Reigning Champions and Rising Stars Shine at Baltic Offshore Week 2025

Olympic and Katariina II are the Estonian and Finnish ORC Champions 2025

June 15 – Helsinki, Finland – written by Piret Salmistu – After three spectacular days of racing in the Gulf of Finland, the 2025 edition of the Baltic Offshore Week concluded with the crowning of new Estonian and Finnish national champions in ORC classes A and B. With fresh northerly winds, blue skies, and ideal sailing conditions following days of cold fronts and rain, the event offered a perfect test for top offshore teams preparing for the upcoming Garmin ORC World Championship in Tallinn.

The teams of Olympic and Katariina II © Jussi Nukari

Brisk Conditions and Full Race Schedule

The fleet enjoyed a complete program of eight races, including a mix of windward-leeward and constructed course races across Friday and Sunday, while an offshore race of 42+ nm was sailed on Saturday. Sunday brought the most demanding conditions, with average wind speeds around 15 knots and gusts reaching up to 24 knots, pushing teams to stay sharp in heavy downwind legs and tight tactical battles. As the Principal Race Officer, Andres Talts was pleased that the full race program was successfully completed.

Scoring was based on Performance Curve Scoring (PCS), using Constructed Course formats for windward-leeward races, while the offshore race was scored with the Weather Routing Scoring (WRS)–the methods also applied at the ORC World Championship.

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Baltic Offshore Week 2025 Underway in Helsinki

The Baltic Offshore Week 2025, serving as both the Estonian and Finnish ORC National Championships, is officially underway in Helsinki. This year, the event is hosted by the Finnish side, with racing organized by Helsingfors Segelklubb (HSK) from June 12–15.

The competition features a mix of offshore and inshore races, scored using the ORC’s weather routing system for the offshore race and the ORC polar curve scoring for inshore courses.

A total of 22 teams are taking part—13 from Finland and 9 from Estonia—divided evenly between two classes: 11 boats in ORC A and 11 in ORC B.

Notice Board & Entries: Manage2Sail Event Page

Results & Scratch Sheets: ORC Results Page

Follow the race live: https://sportrec.eu/garmin-baltic-offshore-week-2014/

Mercedes-Benz ja Sugar on 2024 ORC avamerepurjetamise Eesti ja Soome meistrid

14.-16. juunil peeti Tallinnas Kalevi Jahtklubis avamerepurjetamise ORC A ja B klasside Eesti ja Soome meistrivõistlused regati Baltic Offshore Week 2024 raames. Kolme võistluspäeva jooksul peeti kokku seitse võistlussõitu – kuus lühirajal ja pea kaksteist tundi kestnud avameresõit. A klassi kahe maa meistritiitli võitis Jani Lehti meeskond jahil Mercedes-Benz (GP 42) Soomest ja B klassi meistritiitel kuulub Eesti jahile Sugar (Italia 9.98 F), mille roolis Sandro Montefusco.

BOW 2024 kokkuvõte ja galerii Postimehes

Mercedes-Benz and Sugar are the 2024 ORC Champions of Estonia and Finland

From June 14th to 16th, the ORC A and B class Offshore Sailing Championships of Estonia and Finland were held at Kalev Yacht Club in Tallinn, as part of the Baltic Offshore Week 2024 regatta. Seven races were held over three days of competition – six windward(leeward races and a nearly twelve-hour offshore race. The A class champion of both countries is the crew of Jani Lehti on the yacht Mercedes-Benz (GP 42) from Finland, while the B class championship title went to the Estonian yacht Sugar (Italia 9.98 F), helmed by Sandro Montefusco.

SUGAR Italia 9.98 F, leading the pack – Baltic Offshore Week 2024 © Gerli Tooming Photography

The Baltic Offshore Week has alternated between the northern and southern shores of the Gulf of Finland since 2008. This year’s regatta in Tallinn attracted 22 yachts from Estonia, Finland, and Sweden. Traditionally, this regatta has been highly competitive and is an important preparation for the upcoming ORC championship, which this year will be the ORC European Championship in Mariehamn, Åland, in August.

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Day 1 Update – BOW 2024 in Tallinn

After a two-year wait, 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 has returned to the Estonian shore of the Gulf of Finland! We’re thrilled to welcome 22 boats from Finland, Sweden, and Estonia competing for the ORC Champion titles of Estonia and Finland in Classes A and B.

