Royal winner

King Harald of Norway wins inaugural Northern European Baltic IRC Series

First in the Big Boat Challenge in Kerteminde, first in the Faerdern Race in Oslo and first in the Gotland Rund - King Harald V of Norway’s TP 52 has had a strong year and finally his Fram XVI has won first prize of the Northern European Baltic IRC Series sponsored by hanseboot.

Launched this year, the Baltic IRC Series was set up by the German Offshore Owners Association in cooperation with offshore racing organisations from Scandinavia. The aim is to improve the participation in regattas on an international basis. The result is proving successful with 70 international yachts participating in the series this year.

Within the sophisticated Baltic IRC scoring system, regattas are rated higher that have a larger number of competitors. The Færdern Race for example is the most popular long distance regatta in Norway. This year 1040 boats participated and sailed around 120 nautical miles south to the Færder lighhouse on Tristein at the end of the Oslo fjord and back. The race is renowned as it can coincide with Skagerrak storms and as a result the Færder lighhouse has gain a similar reputation as the Rolex Fastnet Race in the UK. Locally a victory in the Færder race is highly rated.

The victory of the Swan 45 Tarok at the end of the KDY Autumn regatta, the last race of the series, was not enough for her to overtake King Harald V of Norway. Dane Erik Berth’s finished second on 72.5 points, while Andrew Pearce’s IMX40 Magnum from Finland was third on 69.7. Norwegian Cookson 50, Camilla, owned by Ole Martin Vordahl was fourth, the first yacht with a canting keel.

The pricegiving will be held on 11 February 2011 before the International Yacht Forum in Hamburg, Germany.