Experience - Sailing Areas - Sailing Conditions

Race Venue

One Event - One Solid Moment. Click the image to view the Race Venue map. The Star class will have one of the islands as their base, not the place appointed in this map.

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Experience of Joint Efforts

Helsinki Regatta has for the last 53 years been a part of a 146 year history of organised sailboat racing in Helsinki, in addition of all other activities, from club races to international championships. This annual 3-day regatta has attracted sailors in up to 20 classes, from Optimist to 8mR. During the last 10 years the number of boats has been on average 200, with a varying amount of international participation. The racing has been carried out simultaneously in 5-6 sailing areas. The organisation is a joint effort of several clubs. The 7 leading ones of them have recently formed the Helsinki Sail Race Management (HSRM).

Goals of the HSRM

HSRM aims at making Helsinki a centre of sailboat racing in the eastern Baltic by regularly hosting main international events. We aim to extend the duration of the annual Helsinki Regatta to about one week and thus strengthen its position as the main event in that area.

The impact of the Open Europeans

Our belief is that the Open Europeans would vitalise the sailing in the whole Eastern Baltic region. Consequently it would be possible to considerably raise the level and status of the Helsinki Regatta. The capacity and competence of the organisation would be improved. The boats and equipment would be updated. The improvement in all these areas would be a considerable boost lasting legacy for sailboat racing in Finland.

Sailing Conditions

The sailing conditions are ideal in Helsinki. It is mostly sunny in July in Helsinki. The clouds and thunderstorms often stay on land without reaching the Helsinki peninsula and the racecourses. Day temperature is mostly above 20C. Winds are often thermal, which can be noticed in the enclosed wind charts. The wind develops early, because of the early sunrise and is reliable rather late because of the late sunset. The risk of too strong winds is very small in the summer. The risk of loosing a day due to light winds is relatively small. The current is negligible and has no impact on racing. The waves are usually short, but after some windier days the waves get big enough for good surfing downwind.

Experience on Race Areas

International championships have been sailed in practically all the racing areas in Helsinki. There are many race officials with experience in all of them. The areas have been chosen as being suitable in all of the main prevailing weather conditions.