Despite the fact that some potential participants hesitated to come due to geopolitical uncertainty and GPS signal jamming caused by Russia in the Baltic Sea, crews of world and European champions and the latest design of offshore racing yachts will moor in the Lithuanian port.
Champions will seek to defend titles
According to the championship organizers, one of the biggest challenges in inviting teams was the geopolitical situation in the region. Some crews were concerned about GPS signal jamming caused by Russia in the Baltic Sea, which is very important in offshore sailing and navigation.
Nevertheless, a very strong European fleet is arriving in Klaipėda – world and European champions, the most modern racing yachts and teams that will compete for the top places.
The “Garmin Team Pro4u” team from Sweden, which won the world championship title last year in Tallinn, Estonia, and the vice-championship title in the smaller C group at the European Championship in 2024, is already eager to test their strength in Lithuanian waters.
“The European Championship is our main goal this season – we are looking forward to a truly competitive fight among the strongest European teams. Our team has slightly changed its composition since last year, but since the beginning of the year, we have put a lot of effort into ensuring that both we and our yacht are ready for the starts,” says “Garmin Team Pro4u”.
Both larger yacht groups – A and B – which previously competed separately, will this year compete in a single classification (A/B) by decision of the championship organizers. This means that Group B yachts will have an additional challenge competing against slightly larger Group A yachts.
Nevertheless, teams that have repeatedly proven their competitiveness are ready to fight. One of them is the Danish “Dixi 5” team. They won silver medals in both the 2024 European Championship and the 2025 World Championship and are now eager to step onto the highest step of the podium.
“We have a really strong and experienced team, as well as a competitive XR-41 class boat. I think our starting positions are good. We expect a serious fight and hope to show what we can do. True, this water area will be new to us, so we will need to learn and adapt quickly both before and during the championship,” shares Erik Stannow, owner of “Dixi 5”.
According to him, for the majority of the team, this will be their first time visiting Lithuania, so they are eager to get acquainted with the city and the country and interact with local residents and sailors during the championship.
In Lithuania – also the champions’ yacht model
In offshore sailing, much is currently determined not only by the composition of the team itself but also by the boat model chosen for racing. Almost every year, the fleet is supplemented with new design, faster, more competitive offshore yachts. This year is no exception.
At least a couple of the latest design – M.A.T. 11 – class yachts will compete in the Klaipėda European ORC Championship. It was a yacht of this design that won this year’s World ORC Championship, held in Sorrento, Italy.
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Adding to the sporting intrigue is the fact that one of these new design yachts also belongs to the Lithuanian team “Arabela”, led by captain Raimondas Šiugždinis.
“It is still very difficult to say how we will fare with this yacht on the water. Currently, intensive preparation work is underway – from installing electronics to preparing the yacht’s bottom for racing and setting up the mast. Usually, it takes time to get to know how the yacht “behaves” on the water, what settings and technical adjustments help achieve the highest speed. However, we don’t have time; we will have to learn and adapt very quickly,” shares R. Šiugždinis.
The team hopes to prepare the yacht for the “Curonian Lagoon Regatta” taking place at the end of July and test it on the water in racing mode there.
Another yacht of this design, which will start in the Klaipėda European ORC Sailing Championship, belongs to the Danes – the “Stony X” (Capt. Steen Toftebjerg) team.
Will seek competitive fight
Another Lithuanian team – “Keturi vėjai” led by Karolis Janulionis – will also stand at the starting line, having renewed their yacht. They exchanged their previously owned J112 class yacht this year for a slightly larger and more competitive X-41 class yacht in Group B. It was a yacht of this class that won the European Championship held in 2024.
“Looking at the results, X-41 class boats have always been among the most stable in this group. Now, with even newer model yachts appearing, it will be considerably more difficult, but we hope that, given the right conditions, we will be able to show something. True, one of our biggest challenges will be to sufficiently get used to our still new boat before the starts,” says K. Janulionis.
According to him, in addition to the renewed yacht, their team is particularly pleased that the championship is taking place in Lithuania this year.
“This is a very good and much-anticipated challenge – for both sailors and organizers. We hope for a great event!” says the sailor.
The Klaipėda European ORC Offshore Sailing Championship will take place from August 7-15. Throughout the week, a Regatta Town will operate at the Cruise Ship Terminal, inviting visitors to open the gates to the world of sea and wind through various educational and experiential activities and entertainment.
The Klaipėda European ORC Sailing Championship is financed by Klaipėda City Municipality. The event is partially financed by state budget funds administered by the National Sports Agency.
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