Flat, flat and more flat - these were the conditions at this year's edition of the Blue Ribbon Cup. The outward race from Kiel to Copenhagen in particular put the participants to a tough test of patience: "Due to the extremely weak wind, two yachts had to abandon the race to Copenhagen," reports Felix Weidling from the organising Kieler Yacht-Club. Nevertheless, the regatta secretary of the KYC is satisfied: "With 29 participants, the fleet is stable. The range of yachts was as wide as usual: from proven racing yachts such as the Elliott 52 SS (the "ss" stands for "Super Sport") "Outsider" and the STG youth yacht "One4All" to the moderate cruiser/racer Comfortina or Hanse, everything that was sailing-enthusiastic and ORC club-measured was at the start off Düsternbrook. With a long distance of approx. 175 nautical miles each, this was not a matter of course.
Proven concept for families and friends
The Blue Ribbon Cup has been organised in cooperation between the Kiel Yacht Club and the Royal Danish Yacht Club since 1998. Depending on the weather conditions, the course takes the participating yachts north around Zealand to Copenhagen to the finish line in Tuborg harbour. A stopover is planned there, giving crews and families the opportunity to socialise, go sightseeing and shopping. On the return race from Copenhagen to Kiel, the yachts then sail south around Zealand, so that after a successful return to Düsternbrook, there is an imaginary ribbon around Zealand in the wake, to which the regatta owes its name.
Test of patience in the Great Belt
"That's where we're drifting in the Great Belt. What are we actually doing here?"wrote a regatta participant in the regatta's Facebook group, summing up the mood of the sailors in view of the wind conditions: race director Eckart von der Mosel was forced to end the race prematurely after 24 hours due to the weak wind conditions, as otherwise none of the yachts would have reached the finish at Tuborg harbour within the mandatory time limit. "We haven't had conditions like this since 2006," said von der Mosel. However, the shortened course did nothing to dampen the mood among the sailors in view of the midsummer temperatures. Over hot dogs and cans of beer, there was plenty of time to chat and review the events of the first race. The winners in the three ORC Club classes were "Leu" (J/V 45, Albert Schweizer) in Class I, "Lutzifer" (Bavaria 38 Match, Martin Lutz) in Class II and "JuxBox" (X-382, Jan Meincke) in Class III.
Fresh breeze for the way back
At the start of the return regatta to Kiel, the picture was more pleasing: a nice easterly wind of around 4 Beaufort gave the yachts a conciliatory fast return journey. Tilmar Hansen's Elliot 52 SS "Outsider" had the fastest ride: she completed the 147 nautical miles from Copenhagen via Gedser to Kiel in 11 hours, 31 minutes and 26 seconds. The Canting-Keeler not only achieved an average speed of 13 knots, but also won Class 1 with a lead of just under an hour over the runner-up "Uijuijui" (Rainbow 42, Dr Friedrich Hausmann). Class II was won by a guest from the Elbe, the "Ginkgo" (Prima 38, Dirk Clasen), while in Class III the Comfortina 39 "Penta" sailed and calculated by Uli Amann reached Kiel in first place.
The following prizes were also awarded:
KDY-Trohpy for the best yacht according to ORC of the Kiel-Copenhagen race. Won by "Lutzifer", Martin Lutz, KYC
The 1970 helmsman's prize for the first yacht to cross the finish line in the Kiel-Copenhagen race. Won by "Outsider", Tillmar Hansen, KYC
KYC Trophy for the best yacht according to ORC in the Copenhagen-Kiel race. Won by "Outsider", Tillmar Hansen, KYC
The R.T. Dixon Challenge Cup for the Imperial Yacht Club 1912 for the best yacht overall according to ORC (the calculated times of the two races are added together). Won by "Outsider", Tillmar Hansen, KYC
The 1957 Carl Grage Memorial Prize for the first yacht to finish (the times sailed in the two races are added together). Won by "Outsider", Tillmar Hansen, KYC
