The competition of the world’s most prestigious open sea racing series starts in Helsinki on Saturday.
On Saturday, the round of the RORC, the world’s most prestigious open sea racing series, starts in Finland. The Roschier Baltic Sea Race, a 635-nautical-mile race in the Baltic Sea, was organized for the first time two years ago.
The skippers of the boat race in question received a stop warning on Friday. According to current information, Russia is organizing a military exercise with its warships, which may even extend to the competition route of the sailing event.
– In addition to the fact that it will be stormy, according to current information, Russia is organizing a military exercise. It has been warned that there may be a collision course with warships, the skipper of the Tulikettu boat Arto Linnervuo tells.
Linnervuo says that he has never heard such a warning during his own career as a skipper.
– Warships often sail in the dark. They do not transmit an electronic signal. Such racing boats rarely have radar when sailing in the Baltic Sea.
Linnervuo says that, for example, the boats in question can communicate with merchant ships.
– Warships do not provide such information, Linnervuo states.
No cancellation
It is unclear when and where such a military exercise would take place. It is not known how long it will last.
– The only thing that has been said is that it is possible that it will happen directly on the race track.
The fastest boats reach the finish line on the night between Monday and Tuesday. On the other hand, it can take until the end of the week for the slowest ones to take the route. The latter boats may indeed be more vulnerable to that threat.
Linnervuo continues that the skipper’s most important task is to get his crew to the finish line safely. According to Linnervuo, the race organizer has not talked about canceling the race.
Russia has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine for almost two and a half years.
– Even though this is an important race, it’s just about sailing. The skippers’ thoughts are on Ukraine and what is happening there. A small thing for us, but a surprising warning.
– There is no possibility of cancellation. The race will take place as usual. There are experienced skippers who are used to such challenges. However, this is a surprising situation for everyone.