Aivar Tuulberg, captain of Estonian Katariina II, the reigning Baltic Offshore Week and European champion expects a good level of regatta in BOW 2017.

– It is going to be 3 days of good racing. Race format itself is same as at ORC title events. 

Katariina II crew has undergone some changes because of some obligations few cream members have. Tuulberg names few circumstances which need to be taken into account when competing in Baltic Sea.

– When racing in Baltic Sea or Gulf of Finland you can expect any form of weather and wind conditions. One thing what makes sailing unique in Finland, is this archipelago, especially in the offshore race, which puts the navigator under the pressure.

As a defending champions, Katariina II crew has only one goal and that is to defend the title in Helsinki.

– It is hard to name other competitors, because there are several teams which are working really hard to prepare and modify their boats. We will see during the race who’s fast and who is not.

After BOW2017, Tuulberg and Katariina II crew are heading back to Tallinn and then to Trieste, Italy, where ORC World Championships are held.

Text: Liina-Maija Rummukainen
Photos: Aivar Tuulberg