Today’s leg of Gulf of Riga Regatta 2019 (GoRR) from Kuressaare harbor in Saaremaa to Ruhnu Island has been cancelled due to safety concerns, caused by strong winds. According to the weather forecast the wind gusts in Riga gulf reach up to more than 20 meters per second. This resulted in the organizers adjusting the remaining schedule of the regatta. Meanwhile the sailing teams are participating in various environment and sailing topics related seminars.
"This is a part of the sailing experience and we as the organizers have to be aware that all races can be subject to unplanned corrections. We have to respect the force of Nature that can affect, postpone or even cancel the leg as it has happened today. The Principle Race Officer usually makes such decisions, and safety concerns are paramount," explains Valters Romans, leading regatta organizer and representative of the Latvian Sailing Union. He also mentions that despite today's leg cancelation, GoRR will continue tomorrow its leg to Ruhnu Island and a day after tomorrow - on June 29th the teams will return to Kuivizi harbor. Additional changes are possible for the short distances that were initially planned for the final day of the race.
Two of five initially planned GoRR regatta legs have already eventuated: the first leg from Roja to Montu (Saaremaa Island) and the second leg from Montu to Kuressaare. The winners of the separate legs are also selected and so far the following teams have taken places on the pedestal.
The first leg on 25 June from Roja to Montu (Estonia):
- ORC class - Lithuanian team EXTREME, captain Aistis Kalanavicius (sail number LTU-1620)
- LYS1 class - Latvian team PROJECT A1, captain Janis Norde (sail number LAT-424)
- LYS2 class - Latvian team TERRADO, captain Romans Mickevics (sail number LAT-572)
Second leg on 26 June from Montu to Kuressaare (Saaremaa Island):
- ORC class - Lithuanian team EXTREME, captain Aistis Kalanavicius (sail number LTU-1620)
- LYS1 class - Latvian team EXTRA BRUT, captain Aleksejs Aleksejevs (sail number LAT-577)
- LYS2 class - Estonian team CASTOR, captain Joosep Laus (sail number EST-39)
The winners of the regatta will be determined on 29 June in Kuivizi, however the preliminary results show that after the first two stages the current winners are Lithuanian and Latvian teams.
- ORC class - Lithuanian team EXTREME, captain Aistis Kalanavicius (sail number LTU-1620)
- LYS1 class - Latvian team EXTRA BRUT, captain Aleksejs Aleksejevs (sail number LAT-577)
- LYS2 class - Latvian team DIKS, captain Girts Fisers-Blumbergs (sail number LAT-454)
GoRR is also Latvian Offshore Sailing Championship happening in the Gulf of Riga. Currently 33 yachts from Baltic countries are participating in the regatta that has started racing right after Midsummer on 25 June. The regatta will last five days until 29 June, determining the best yachtsmen out of Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian teams at the Kuiviži Yacht Club. For the first time in the history of Latvian sailing, winning participants will receive the newly introduced prize - the Livonian Cup, that symbolizes renaissance of the offshore sailing sport traditions in Latvia. One winner in each of three groups (ORC, LYS1 and LYS2) will receive the Livonian Cup. It will be presented to the team with the shortest possible time of the overall race distance.
GoRR regatta is organized by the Latvian Sailing Union, Latvian Offshore Sailing Association and Saaremaa Merispordi Selts.
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