Class A features 8 boats, while Class B boasts 14 boats.

The day began with a Skippers Meeting at the Kalev Yacht Club marina, where PRO Andres Talts briefed sailors on the plan for four windward/leeward races. Despite the light and unstable morning wind, conditions improved in the afternoon.

The first race saw a significant wind change, with Charlie at the gate and a new bearing to the second upwind mark. The A class had a nervous start, leading to four boats missing the starting line and having to start again. The second start was more balanced, despite some wind shifts.

Unfortunately, the wind died, and the PRO hoisted AP, announcing a wait for steadier conditions. Stay tuned for more updates!

BOW2024 in Tallinn - © Kristi Talts
BOW2024 in Tallinn Day 1 – © Kristi Talts

Baltic Offshore Week 2024 in Tallinn

Baltic Offshore Week (BOW), within which the champions of the Estonian and Finnish offshore sailing ORC classes are determined, has been held more or less alternately on the northern and southern shores of the Gulf of Finland since 2008. This year’s regatta is organized by Kalev Yacht Club in cooperation with the Finnish Offshore Sailing Association and the Estonian Yachting Union. The Official Notice Board and Registration are in Manage2Sail.

Preliminary program:
Thursday 13th June
16:00-20:00 Registration + measurement checks

Friday 14th June
8:00-9:30 Registration
10:00 Skippers Meeting
12:00 First Warning Signal – up to 4 inshore races (w/l)

Saturday, 15th June
Offshore Race

Sunday, 16th June
Up to 3 Inshore Races

Races may be re-scheduled if required by weather forecast.
On Sunday June 16, 2024 last warning signal no later than 15:00.

Kalev Yacht Club

Welcome to Tallinn and Kalev Yacht Club!

Olympic EST463 and Team Pro4U SWE88 are the winners of the BOW2022

 The results of three more inshore races were added to the final score of the Baltic Offshore Week 2022 today, making it total of 8 races completed. Great sunny day with westerly winds building up to 15 m/s with gusts and waves on Tallinn bay wasn’t the easiest to all teams, but the majority were fighting out there until the last finish.

However, it wasn’t necessary for two boats, who secured the victory of the championship with the first today’s inshore races sailed and the second discard coming into play.

𝙊𝙡𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙘 (X-41 mod) EST463 with Tiit Vihul at the helm © Janis Spurdzins

𝙊𝙡𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙘 (X-41 mod) EST463 with Tiit Vihul at the helm © Janis Spurdzins

We are talking about the team 𝙊𝙡𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙘 (X-41 mod) EST463 with Tiit Vihul at the helm in Class A and 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙋𝙧𝙤4𝙐 (First 36,7 Mod) SWE88 steered by Patrik Forsgren in Class B.

Scoring second and first in today’s races, team 𝙊𝙡𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙘 was using their possibility to secure the title with a race to spare and not to sail the last race, while 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙋𝙧𝙤4𝙐 was using a chance to race in that final race, to learn, practice and sail against the strongest ORC fleet in the Northern Europe, and to have their victory moment when crossing the finish line for the last time at the Baltic Offshore Week 2022.

“We are very happy to win Baltic Offshore Week for the third time,” said the helmsman of Olympic, Tiit Vihul, “but this time it was different because we have got to know our boat and its trim better with this race, and after ten years of sailing we are really finally figured out how to achieve great speed. If last year we were more or less equal to our competitors’ X-41 yachts, this time a little faster. So it is very good to move on from that base! The team did a very good job and made no tactical or technical mistakes, and it seems to me that we learned more this weekend than in the previous ten years. Strong winds are very suitable for us and contributed well to the speed of the boat. Today’s competition was of the highest level competition after last year’s World Championships, because most of the boats competing in our group were in the top ten at the World Championships. “

Video interview with Tiit Vihul

Both teams had a superior victory since 𝙊𝙡𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙘 kept in their final scoreline 4 bullets and two second places, while 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙋𝙧𝙤4𝙐 discarded two seconds and their final score consisted from 6 bullets only. Excellent performance from both teams!!

“It was a very good and useful regatta for us with a lot of race practice in a lot of wind, especially today when we raced in around 25 knots gives a lot of new learnings and experiences,” said Peter Thorwid, Tactician of Pro4U.

