Nordic solo race underway

Rough start for the Simrad OneStar

The 30 solo sailors in the Simrad OneStar got off to a rough start on their adventure this Saturday. 25 knots of wind on the nose made for a heavy first stretch.

Simrad OneStar is the biggest solo event in Scandinavia. "This is a true adventure and I bought this boat just to participate in Simrad OneStar," commented Jonas Claesson, skipper of Need Speed, a Humphreys 30.

Claesson is the only Swede in the Simrad OneStar and this is his first solo race ever. But he is a very experienced sailor. The last five years he has been skipper of a VO60, has raced in the Volvo Baltic Race and this year he won the ORC Grand Open class in the Eurocard Gotland Runt as skipper on Royal Blue. He is aiming for a podium place with his 30 footer in his solo debut.

With 20-25 knots of southerly wind for the start, the first casualty soon limped in to harbour with sail problems.

Simrad OneStar is a five day long event starting from Fredrikstad, Norway Saturday morning with a 35 nautical offshore race. Sunday morning the 30 solo sailors will take on a 110 nautical mile long stretch down the east coast of Sweden and over Skagerrak to Arendal, Norway.

After some hours of well earned rest the sailors will again embark on the 80 nautical mile stretch back to Fredrikstad.

The unofficial Nordic Championship in solo sailing will finish with a prize ceremony in Race Village Fredrikstad Wednesday 8 August.