SailBook Cup 2014: The race has just begun!
The starting shot, fired from the Gdynia Maritime Office boat, officially began the 4th edition of the longest long-distance sea regatta – SailBook Cup. 18 units crossed the start line, including the legendary sailing ship: Generał Zaruski.
The opening ceremony of the SailBook Cup 2014 took place at 11.00 am in the Sopot’s marina. Jacek Karnowski – President of Sopot, Bogusław Witkowski – Chairman of the Pomeranian Sailing Association, Andrzej Królikowski – Director of Maritime Office in Gdynia and Chairman of Maritime and River League and Jacek Zieliński – the main Organizer of the regatta, wished good luck to all participants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBMsasPys50
Zygfryd “Zyga” Perlicki, one of the most famous Polish sailors and the ambassador of the race, also said a few words. He arrived, specially for the ceremony, on “Copernicus”, which took a part in Whitbread – the round-the-world race – forty years ago!
And there were more of the historical aspects. Aleksander Gosk, who hosted the ceremony, reminded about it. This edition of SailBook Cup regatta takes place on the 80th anniversary of the first such a sailing race ever. That’s why we could admire a silver cup from the thirties of the 20th century, which was exposed to public view and which is the main trophy in the competition.
The race has started at noon, accompanied by the sounds of a brass band and the minimal wind. One of two accompanying boats of the Maritime Office in Gdynia gave a signal to begin the competition.
18 yachts crossed the start line, including Generał Zaruski, and they took a course to Visby, Gothland, which is the place where the second leg begins. The participant will have to take a lap around Gothland and Gotska Sandön by starboard and return to Sopot. You can expect the first boats for about a week. The entire route is about 600 nm.
You can keep an eye on the yachts thanks to Yellowbrick, just check the TRACKING tab. You may also check the position during the regatta at the Tourist Information in Sopot at Plac Zdrojowy. And, of course, you can see there the famous silver cup, mentioned above.
Organizers: SailBook.pl, Pomorski Związek Żeglarski
Partners: Gmina Miasto Sopot, Urząd Morski w Gdyni i Liga Morska i Rzeczna, Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Warmińsko-Mazurskiego, Sopocki Klub Żeglarski Ergo Hestia Sopot, Fundacja Helios, Jachtklub Stoczni Gdańskiej, Polski Klub Morski, Puchar Bałtyku Południowego, Navinord
Sponsors: Naftoport, Voith, Work Service, Navcomm, Seldén, ICOM, Aero-Vaerft, 3 Sails, Ocean Sails, Henri Lloyd, AlmaPress Księgarnia Morska
Media patronage: SSI Jerzy Kuliński, Radio Gdańsk, Tawerna Skipperów, Magazyn Prestiż, Magazyn W Ślizgu, Młody Elbląg, Nowyj Kaliningrad, Solovela, Batsaans
Komentarze