MATCH RACE

The owners of both yachts have personal connections to the Swedish capital and its picturesque surroundings, which made the ideal backdrop for the challenge.

Attending the event, Spirit Yachts Marketing Director Helen Porter commented, “Gaia and Geist are the two largest single-masted wooden sloops launched since Shamrock V in the 1930s and to our knowledge it is the first occasion two such yachts have match raced in that time. Both yachts raced hard and tactically, leaving nothing in the locker; it was spectacular to watch. To be welcomed by the Royal Swedish Yacht Club, which is steeped in sailing history*, for this milestone moment for Spirit Yachts was a real privilege.”

On day one, the two yachts gathered at the Sandhamn Seglarhotell, the summer home of the Royal Swedish Yacht Club in Sandhamn in the western archipelago. On arrival, they were fittingly met by the outgoing fleet of beautiful classic yachts finishing the annual Sandhamnsregattan, setting the tone for the event.

Owner of SY 111 Geist said, “This was the first time we could really put the two boats to the test. There is not much competition for a modern classic yacht that is this fast to go up against anything else, so to put these two next to each other on the water was an opportunity I wouldn’t have missed.

With race management by Stockholm sailing club Gamla Stans Yacht Sällskap, day one saw three inshore races take place in the waters surrounding Sandhamn. Racing took the traditional windward/leeward match race format in six-leg courses, a similar style to the current America’s Cup racing. Match race rules were observed with each yacht assigned an end of the line, having to cross into the start box and go below the start line, vying to be on starboard in clear wind to take control of the first upwind leg.

Despite close racing in near-perfect sailing conditions, Geist took three wins from three races on day one. As the sun set on Sandhamn, the two teams came together for a traditional Swedish dinner, drinks, and singing led by the Gaia crew at the Sandhamn Seglarhotell.