PRESS RELEASE
A specimen copy is kindly requested.
Hamburg, 13th of June 2013
With Highspeed to Saint Petersburg
Planning for the Nord Stream Race is under way
Start for the second edition of the Nord Stream Race is on the 15th of September 2013. The route
runs non-stop from Glücksburg to Saint Petersburg and covers about 800 nautical miles across the
Baltic Sea. Besides the Gazprom Swan 60-yachts which will start in their own division, the entry list
for ORC-yachts is also growing constantly.
The start will take place in front of the magnificent backdrop of the Flensburger Förde. The route
passes east of Bornholm and then follows the Nord Stream gas pipeline. The finish line is just a few
miles off Saint Petersburg.
Last year the regatta was only open for the Gazprom Swan 60-class but in 2013 the Nord Stream
Race welcomes ORC-yachts, too, in order to attract the active ORC circuit in the Baltic Sea. The first
start is on Sunday, 15th of September for the ORC Division B. ORC Division A and Gazprom Swan 60
class follow on Monday, 16th of September.
The organisers hope that the regatta will bring together participants from all over Europe. German
Volvo Ocean Race-Sailor Tim Kröger, Skipper of Team Europe at Nord Stream Race 2012, says: „This
Nord Stream Race is a great idea and a fantastic challenge for all competitors. I think we have proven
how exciting a regatta can be during the first edition with extremely close finishes. With westerly
winds the second edition this year could turn out to be a very fast trip, but with Easterlies or
Northeasterlies we will all face a tough fight. I'm extremely delighted to be part of a race again that
has all the ingredients to become a classic race in the Baltic which connects the west and the east of
Europe.”
Henning Rocholl, NRV CEO continues, “We hope that the yachts will set a recognisable bench mark
for this regatta, which shall be listed by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.”
The race is going to be very interesting and exciting: Since the 56ft-yacht „Nordic Falcon“ had signed
up in April, famous names like the Elliott 52 „Outsider“ and the 57ft-racer „Scho-Ka-Kola“ have been
added to the list. With the two-tonner „Blagodarnost II“ the first competitor from Russia is also going
to take up the challenge. In addition „Haspa Hamburg“ (J/V 52) and „Pogo I“ have registered their
entry amongst others.
www.nord-stream-race.com
PRESS RELEASE
“Racing non-stop for 800 miles in the very northern hemisphere in September is encouraging and
challenging and has not been done in this way before,” says Alan Green, Race Director. He knows
what he is talking about: Alan is a committed offshore-sailor himself and one of the most
experienced race officers in the world, having been responsible for the Whitbread Race, Volvo Ocean
Race, Fastnet Race, Vendee Globe and Route du Rhum amongst others. Therefore he knows exactly
the great feeling when crossing the finishing line: “The finish in Saint Petersburg after approximately
four to six sailing days will be breath-taking for the sailors.”
Saint Petersburg is a fascinating destination for the offshore-scene and definitely worth the journey.
During the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/2009 the “Venice of the North”, as the city is being called, has
already proven to be Russia’s sailing metropolis.
To make the preparations as easy as possible for the sailors, the organisers support the participants
wherever they can. NRV has organised a professional visa support for travelling to Russia as well as
special hotel arrangements with fixed prices for participants. In order to help with the return
transport of yachts from Saint Petersburg back to the respective home port the NRV offers two
solutions: Yachts can either be transported on a cargo ferry or by hiring a professional crew.
More information and details under www.nord-stream-race.com
Images: Please find attached two photos of Nord Stream Race participants: Firstly the
SCHO-KA-KOLA with Skipper Dr. Uwe Lebens and secondly the NORDIC FALCON with helmsman
Eckhart Gerlinger.
For high res images and editorial requests, please contact:
Nord Stream Race
in charge for public relations
Headquarters | Hamburg
Annette Krüger
phone +49 (0)40 87 87 999-18
email media@nord-stream-race.com
The race: The Nord Stream Race is a non-stop regatta that covers more than 800 nautical miles across the
Baltic Sea. The regatta starts on September 15th 2013 from Glücksburg. The route passes east of Bornholm and
then follows the Nord Stream gas pipeline which is also the name giver of the race. The finish line is just a few
miles off Saint Petersburg. The Race is open for the Gazprom Swan 60 Class and yachts under ORC-handicap.
