Gazprom and Nord Stream AG are expanding their involvement in competitive sailing in 2017. In addition to the new edition of the annual Nord Stream Race through the Baltic Sea, the companies are joining forces with the National Sailing Leagues of the Scandinavian countries along with Germany and Russia.
Nord Stream AG and Gazprom support the Nord Stream Race, which is organized each year by the prestigious Saint Petersburg Yacht Club. The route follows the Nord Stream pipeline, which gave the regatta its name, and the race starts in Germany and finishes in Russia.
This year the route of the Nord Stream Race cover five countries of the Baltic Sea. On their way from Kiel to the final destination in St. Petersburg, the regatta fleet, which this year consists of brand new ClubSwan 50 yachts from the renowned Nautor's Swan stable, will also include stopovers in Denmark, Sweden and Finland.
The countries for these intermediate stops have been selected carefully. The winners of the National Sailing Leagues from 2016 are the five teams that compete against each other in the Nord Stream Race. This new selection process helps to build a stronger connection between the race and the nations of Northern Europe. Nord Stream AG and Gazprom are expanding their cooperation with these Northern European countries by partnering up with the National Sailing Leagues.
The National Sailing Leagues season lasts from March to November 2017. More than 70 clubs compete in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finnland and Russia for the title of the best national sailing club. The Russian league was the first to start in 2017 with the first event taken place in the end of March in Sochi.
The Nord Stream Race starts in Germany on 26 August 2017. The yachts are scheduled to arrive in St. Petersburg on 7 September. The regatta includes stopovers in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki.
Photo: German Sailing League/Lars Wehrmann