Team member Emil Forsgren added that sailing here against so many strong Estonian boats is especially important for them. “It is good for us to compare how our home rides and settings this season have developed, competing here in the fierce competition. We have a couple of new team members, and for them it was a great training and an opportunity to learn from unusual conditions.” Main trimmer Sven Eriksson added that the waves here are different from what they are used to in Sweden, but it is especially good for training and attention to detail.

“We want to thank the Estonian hosts for an excellent regatta and everything around the races such as courses, results, information has been excellent. We hope that we will be able to come back to BOW another year,” said Team Pro4U.

Interview with Emil Forsgren and Sven Eriksson

𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙋𝙧𝙤4𝙐 (First 36,7 Mod) of Patrik Forsgren - © Janis Spurdzins

𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙋𝙧𝙤4𝙐 (First 36,7 Mod) of Patrik Forsgren – © Janis Spurdzins

At the same time the battle for the second and third final podium places was fierce in both classes.

In Class A, the winner of yesterday’s offshore race, Juss Ojala’s 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙖 4 (J-112E) scored 1-2-1 today – the best score of Class A – and jumped from the yesterday’s fourth to the second. The battle was fierce for completing the podium. 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙪𝙢 (X-41 mod) of Tanel Tamm, who was the second before the final day, scored 6-3-4, while 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚 (X-41) with Jaak Jõgi at the helm, being third in the morning, scored 3-5-2 today and outperformed 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙪𝙢 by 0.4 points in the final score to complete the A class podium.

A class podium of the Baltic Offshore Week 2022 © Janis Spurdzins

A class podium of the Baltic Offshore Week 2022 © Janis Spurdzins

In class B Aivar Tuulberg’s 𝙆𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝙄𝙄 (Arcona 340) kept his second place on the podium scoring 8-3-2 today, despite of having some technical problems in today’s races. 𝘼𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫 𝙏𝙤𝙮𝙤𝙩𝙖 𝙎𝙏 (First 36.7 Mod) of Margus Zuravljov had a great day today scoring 2-1-4 and while their main competitor for the third place was 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤 (Italia 9.98) with Erki Melts at the helm, who scored 4-6-2 today, 𝘼𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫 𝙏𝙤𝙮𝙤𝙩𝙖 𝙎𝙏 managed to jump to the final step of the podium instead of 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤.

B class podium of the Baltic Offshore Week 2022 © Janis Spurdzins

B class podium of the Baltic Offshore Week 2022 © Janis Spurdzins

With that being said, the following teams and crews were on the podium at the BALTIC OFFSHORE WEEK 2022 winning 2022 ORC Estonian and Finnish Championship titles, silver and bronze medals in Tallinn.

GROUP A
🏆🥇 𝙊𝙡𝙮𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙘 – EST 463 – 8.8 pts
Skipper: Tiit Vihul, Raul Vane, Ivo Kais, Indrek Ulla, Aivar Kaljumäe, Meelis Pielberg, Tanel Trööp, Tarmo Vesberg, Marko Manni, Raul Eesmäe, Raul Vinnal
🥈𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙖 4 – EST 112 – 13.4 pts
Skipper: Juss Ojala, Joachim Aschenbrenner, Arne Veske, Marek Harjak, Christopher Juul, Erki Teras, Robin Juul, Meinar Mäesalu, Marko Seier
🥉 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚 – EST 475 – 19.2 pts
Skipper: Jaak Jõgi, Marko Nüüd, Indrek Rajangu, Meelis Nurk, Kalev Vapper, Martin Kaal, Tammo Otsasoo, Ando Raud, Marti Hääl, Kalev Kaal, Veiko Nüüd

Baltic Offshore Week 2022 - A class results

Baltic Offshore Week 2022 – A class results


GROUP B

🏆🥇 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙋𝙧𝙤4𝙐 SWE 88 – 6.4 pts
Skipper: Patrik Forsgren, Anders Björk, Peter Thorwid, Sven Eriksson, Emil Forsgren, Krafft Zacharias, Emil Alnebeck, Pontus Dahl, Per Joakim Hoppe
🥈 𝙆𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝙄𝙄 EST 646 – 15.8 pts
Skipper: Aivar Tuulberg, Karl-Hannes Tagu, Lorenzo Bodini, Henri Tauts, Jaan Akermann, Peter Saraskin, August Luure, Peeter Kaju, Karl Kolk
🥉 𝘼𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫 𝙏𝙤𝙮𝙤𝙩𝙖 𝙎𝙏 EST 379 – 18.2 pts
Skipper: Margus Zuravljov, Rene Maajärv, Martti Kinkar, Margus Nõmmik, Olari Vokk, Lauri Luks, Anna Maria Sepp, Eva Jakunin

