On the weekend before the Midsummer on June 20-21, the first stage of this year’s season of the Estonian Sailing League took place in the Yacht Harbor of the Seaplane Harbor in Tallinn. The regatta, which was supposed to take place at the beginning of May, but was missed due to coronavirus restrictions, could no longer be relocated into the season, and thus the 2020 league season consists of two regattas. The first stage was won by the experienced team of the Estonian Match Race Association in front of the youth teams of Pärnu Yacht Club and Saaremaa Maritime Sports Society.

The weather favored both sailors and organizers. On both competition days, a stronger-than-average northeast wind of 20 knots, with gusts of up to 28-30 knots was blowing. The direction of the wind allowed the PRO Madis Ausman to start the races and accept the finish from the quay of the Seaplane Harbor, and the race course did not have to move much during the two days – the wind was so constant this time. This venue is very pleasant for a regatta with a sailing league format because for both sailors and comrades the whole competition could be well watched from the quay. And since the teams were on the same shore between races, it was a great atmosphere to enjoy the regatta.

As expected, the team of the Estonian Match Race Association with Mati Sepp at the helm and Karl-Hannes Tagu, Martin-Gustav Lepp and Ago Rebane in the crew, was showing the skills and experience of their well-run team. In the competition with eleven flights held, the team gave up the race victory only twice – both times to the youth team of Kalev Yacht Club. A total of 14 points were collected and the first stage victory was well earned.

The youth team of Pärnu Yacht Club led by Keith Luur, with Rasmus Maalinn, Karsten Holter, Pert Salundi and Karel Ratnik in the crew won six of the eleven races and collected a total of 17 points. As a result, the best youth team also took second place overall. The helmsman Keith Luur highly appreciated the format of the sailing league and sailing with the team on keel yachts.

The third place was won by the youth team of the Saaremaa Maritime Sports Society with 27 points, led by Joosep Laus and in the team by Bo Aaron Kooser, Karl Lember and Tobias Reiter. The team that registered for the competition at the last minute was in good shape and with its result also surpassed the winning team of last year’s Estonian Sailing League season – youth team of Kalevi Yacht Club.

The teams of Kalev Yacht Club, Pärnu Yacht Club, Tallinn Yacht Club, Haapsalu Yacht Club, Saaremaa Maritime Sports Society and the Estonian Match Race Association were participating. In addition to them, the team of Zuxu Sailing with wild card.

The second stage of the Estonian Sailing League will take place on the last weekend of September in Kakumäe Haven.

Facebook of the Estonian Sailing League – https://www.facebook.com/EstonianSailingLeague/

Photo credits: Piret Salmistu / Estonian Sailing League