Sejrø, south under the bridge over the Great Belt, past Agersø, via Femø, Fejø and Vejrø to Smålandsfarvandet and finally back to the start and finish harbour of Nyborg. Travelling trophies will be introduced next year for the fastest two-handed sailors on this course. The trophies will be awarded to the sailors who complete the course with the highest average speed. The values are calculated on the theoretical distance of the course. If the records are broken in 2026, the challenge trophies will be passed on to the next record holders.

Sailing and socialising are very popular

At first glance, the 94 nautical mile course may seem like the longest up & down course in the world. On closer inspection, however, the course is peppered with varied Vegvisir Race elements. The course heads south through the Rudkøbing Canal, past Strynø and Ærø, through the narrow passage at Marstal and straight out into the Baltic Sea. It then heads south of Langeland past Sprogø, under the high bridge, around a marker and back under the low bridge before the race finishes in Nyborg.

In 2025, the "Sailing & Socialising" concept will return, with the Vegvisir Race Dinner and After Party included in the registration fee. This will give all sailors the opportunity to share their race experiences with family, friends and competitors. Organisers and Vegvisir Race fans share the conviction that this race is more than "just" a sailing competition. Morten Brandt Rasmussen says: "It is an intense nature experience at sea combined with cultural moments on land, experiences that deserve to be shared with other passionate sailors."

What does "Vegvisir" actually mean?

One question comes up again and again, especially for new participants: What does the term "Vegvisir" actually mean? A vegvisir is a magical Icelandic symbol that is supposed to help people find their way.

According to the myth, anyone carrying this symbol will never get lost, even in storms or bad weather, and will always navigate through the unknown. A vegvisir serves as a compass in both a literal and figurative sense. In mythology, it helps people to find their way on the sea and serves as a guiding symbol for personal journeys in life.

"Early Bird" discount and eSailing fun

The organisers want to build on the success of their eSailing regatta in collaboration with Play eSailing in 2025. They want to "give even more people the opportunity to try out virtual sailing and discover an interest in real sailing".

The pre-sale of starting places has already begun. Early bookers receive a discount of 25 per cent. The offer ends at midnight on 8 December. Further information and the registration portal can be found here.

The first 25 boats were registered just two days after the registration portal opened: