   The
North Sea Yacht Race is one of the longest and perhaps most
challenging ocean races in Northern Europe – across
the North Sea between Stavanger in Norway and Macduff
in Scotland.
For 2008 the race starts in Macduff on Saturday 28th June.
The race distance is approximately 280 nautical miles, and
normally takes 2 to 3 days. The main objective is to organise
a true offshore race and at the same time give experienced
Fijord and coastal sailors the opportunity to cross the North
Sea between Norway and Scotland under organised conditions.
Yachts and equipment have to comply with strict safety regulations
in order to participate in the race. The organisers are in
contact with the Main Rescue Centre at Sola in Norway and
the Coast Guard in Aberdeen during the race, and it is required
that all yachts make VHF contact with the Sleipner Oil Platform
which is located about midway across.
Besides the race there is also an active social programme
before the start and after the finish both in Norway and
Scotland as well as many opportunities for sightseeing. Those
who have been in the race before emphasise that these events
have their own very special value. New and lasting relationships
are made and old friends are able to keep contact across
the sea and national borders. Some boats and crew members
have participated in almost all the races.
The race was conceived in early 1984 as a way for a group
of Scottish sailors to safely cross the North Sea. The
idea quickly grew and on 2 July 1984 twenty-two yachts
from Scotland, England and Norway headed out across the
North Sea for Stavanger. Since then, the race has grown
from strength to strength with as many as 50 yachts taking
part in some years. The start alternates between Scotland
and Norway giving the event a unique attraction for entrants
from both sides of the North Sea. Most competitors take
time after the race to cruise the Norwegian fjords or go
through the Caledonian Canal before returning home via
the Orkneys or Shetland.
The race record between Macduff and Stavanger is held by Skaarungen, a Wasa 50 ft monohull
skippered by Odd Olsen of Stord, Norway. Their elapsed time
of 30 hours 44 minutes was set in 1998 in a east-bound
direction. The fastest west-bound crossing was made by
Undarousa, a
45 ft trimaran from Oslo in 31 hours and 9 minutes in 2001. In 2007, the race started in Skudneshavn, approximately 12 miles closer to Macduff than Stavanger, and Hei Matau, a 36ft trimaran skippered by Tom McLuskie from Port Edgar, Edinburgh, made the crossing in just under 29 hours.
Yachts and equipment have to comply with strict safety regulations
in order to participate in the race. The organisers are in
contact with the Main Rescue Centre at Sola in Norway and
the Coast Guard in Aberdeen during the race and it is required
that all yachts make VHF contact with the Sleipner oil platform
which is located about midway across.
In 1999, Paul Caldwell competed, and you can
read an account
of his race.
If you wish to participate in this years race please contact
us
The following Press Articles, chart the history of the race:
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