Baltic Offshore Week 2022 - B Class results

Baltic Offshore Week 2022 – B Class results

🙏🙏Thank you to all competitors for participating at the Baltic Offshore Week! It was a great weekend on the water and ashore!

ORC avamerepurjetamise Eesti ja Soome meistrivõistluste avamereetapi võitsid Matilda 4 ja Team Pro4U

Matilda 4 (J-112 E) of Juss Ojala - photo © Janis Spurdzins

Matilda 4 (J-112 E) of Juss Ojala – photo © Janis Spurdzins

ORC avamerepurjetamise Eesti ja Soome meistrivõistlustel regati Baltic Offshore Week 2022 raames oli teiseks päevaks kavandatud pikk avameresõit, mis tavaliselt kestab 6-10 tundi, kuid ilmastikuolusid arvestades koostas peavõistlusjuht Madis Ausman distantsi sellele vastavalt veidi lühema, saates A-klassi paadid 45nM pikkusele rajale ja väiksematel B-klassi paatidel tuli purjetada 35nM pikkune etapp. Tänane sõit oli eriti oluline, kuna punktide kordaja oli 1,4 ja seda ei saa üldskoorist maha visata. Klasside kaupa lisasid oma skoori võidu Hiiumaa jaht Matilda 4 A-klassis ja B-klassis Team Pro4U Rootsist.

Read Day 2 suymmary in Postimees

Team Pro4U (First 36,7 Mod) of Patrik Forsgren - photo © Janis Spurdzins

Team Pro4U (First 36,7 Mod) of Patrik Forsgren – photo © Janis Spurdzins

Matilda 4 and Team Pro4U are the winners of the BOW2022 Offshore Race

A long offshore race has been scheduled for the second day of the Baltic Offshore Week 2022, but considering the weather conditions, PRO Madis Ausman composed the distance accordingly sending the boats of A class to the 45nM course, while smaller boats in Class B will had to sail a 35nM course.

Matilda 4 (J-112 E) of Juss Ojala - photo © Janis Spurdzins

Matilda 4 (J-112 E) of Juss Ojala – photo © Janis Spurdzins

The start was given at 11am to round the windward mark after 1 nm where the fleet hoisted their spinnakers and headed towards Aegna island and the furthermost mark, which for both classes was Tallinn Shoal Lighthouse from where they returned towards Tallinn until Keskmadala E buoy, from where Class A made a U-turn to round Uusmadala E-buoy to prolong their course by 10nm. The rest of the rounding marks where set already on the way to Tallinn, while the last to round was Katarina Quay E before finish. The forecast was pretty accurate about the weather and estimated time of the first finishers. As it was forecast, it started to rain at 11 am and entire course was sailed in rain.
Jani Lehti’s GP 42 𝙈𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙨-𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙯 𝙀𝙌 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 took the Line Honours at 16:30:19.

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Olympicu ja Team Pro4U juhtimine ORC avamerepurjetamise Eesti ja Soome meistrivõistluste avapäeva järel

Tallinna ja Soome lahel purjetatakse sel nädalalõpul ORC avamerepurjetamise Eesti ja Soome meistritiitlite nimel ja eest. Kalevi Jahtklubi võõrustab 17.-19. juunini regatti nimega Baltic Offshore Week, mida on vaheldumisi aastatel peetud Soome lahe põhja- ja lõunakaldal juba alates aastast 2008. Tänavusel regatil osaleb 25 jahti Eestist, Soomest, Rootsist ja Inglismaalt. Avapäeva järel juhivad võistlust Hiiumaa jaht Olympic ja Team Pro4U Rootsist.

Read Day 1 summary in Postimees

Baltic Offshore Week 2022_Day01

Baltic Offshore Week 2022_Day01