There is now open water outside Helsinki - not everywhere but still ..................... Traditionally the sailing season starts in the beginning of May and I do not believe that we will have to cancel any races due to ice on the course area.

Preparations for the Open Europeans event advance as scheduled. The recruitment process has been successful and most participating clubs now have rather complete regatta crews. Training sessions and meetings are being held. My own club, NJK – responsible for the Laser events - had two sessions last week and the next one is scheduled for early May.
We also had a very good and useful ISAF race management seminar here with participants from as far away as Brazil and the West coast of United States. With 12 Finnish paricipants, our skills improved vastly and we should be better equipped to deliver good racing.
I have had a number of mails asking various questions and below I try to answer some of them as they may be of general interest.

1. Booking accomodation with Scandic.

Please click at the Scandic logo on the openeuropeans2011.fi website and you will find information on how to proceed. Note that the special rates are available only from 30th June. I recommend that you book as early as possible.

2. Living, unloading and loading on the venue

As mentioned in the last newsletter, there are possibilities to live in your camper, mobile home or caravan on the Hernesaari venue. The charge is now confirmed as 25€ per night.

I have also had questions regarding parking facilities for cars and am glad to be able to confirm that there will be enough parking space for the competitors, coaches, race officials and any other persons who are involved in the Open Europeans event. There will be no parking fee for sailors, coaches or team leaders.

If your team requires space and/or assistance for handling and storing workshop and storage containers or similar, you are invited to contact us as soon as possible so that we can make the necessary preparations.

3. The weather
There is a project going on, called Helsinki test bed. It gives you weather observations in real time, the most relevant observation post being the Harmaja lighthouse just outside Helsinki. The internet site is http://testbed.fmi.fi/. Note that there you find observations only, not forecasts. We are working with some meteorological service providers to make forecasts available to all sailors.

4. Renting coach boats
I have compiled a list of companies and individuals proposing RIBs and other boats for those of you who do not bring your own coach boats. Both RIBs and aluminium/fibre glass boats should be available. Please check the pdf document next to the photo. You can also conact me on this subject. 

5. How to get here, update
I am afraid that many nof you have had difficulties trying to book ferry transport to Finland. Day ferries normally are cheaper and less crowded but obviously you loose some time using them. Between Sweden and Finland, the cheapest ferry route usually is the one between Kapellskär north of Stockholm and Naantali just north of Turku/Åbo.

6. Paying your entry fee
If you pay through your bank, you find the account identification in the relevant Notice of Race. You may be asked to add the name and address of the receiver , which is as follows:

Helsinki Sail Racing management
c/o NJK
Koivusaari Etelä
00200 Helsinki FINLAND

I look forward to meeting you in Helsinki in June/July and am happy to answer all your questions.
 

Patrick Andersson

General Secretary
info@helsinkisailracing.fi
+358 40 540 4862

 

30/3/2011 00:00