Helsinki-Tallinn Race 2010

On Friday evening we took a part in the night race Helsinki-Tallin.

The race started at 18.00. we started from the midline to avoid the rush on the top buoy. It was nice to be - for a moment side by side with two other swans: 46 wafi and 45 Two Fast.


The wind was approximately 6-8 m/s. we made a wrong selection with the sails and the light Genoa teared in two peaces... Unfortunately we put in on the furlex and we had to take it down before we were able to add the other Genoan. We lost our good start on this manouver and also for the extra turn we had to take because we had to eat the windshit from the fleet that was sailing upper. Total loss about 10 minutes. That was very unfortunate. We lost practically more, but first of all we lost the good touch we had on the start.

We got our spirit back after The Lighthouse Helsinki 12 nautical miles from Helsinki while we noticed that Najadi IV from our sailing club was sailing behind us. The steerman Jaska made nice movements, closed the gates so that she had to turn before Tallin Lighthouse.

In front of Tallinn just reaching the Aegna Buoy we noticed that actually we were part of the reace still, because we heard the first announcements from the VHF that the fleet was approaching Aegna.

Then we got to really eat the shit of the lost ten minutes.... The wind shifted ad we had to make extra turn. and the next time...just before Pirita the wind went totally dow. If we had this ten minutes back....


anyway excellent result we were 11th on the Business LYS out of 23 participants.

Next day we had a big party, our Chef Ville had organized us some fillet of beef that we grilled outside on the docks and ate with Garlic potatoes + Bearnaise Sauce. Sipped down with 1996 Chateauneuf de Pape - Not bad!!!


In the evening there was a great party on marina. approximately 800 sailors participated on that. A lot of speculation after speculation... late hours.
Sunday morning after late hours we left the Marina at 10.45. Quite rough weather, not by wind, but the waves were enourmous. The highest measured wave were 3 meters! We had to ate water several time. with one wave we can actually say that the Yacht really fell down, because the spreaders hit the water.

We reached the Helsinki around 17.00. Luckily no accidents happened with the waves. Great race, nice homecoming. The skipper thanks the crew for everything.

Tomorrow: Helsinki-Tallinn Race

Tomorrow we start the main event of the year (tradition): Helsinki-Tallinn Race. This is the largest sail competition in Finland. 173 yachts are participating this offshore race in several classes.

AquilaDeux (LYS 1,20) is starting in the Class Business-LYS that leaves at 18.00 EET.
23 boats will cross the starting line the same time.

The crew is selected as follows:

1. Commander crew: Skipper Petri, Steerman Jaska and Navigator Stidi
2. Deck crew: Officer Erkki, Deckmen Ipu and Pekka
3. Pentry: Grand Chef Ville

The tradition is to reach Tallinn the next morning and beginning on Saturday evening the organizers have arranged huge party in the Pirita port. More than 800 sailors will collect together in Pirita to speculate the past night.

The biggest prize collector is Tallinn Children's hospital that will collect huge donation from the participants.

More information of the race on the organizer's webpage:
http://www.koivusaarenpursiseura.fi/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=28

The night will be long, so the most important role is with the Grand Chef in the pentry to keep the crew on the mood.

In advance I can promise that on Saturday morning there will be at least Canapés filled with Foie Gras and Quills eggs, and of course sparkling wine.

Emsalö Runt, all possible mistakes done

We started the race sailing side to side with thunder. We practically enjoyed the whole day of Sunshine and very low wind.

Now we are ready for anything... because:

In Emsalö runt we participated with minimum crew, first mistake. Better to have one more extra as a minimum.

Every single time we set the Gennaker up, we had a big circus with many mistakes.

Almost every turn we made a mistake, whenever some troubles with the sheets.

Luckily we did not have to make too many turns.

What we won in reaching upper wind - we lost double in the fair wind.

Gennaker have no use in the straight fair wind. Spinnaker it should be, but once you use either you can not use the other.

Low wind.

No more comments on the results.

But fun. Yes we definetly had a lot of fun. Enjoyable and nice day. Thankyou Pekka and Pasi!

Eestiluodon Malja over

Look who is crossing the startline first! Perfect start!

The small race organized by Marjaniemi Yachting club called Eestiluodon Malja (the cup of Estonian Rock). Paritcipation: Skipper, Stidi the startegist, Dr.John the dr, Anssi A promoted immediately as a senior deckmonkey, Mikko M the chef and Vilppu the new Jungman.

The race itself started perfectly. First time in the sailing History the AquilaDeux crossed the start line as the leading yacht. We also kept the leadership until the wind came again down. But we managed to keep our position to the end arriving in the goal side by side with the other competitors. Fantastic perfomance for the old lady in low winds.

Only some small troubles with the spinnaker occured, but no major problem. we lost our final time maximum 1-2 minutes because of this.

Fantastic day, sun shined and the temperature was + 25 degrees.

Thanks for everybody for the participation. Position is still unknown, but whatever it will be. We showed with this crew that even an older quite heavy boat can move in the lower winds the same speed as its much lighter and more modern competitors.

Final position 5th in our class.

Arriving to the goal.