15th - 16th of August Helsinki-Tallinn race 2014 17th August back to Helsinki

We all gathered in the afternoon at the home docks. Finally we started to steam towards the starting line. This year the start line was located again west of Rysäkari Island.

We prepared well with sandwiches and drinks before the start. The weather -actual and the forecast looked promising. During the transfer. The wind blew steadily from W-SW 7-9m/s.. The forecast was little lower, but possibility for the thunder storms existed.

Just before our start the wind went down! We had a good start and we even used spinnaker. After passing the second turning point (1,5 m from the started) the wind tilted totally! We stayed at one place more than two hours. We made a decision that if we do not reach the Helsinki lighthouse before the midnight we will go back to Helsinki.

Luckily the wind came somewhere and we started to move. Unfortunately we were staying two long time in the eye of the wind so our race was over from the start. We were not the only ones. Bad luck in the wind-lottery. Night was beautiful The horizon was in flames because of the thunderstorms on the top of Estonian continent. Luckily the thunder never came on us. 

In the Saturday morning we reached the finish line at 6.06.00. Final position 26/33. Not very good sesult but we beated another Swan 371 Trinity (match) by 15 minutes so we should be satisfied on this. Somehow makes me wonder that the LYS-coeffient is not really upgraded to the older boats. Next year we probably try ORC where there are real measurements and age corrections.

 In the afternoon we went to our hotel suite "Sergei Bubka" again. Enjoyed some drinks and Sauna. The most famous drink is of course "Lumivalge ja seitse naberguliaist" (Snowhite and seven dwarfs ;) ;)....

 Then we went to dinner, this time to the hailed Pegasus restaurant with S/Y Sunday bastards (they won us by fifteen  minutes, donnerwetter!). Excellent food, wine and company. Besides we reached one of our goals by getting the cute waitress to blush. Mission accomplished!

Sunday morning we started at 9.00 going first to the filling station to fill the Diesel tank. Anssi was sleeping in a hotel suite and came in the last minute to the Yacht. Just before we left. We engined in the low wind (me and Stidi decided not to wake up the crew. Autopilot drove us to the finnish waters where we had a new kind of incident.

Somewhere between the Helsinki Lighthouse and Gråskärsbådan the Finnish Border Guard came to check our papers. One unnamed crew member forgot his passport or ID home (only driver's licence he had). The Border guard removed him to their boat and he was fined by 300 €uros. Better to take IDs with next time.

Home docks were reached at 18.10. Nice day, nice trip  in all possible ways.

Thanx guys!

2015 ORC!

Yesterday preparing, today the Skipper's meeting tomorrow the Race!

Yesterday evening Anssi and Pekka came to the boat with high pressure washer. We washed the bottom and prepared the ropes. We are more or less ready for Friday.

Today there will be the Skipper's meeting in Lauttasaari where we will get the final instructions. 

Tomorrow is the race. Wind forecast 5-7 m/s  W-SW. Our start is 19.28.30. Three other yachts start the same minute including a match - another Swan 371.

 

To get better results tomorrow, we decided to use racenames for the whole crew (derived from second names).

 

So only fo the race let me introduce the race crew:

Junde - the skipper

Kale - the steerman

Ile -the pianoman

Juiri - 1st deck officer

Ykä - 2nd deck officer

 

 

 

6th of August another day Blowing in the wind... quick rehearsals

At 18.00 the whole race crew (Except Holiday Jaska) gathered at the boat.

Anssi brought with him three nice ladies to participate the rehearsal and to bring good luck.

The ladies were Virva, Margaret (from the USA!) and  Anna (Anssi's daughter). Also Antti our freshman was first time in the rehearsals. Naturally all the newcomers earned an AquilaDeux pin (very valuable and rare) for the partcipation.

                                              The wind blew from E - SE between 6-8 m/s.

 We took the yacht out from the Viipuri rock and set sails up. Then we sailed in the fair wind with genoa number 2. The route was (E to S) around Santahamina, Suomenlinna, Särkkä, Harakka and Uunisaari. We reached top speed of 8 knots on the fair wave surfs.

Finally we took the sightseeing route for the ladies to Helsinki: In from Merisatama, slowly through Kaivopuisto and then finally around the pool near the main market square (Kauppatori). A lot of people were enjoying this nice summer evening in the Kaivopuisto terraces.

                                         Back to home docks at 20.35 Total mileage 12 nm.

                                         Another nice sailing day in the fantastic summer of Finland,

                                         Thank you boys and girls.

2nd of August to Tallinn again...

 Early Morning we engined towards Tallinn. Unfortunately we had direct front wind until Tallinn madal where we set the sails up. Nice day to sail!

Finally we arrived again Piritta port.

 

We visited city and ate again in Pegasus. After good meal Make and Jaska Went shopping. I myself went to manicur nto get my nails done.

 

Evening continues.

 

Tomorrow I go back to Helsinki with "vomit bird" (nickname for estonian catamarans).

 

Jaska and Make continue with Mafalda.

 

Good winds for you! 

1 st of August - S/Y Mafalda arrives in home docks

In the afternoon Mafalda arrived in the home docks. Steerman Jaska (Mafalda's skipper) and Make were in the boat.

Surprisingly Jaska had a birthday (25th apparently...) and on the behalf of the AQ2 I presented him very high quality original LIDL sunglasses. Congrats Jaska!

We spent the evening in the Sauna and chatting about nice memories. And naturally By listening music. Next Morning Tallinn.

Summer continues in H-R Mafalda

Logically we continue with the next story today. Aq2 Steerman Jaska is picking the AQ2 skipper up today to sail his H-R "Mafalda" to Tallinn.

Plan is to go first overnight in Granlandet in Eestiluoto where Sailing club Merekävijät have another base. 

Tomorrow morning we continue to Tallinn. Forecst 3-7 m/s S-SW.