Cabin charter at the North Sea Week 2022: offshore regatta on a Swan 48

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We joined Germany's biggest offshore regatta event – and for its 100th anniversary at that! We sailed aboard SY Dantés, a Swan 48 from 1976. One of the few yachts at the North Sea Week that allowed cabin charter guests to take part in the regatta. The following report offers some impressions of the preparation, the races and the special atmosphere ashore and at sea.

Day 1 to 4 – Preparation

We meet around midday at the City Marina Cuxhaven, where SY Dantés welcomes a total of 6 guests on board. Also aboard is the experienced skipper Michael Orgzey, who has skippered the Dantés for many years and knows the yacht inside out.

In the afternoon we take care of provisioning and receive a thorough boat and safety briefing from our skipper.

The next morning we set sail for the first time and tack up the Elbe towards Glückstadt. The narrow fairway of the Elbe gives us ample opportunity to develop our manoeuvre commands and gradually ease into regatta mode. Particularly important to consider in these waters are the current and the heavy commercial traffic. We spend the evening in the picturesque old town of Glückstadt.

On the second day of regatta training we familiarise ourselves with the sail wardrobe on board, particularly the setting and dousing of the genoa, gennaker and code zero. In the evening we berth at the City-Sporthafen Hamburg with the impressive backdrop of the Elbphilharmonie.

The third preparation day takes us to Wedel Yacht Harbour. Due to the light winds, we seize the opportunity once again to familiarise ourselves with setting various downwind sails. In the evening, the convivial farewell party takes place at Hamburger Yachthafen Wedel, with grilled sausages and beer.

Day 5 – Race from Wedel to Cuxhaven

The starting gun for the first race was due to fire at 6 a.m., but the start was first postponed to Glückstadt due to insufficient wind, and then cancelled altogether. So the first race turned into a flotilla cruise under engine. Still, it was enough for some lovely pictures at dawn.

In the evening, the Nordseewoche was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Cuxhaven (Uwe Santjer) at the Segler-Vereinigung Cuxhaven clubhouse. A total of 125 yachts are taking part in the numerous races over the coming days. Whilst some yachts set off that same evening for the Sundowner Race to Heligoland, we turn in early to be fit for our race the next morning.

 

Day 6 – Noblex Cup Cuxhaven to Heligoland

On this day the wind is right, and in the early morning we head for the start of our first race. With northerly winds force 3–4, we sail towards Helgoland and gain our first racing experience. Even though we find ourselves towards the back of the fleet, we have a great time. Before rafting up at the South Harbour, we receive a welcome drink from a boat waiting for the arriving yachts. This is also where the race village is located, including the Alexseal Offshore Lounge, where the weather briefings will take place over the next two days. In the evening we attend the prize-giving and regatta party at the Nordseehalle.

 

Day 7 – Capitell Cup Round Heligoland

Early in the morning it's time to cast off for the Capitell Cup and a big lap around Heligoland. A total of 83 yachts in 5 starting groups cross the start line, which lies between Düne and Heligoland.

It's a fantastic day's sailing, even though we're nowhere near the front runners. We spend the rest of the day with a tour around Heligoland and begin the final preparations for the offshore race Round Skagen.

In the evening the obligatory prize-giving and regatta party take place once again at the Nordseehalle.

Days 8 to 12 – Pantaenius Round Skagen

The Nordseewoche concludes with the offshore race Pantaenius Round Skagen. The course covers about 510 nautical miles from Heligoland across the North Sea to the northernmost tip of Denmark. Skagen is then rounded before the yachts turn south and pass through the Kattegat into the Baltic Sea. The finish line is finally crossed off Kiel Schilksee. It is precisely the enormous diversity of these sailing areas that creates the race's mystique and fascination.

A total of 42 yachts cross the start line in the late afternoon, including 'Trifork', a Volvo Open 70 which once won the Volvo Ocean Race under the name 'Ericsson 4'. She is competing to beat the record time of 43 hours and 46 minutes, set in 2000 by the maxi 'Uca' owned by Dr Klaus Murmann.

There's a wonderful atmosphere at the regatta start. This is enhanced by the fact that all yachts must hoist their storm sails before the start and sail past the race committee for inspection.

Overall, we sail the first two days under the influence of a low-pressure system that delivers partly strong winds. The weather situation in the Baltic Sea is quite the opposite, where we sometimes have to contend with light winds and calms.

We sail in a watch system with shifts of 3 hours on watch and 3 hours off to rest. We quickly settle into the system, even though it isn't always maintained, for example when it's time to change sails, which requires all hands.

We eventually cross the finish line in Kiel-Schilksee after 3 days, 23 hours, 35 minutes and 48 seconds.

 

Further information about the Nordseewoche can be found at nordseewoche.org.

If you'd also like to sail on SY Dantés: www.dantes-sailing.de

 

Fancy sailing in a regatta yourself? Find suitable regatta sailing trips on toernfinder.de.

Or simply try out the Nordseewoche sailing areas? Here's the link to Sailing in the North Sea and for Sailing in the Baltic Sea.