Baltic Sprint Cup 2010 and the future

Hot racing is guaranteed

Exactly one year ago our main partner was forced without warning by the banking crisis to leave us. But SAIL & RACE was convinced of the value of the event and with the encouragement and support of several smaller companies, yacht owners and others, delivered the successful 5^th event in July 2009. Our optimism was shared by enthusiastic local sponsorship and support at each stopover port.

Unfortunately in the overall picture of 2009 the cost-benefit factor did not work out and a lot of private money was needed to balance the books.

The event has constantly been developing. New ideas tried, and every year a new course created, whilst the core values have remained the same. Since the second event an improved schedule was followed which fits into two weeks starting at the beginning of the North German school holidays from where 85% of our clients, the yacht owners, come. Always open-minded, we made a trial in 2006 with a course from as far north as Stavanger but post-event analysis showed that the real attraction is the inclusion of the new EU-countries and the Baltic States, unreachable for so long because of the political divide.

We are proud to have built first-class relations with the authorities and local sailing interests in every port we have visited – now numbering 21. Our reputation has led to other ports applying to host the fleet in the future. To be eligible, a port must satisfy practical considerations including the ability to host a fleet of 50-60 yachts of 30 to 86 feet LOA and up to 4 mtr. draft with 400-450 crew members. Here are some detailed figures:

In five events 197 yachts from 14 different nations took part with a total of 1.501 crew members on board sailing (between them) 4.076 nautical miles.  21 ports were visited - 6 of them 2 or 3 times – and 21 patrons – mostly the Lords Mayor of the port cities - gave the sailors the honour to act as official host to the fleet. Amongst other VIPs the former Prime Minister of Lithuania Algirdas Brazauskas and the Federal Minister for Transport and Traffic of Germany, Wolfgang Tiefensee, paid us official visits.

Due to the economic downturn it is not possible for SAIL & RACE to announce the 2010 event without a new main- or title- partner or even to begin travelling to ports for planning purposes.

Of course SAIL & RACE is optimistic to find a new partner or partners. But without such help – either via the participants or industry – they will have to postpone the 2010 event. SAIL & RACE may consider moving to a 2-year cycle in phase with a new non-stop race from St. Petersburg to Germany (750 nm) for which outline planning is in progress.

SAIL & RACE works in close co-operation with the ports, authorities and sailing clubs en route. Especially close relations are enjoyed with the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV), the inaugural principal club in 2005 and the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) whose commodore David Aisher finished second in the 2008 event. Also of great importance to the event among others are the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS), the Royal Danish Yacht Club (KDY), the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club (GKSS), the Warnemünder Segel Club (WSCev), the Lübecker Yacht Club (LYC), the Nyländska Jaktklubben (NJK), the Kalev Yacht Club (KYC), and several national sailing associations like the Danish Sailing Union and the Yachting Union of Latvia.

In the case of a positive decision for 2010 the event will start around mid-July at a time convenient for yachts which participate in the annual Gotland Runt Race and in an easily reachable distance from Sandhamn.

How can you become an event partner?
Please contact us. We will want to know your marketing objectives and how best we can make the event work for you, whilst at the same time safeguarding the objectives of the event itself. We are interested in building a medium- to long-term relationship. Marketing through offshore sailing, a highly environmentally-friendly and healthy pursuit, is one of the most effective partnership possibilities there is today.

Let’s work out a brilliant future together.