The festive mood will soon be replaced by concentration before the first start – on Monday, sailors will face the first championship race: a long-distance race at sea, which can last up to 36 hours.
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Klaipėda welcomed European sailors
On Saturday evening, Klaipėda’s Old Town became the meeting place for the international sailing community. Crews dressed in team shirts from the Sailors’ Quay headed towards the Cruise Ship Terminal, and the procession was watched by locals and city guests.
At the opening ceremony, the championship flag was brought to the Cruise Ship Terminal by a traditional kurėnas boat and raised on the flagpole. The championship was officially opened by Raimundas Daubaras, president of the Lithuanian Sailing Union, ORC vice president Ecky von der Moselis, chief championship judge Eckart Reinke, and championship leader Mantas Klimantavičius.
“This year’s European Championship in Klaipėda is a recognition of Lithuania’s achievements in marine sailing and its pioneers, as well as our recognition as a growing maritime nation. We wish all competitors good wind, safe racing, and success. Welcome to Lithuania, welcome to Klaipėda,” said Lithuanian Sailing Union president R. Daubaras at the opening ceremony.
ORC vice president E. von der Moselis recalled the goal set many years ago to make the Baltic Sea an international ORC sailing center.
“Today we stand here in Klaipėda, and this dream has come true. I wish sailors good wind, fair races, and success. ORC will ensure that everyone has equal opportunities to win,” said E. von der Moselis.
For European ORC Championship leader M. Klimantavičius, this evening is the culmination of three years of preparation.
“The time from the decision to hold the European ORC Championship in Klaipėda until today has passed very quickly. The most important thing for me is that the teams arriving in Klaipėda enjoy every day here, remember Klaipėda, and want to return. This championship is a great recognition for Lithuania, but also an obligation to show that we can organize international competitions of this level and be a hospitable port for European sailors,” says M. Klimantavičius.
During the opening, the participants were delighted by a performance specially created for this occasion by the dance group “Žuvėdra,” songs by Monika Linkytė, and musical pieces by Rovena Žiogė and the group “Voiceless.”
After the celebration – concentration before the first start
The preparation of sailors arriving in Klaipėda for the championship began on Friday. While crews handled registration formalities, the technical commission began yacht inspections – checking sails and safety equipment.
Among the teams arriving in Klaipėda with high expectations is Sweden’s “Garmin Team Pro4u” (captain Patrik Forsgren), last year’s ORC World Championship C group titleholders. This year, the team has added new members, so an important focus of preparation was the work of the new crew composition.
“We trained and participated in competitions in Sweden almost every week. In Klaipėda, we also had three very good training days – we could get to know the local conditions and, after a short vacation, feel the racing rhythm again,” said “Team Pro4u” crew member Emilis Forsgren before the championship start.
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Team member Elisa Lindskog also read the sailors’ oath on stage on Saturday evening.
The Lithuanian “Arabela-Citadele,” led by Raimondas Šiugždinis, arrived at the championship with a new MAT 11 yacht. Two weeks ago, the team won the C group ORC “Prologue Race” in Klaipėda with it, but the crew is still discovering the yacht and its capabilities.
“It feels like we are students before an exam – we need one more night. For the first time, we raised all the main sails only during the ORC Prologue Race a week ago. You could say we are ready, but the real answer on how we do will be revealed on the water,” says R. Šiugždinis.
Competitive participants also gathered in the larger AB group, including last year’s B group vice-champions “Dixi 5” (captain Erikas Stannow). Also, there are as many as 5 “X-41” class yachts, which historically have shown very good results in ORC championships. Among these yachts is the Lithuanian “Keturi vėjai” (captain Karolis Janulionis) team.
On Monday, all participants will face the first championship start – a long-distance race at sea that can last up to 36 hours. This will immediately be a serious test for both sailors and their yachts.
The championship start is accompanied by a celebration on shore
On Saturday, the Regatta Village located at the Cruise Ship Terminal was also opened. Here, locals and city guests could not only watch the preparation for the championship but also try out sailing activities themselves.
Visitors took tours of the legendary yachts “Ambersail” and “Lietuva,” children learned the basics of sailing by trying out “Optimist,” ILCA, and RS Feva yachts, and made boats from sustainable materials. Adults could test their skills in a sailing sports challenge – heeling on a special heeling bench designed for sailors to train, and also try the device sailors call the “coffee grinder” – a device designed to reduce force loads when raising and managing sails.
On Saturday, the Regatta Village also launched a live talk show “Pokalbių uostas,” where sailor and journalist Giedrius Masalskis interviews people from different fields who are passionate about the sea, wind, and sailing. In the first conversation, he met with businessman Robertas Dargis and sailor Kristoforas Akromas – together they talked about how the sea shapes a person’s personality.
“Now we want to focus on the competition – to ensure it runs smoothly and that there is good, fair, and competitive racing at sea, but also to invite Klaipėda residents and guests to visit the Regatta Village daily. I hope they will take something new from this event, learn more about sailing, and perhaps become part of our community,” says M. Klimantavičius.
The Klaipėda ORC European Sailing Championship takes place from August 7–15. The Regatta Village at the Cruise Ship Terminal will be open throughout the championship week.
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