Going the distance

Teams from ten nations are preparing to start the Archipelago Raid

22 teams from ten nations will compete in this year’s edition of the Archipelago Raid, starting in the heart of Stockholm on Friday 13 June. For six days and five nights the teams will challenge the force of man and nature in the beautiful but difficult landscape of the Stockholm, Aland and Finnish archipelago in small and very fast formula 18 catamarans.

The teams originate from the UK, France, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Australia and the independent island of Aland. Half of the teams have never competed in the Archipelago Raid before but are experienced sailors, endurance racers or very familiar with the archipelago. Three teams have already reached the podium in previous editions: Brit, William Sunnucks, on X-Leisure won the Raid in 2004, the French Hobie Cat pro Eric Proust, on Team Kalix, has already reached the podium three times, all but the top step, and the Swedish match racer and America’s Cup sailor Martin Strandberg, Team Thule, took an impressive third place last year on his first Archipelago Raid.

Among the 22 teams there is one all female team: Karin Almquist, 26, and Karin Berg, 22, belonging to the Swedish national 470 team. The team, GB Glace, is sponsored by Unilever Nordic, also the main partner of the race.

There is one more female competitor in this tough endurance race, the world renowned solo sailor Ellen MacArthur, teaming up with Australian Greg Homann on BT: "I was up in Stockholm for a couple of days last week and the weather was just fantastic. We had great winds, clear blue skies and I was reminded that the Archipelago really is one of the most beautiful places in the world to sail. I am looking forward to getting out there again and to starting the Archipelago Raid, although I know from past experience in 2003 that we’re going to be exhausted by the end of it…”, said MacArthur.

Tomorrow, Tuesday 10 June, all the teams and boats need to be present at Djurgarden, in the city of Stockholm, for the last preparations before the big challenge starts Friday 13 June at 11 am CET.

Course:

-Friday 13 June: Start 11 am Junibacken/Djurgarden to Lido.
-Saturday 14 June: Restart from Lido at 3 am to cross the Baltic Sea to Lappo in the archipelago of Aland.
-Sunday 15 June: From Lappo to Nagu in the Finnish archipelago.
-Monday 16 June: Back to Aland archipelago, to Rödhamn, annexe of the ÅSS, Åland Island Yacht Club.
-Tuesday 17 June: Cross the Baltic Sea again back to the Stockholm archipelago and Sandhamn, passing Fejan.
-Wednesday 18 June: From Sandhamn to the finish line in Stockholm City/Djurgården at around 2-3 pm