This year’s Volvo Baltic Race, beginning in Gothenburg, will take place from 19 June – 7 July. A mixture of sharp inshore racing tactical skills and offshore endurance is what will be needed to win this unique series, which combines coastal races, windward/leeward races and three long offshore races.

Over 1300 nautical miles in 19 days with barely 30 hours between finishes and restarts in which to recover is a tough schedule. And the Baltic can be cold, and as the event saw last year, very windy.

Racing schedule

19 June – 1100 Start Inshore/coastal race 30-40 nautical miles (nm) approx

20 June – 1500 Start Gothenburg (Swe) – Copenhagen (Den) 175 nm approx

21 June – Pit stop Copenhagen

22 June – Prize Giving 1800

23 June – 1800 Start Copenhagen – Kiel (Ger)156 nm approx

24 June – ETA Kiel

25 June – 1100 Inshore Race Kiel 30 – 50 nm approx

26 June – 0830 Start Kiel to Warnemunde (Ger) 100nm approx

27 June – 1500 Start Warnemunde – Sandhamn (Swe) 400 nm approx

29 June – ETA Sandhamn

01 July – 1000 Parade of sail to Stockholm returning the following day

02 July – 1800 Prize Giving

04 July – 1300 First start The Gant Gotland Runt 364 nm

05 July – 1000 ETA Sandhamn

07 July – 1100 windward/leeward x 3 – 1900 Final prize Giving