Depending on the size and type of the respective yacht and on the wind conditions the boats will be on the
water for approximately four to eight days. Organiser of this top-class event is the Norddeutscher Regatta
Verein (NRV) together with Saint Petersburg Yacht Club (SPBYC), supported by Flensburger Segel-Club (FSC).
The Nord Stream Race was initiated in 2012 and serves the transnational connection between the Baltic Rim
countries on a sporting level.
www.nord-stream-race.com
PRESS RELEASE
Partners of Nord Stream Race:
Saint Petersburg Yacht Club: The Yacht Club of Saint Petersburg (SPBYC) is based at Hercules Yacht
Harbour within the heart of Russian sailing capital and was established in 2010. The yacht club aims
to develop sailing as a sport across the Russian nation as well as valuing the duty to keep traditional
maritime history and sea ethics alive through a sustainable worldwide legacy program for future
generations. High profile honorary members include His Majesty Constantine II, King of Greece.
SPBYC is a meeting place for like-minded individuals who all have a love and respect of the sea and is
now ready to become a world renowned yachting hub. www.yacht-club-spb.ru
Norddeutscher Regatta Verein: The Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) founded 1868 not only is
the largest yacht club in Germany but at the same time it is also a major organizer of national and
international sailing events. One of the main objectives today is the development of our young
sailors. We cultivate our traditions that have evolved from over 140 years of club history and at the
same time we look ahead to master the many challenges yet to come. www.nrv.de
Nord Stream: Nord Stream is a natural gas pipeline which links Russia and the European Union
through the Baltic Sea. The first of Nord Stream’s two parallel pipelines became operational in
November 2011, the second in October 2012. The total capacity is enough to supply more than 26
million European households. This international joint-venture project by major energy companies
Gazprom, BASF SE/Wintershall Holding GmbH and E.ON Ruhrgas AG, N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie and
GDF SUEZ S.A. is an important contribution to long-term security of supply and a milestone of the
energy partnership between the European Union and Russia. The Nord Stream Pipeline offers a
relevant route and context for the race. Due to its dimension and active stakeholder and public
engagement, Nord Stream has become a symbol of international cooperation as the Nord Stream
Race also intends to. www.nord-stream.com
Contact:
Ulrich Lissek, Communications Director, Mobile: +41 79 874 31 58
Jens D. Müller, Deputy Communications Director, Mobil: +41 79 295 96 08
Email: press@nord-stream.com
www.nord-stream-race.com
PRESS RELEASE
Gazprom: Gazprom is a global energy company with its businesses extending across Russia and
throughout more than 40 countries worldwide. Gazprom holds the world's largest natural gas
reserves. The Company's share in the global and Russian gas reserves makes up around 18 and some
72 per cent respectively. Gazprom has long believed it has a responsibility to give back to the
communities it works within and its social goals to promote a healthy lifestyle, an harmonious
upbringing of a physically strong generation and worthy performances at international sporting
events were a natural fit with the Nord Stream Race. www.gazprom.com
Marinepool: Marinepool is widely regarded as one of the leading sailing clothing and maritime
lifestyle brands with sales in 43 countries worldwide and is the leading producer of life jackets for the
leisure and sport market in Europe. The company’s vast product portfolio comprises performance
sailing clothing and outdoor garments, functional fashion for sailing and water sports as well as
lifestyle clothing lines for women, men and kids in a unique maritime style. Marinepool is partner of
world-class teams and events such as the Extreme Sailing Series™, Energy Team France and the
Sailing Team Germany. www.marinepool.com
Ernst Kabel Druck: Ernst Kabel Druck GmbH, Hamburg, is a Hanseatic print shop with a long tradition,
well known for quality and innovation. We produce a large variety of printing products from business
reports to A1-posters as well as extraordinary finishing options like stamping or embossing. Ernst
Kabel Druck uses state-of-the-art machines and CtP technology to enable us to provide high quality
services even under tight deadlines and to match big campaigns with each other. Contact: Henning
Tebbe. www.kabel-druck.de
www.nord-stream-race.com