After a season racing with barely any wind, finally a strong breeze, big waves and a lot of fun where Robline Skagen Race 2020 thema!
Because of the uncertainty in entering Danish waters under Covid-19 times, Robline Skagen Race 2020 regatta consisted of one single race along the Swedish coast.
Once again doublehanded showed its popularity. Out of 21 participants, 17 registered as shorthanded in their own class, representing an overwhelming majority. And we just love it!
Robline Skagen Race is also part of Fjällman’s Shorthanded Cup.
Forecasts promised strong winds from WSW since a few days before race day. All models looked very much the same and for once we could rely on them and plan accordingly.
We expected to be able to bear a heavy spinnaker about 9 minutes on the total race time approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes, from Stora Oset to Burö. Since the current rating system allows it, we decided to register without downwind sails, take a beating upwind and sail with a medium jib throughout the entire race instead.
About 3 hours before starting, hail and strong gusts topping at 40kn woke us up and got us worried in our bunks! Fortunately things improved and we enjoyed a fast start in 22kn winds and sunshine.
We nailed a good start on the line at the gun with good acceleration. On our leeward, Anders Dahlsjö skippering his Lady Godiva swished by us and we could just watch in amazement as he sliced at 7.5kn through the chop.
We struggled to keep the boat on its feet sailing close to the wind over the steep waves. Forced to take a second reef, we wished we had hoisted our heavy jib. Too late for regrets. Only option, just make the best out of it. With afterthought, a headsail change was likely worth it. By the time we rounded Trubaduren lighthouse we were the last boat of the fleet.
Veloce was however the slowest yacht in the race. Knowing that broad reaching is her preferred point of sails we looked forward to the long leg to come.
In fact, a few hours later, after riding and surfing wonderfully the big waves, we approached Hätteberget lighthouse and realized that we were very close to the fleet. Things looked pretty well for us.
Lady Godiva, superfast, was in another league and we could only look in awe.
Farrgo was surfing incredibly and we knew we could no longer gain on them.
Veloce broke its speed record topping 11.9kn, with jib and reefed mainsail – our beloved power-reach configuration.
After crossing the finish line at 15:51:29, our previously accepted rating without downwind sails was ignored and we were forced to apply our usual rating. It sucks. We could have sailed those 10 minutes downwind with a colorful sail at exhilarating speed! Instead we got the worse in terms of rating and fun. No hard feeling, we learnt our lesson.
What happened to Surf of Sweden, Brenta 60? An helicopter hovering about her and several rescue boats in the proximity for about 30 minutes got us worried. We initially feared a MOB. broken pieces of information from other participants mentioned smoke and electrical problems. We hope everybody is safe and unharmed.
Considering the little training in heavier winds, I am really happy with the result and our 4th place in shorthanded class. Well sailed everybody! A real fun ride.
| Rank | Boat | Class | HelmName | SRS | Elapsed | Corrected |
| 1 | Lady Godiva | Dominant 105 | Anders Dahlsjö | 1.023 | 05:01:09 | 05:08:05 |
| 2 | Farrgo | Farr 30 | Per Algotsson | 1.063 | 04:54:05 | 05:12:37 |
| 3 | Rebellion | Grand Surprise | Carl Fjällman | 1.019 | 05:18:54 | 05:24:58 |
| 4 | Veloce | Sun Fast 32i | Federico Garofalo | 0.946 | 05:51:29 | 05:32:30 |
| 5 | Elusive | First 35 | Krister Gustafsson | 1.034 | 05:24:41 | 05:35:43 |
| 6 | Den Röde | Dehler 33 | Hans Caspersson | 0.999 | 05:36:36 | 05:36:16 |
| 7 | Kaida | Salona 33 | Johan Wetterlundh | 1.01 | 05:36:27 | 05:39:49 |
| 8 | J88.se | J/88 | Jonas Dyberg | 1.013 | 05:37:12 | 05:41:35 |
| 9 | Aurora | Dehler 35 | Mats Andersson | 1.031 | 05:32:01 | 05:42:19 |
| 10 | Monkey Bussines | X 332 | Urban Edvardsson | 1.003 | 05:42:47 | 05:43:49 |
| 11 | Forza | Faurby 396 | Anders Bergvall | 1.055 | 05:26:59 | 05:44:58 |
| 12 | Calypso | Pogo 8.50 | Pelle Lindell | 0.956 | DNC | |
| 12 | PiriPiri | Banner 28 R | Johan Henricsson | 0.935 | DNC | |
| 12 | Trindy | Dehler 34 SV | Jonas Kjellberg | 1.035 | DNC | |
| 12 | Insieme | Salona 35 | Mats Widing | 1.015 | DNC | |
| 12 | Azur | Banner 28 R | Michael Assarsson | 0.929 | DNC | |
| 12 | Anolas | Salona 34 | Dan Hammar | DNC |
Here the full results
A few tips to the sailing club and arranging body of the regatta.
- We were penalized by incorrect communication we received by the club. The terms applying to the regatta clearly mentioned in the documentationmay help avoiding misunderstandings. Hopefully next time.
- The invitation and the regatta documentation provided discordant contact. No email available on the documentation.
- The mobile number to be used for reporting finish time given at the skipper debrief and the one on the documentation were not the same.
- The regatta documentation (in Swedish) clearly states that no skipper debrief would take place due to Covid-19 pandemic. On the website Sailarena however, the skipper debrief time is provided. Trusting the documentation was correct, we realized at the harbor that a debrief had already taken place.
- The finish line provided on the documentation indicates only the port mark. Don’t assume that all participants have previously raced the regatta and already know where the finish line is. We didn’t.
CLARITY please!