The event took place in Båstad, a lovely former fishing village in Southern Sweden, world famous for its 2 weeks Tennis Tournament, and from now on also very well known as a perfect place for Yacht Racing!

 

Everything you need is less than 100 m from where you are moored, whether you are looking for hotel, restaurant or shopping. Besides, the Peninsula with its spectacular environments offers a wide range of other outdoor activities such as golf (5 courses within 15 minutes from the harbour), horse riding and hiking.

 

Starting on Monday the 26th of July yachts from Estonia, Finland, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden began to arrive and had some busy days cleaning the bottom, rebuild part of the boat from cruising to racing, etc.

 

On the afternoon of the 28th we gathered outside the local sailing club and got our first beer together with hamburgers, sausages and other “snacks”.

 

We had a short formal opening ceremony and since most of the information has been giving via mail in advance, there were few questions and less to be said from the race committee. The harbour is crowded with bars and restaurants so some of the crews started their research while others kept hanging at the Club.

 

 

 

Thursday the 29th was our first racing day, and we were aiming at three races a day, each one using approx. one hour. The wind is normally very steady in the bay and slightly increasing during the day and that was the case now as well.

 

We got three close races in four different classes and one protest totally. The traditional beer was followed by a barbeque at Pepe’s Bodega, one of Sweden´s most famous mingle-spots, very good food and a familiar atmosphere.

 

 

 

On Friday the smile from yesterday was gone. Not only heavy raining but a wind speed from 12 to 19 m/sec made it very unpleasant. The race commander took the decision to cancel the day, a very wise and popular action!

The Club-house became the gathering spot for most crews and, despite the cancellation. Everybody was in good mode and engaged in severe discussions around yesterday´s racing and the different vessels capability. The evening was spent in a VIP-lounge at the Tennis Court, where we got an excellent buffet and a lot of entertainment from some Swedish artists being on a summer tour.

 

 

 

Saturday the 31th offered sunshine, a steady wind of 8 to 10 m/sec and in a direction that allowed the windward mark to be dropped just outside the harbour!

 

Very spectacular to watch an X-55 in close race with an X-50 almost on the beach and we did have a lot of spectators that day!

We got four very tight races with no incidents or protests, so it was e splendid finale! The last harbour-beer was given at the Club and the evening, which included the price-giving ceremony, took place at an ancient and lovely hotel/restaurant placed by the beach, overlooking the racing area.

 

A traditional New Orleans band played at the entrance and then throughout the night, so, besides eating and saluting the winners, a lot of crew members have strength left for spontaneous dancing!

 

One of the founders of X-Yacht, Birger Hansen, expressed what we believe many meant: This was a warm, familiar and yet very professionally performed regatta and we will for sure be back!