TRIESTE, Oct. 12, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - At the famous Barcolana, the sailing festival in Trieste, 1,878 yachts gathered at the starting line, which was the highest number of yachts in the last five years, since Esimit Europa 2 has been competing at this regatta. This year, this largest single-start regatta in the Mediterranean was marked with extreme conditions of calm and light breeze, in which the crews had to navigate in no more than two knots of wind speed throughout the course of the race. The organizers had to shorten the original course of about 13 nautical miles to end at the first water mark.
In a dramatic finish with sailboats Maxi Jena, Tempus fugit and Illyteca (Tutta Trieste), the crew of Esimit Europa 2, which is composed of the best sailors from 11 different European countries, led by the German sailing legend in the role of skipper and helmsman, Jochen Schümann, managed to cross the finish line as the first in the fleet.
After 2 hours, 38 minutes and 38 seconds of sailing on only about four nautical miles long course of today's race, Esimit Europa 2 achieved its fifth consecutive victory at the Barcolana regatta, and its 34 consecutive victory since its christening in 2010. The second and third place went to the sailing boats Illyteca and Maxi Jena.
"I think it is not the best battle for sailors if you battle against the wind, especially if there is no wind. We would all appreciate a little more breeze and having better strategic options. Today it was a struggle to move with the boat at all - when you are parked, there is no defense and no attack," said Jochen Schümann, the skipper of Esimit Europa 2.
Igor Simčič, founder of the Esimit Europa project: "To win today, we really had to do our best. Sailing with a 24-ton yacht in the Gulf of Trieste in such a calm wind was not easy. Today, our crew proved that they can be the best also in such extreme conditions. We really had to concentrate during the race, and we really made the best of what the nature offered us today."
In very different conditions of this race in the year 2010, Esimit Europa 2 established the record of 56 minutes and 13 seconds on the 16.8-mile course.
The last event on the schedule for Esimit Europa 2 this season is the offshore Rolex Middle Sea Race in Malta, starting on October 18. Setting sails towards Valleta from Trieste tomorrow, the Esimit Sailing Team will also try to establish the record for the passage between the two cities, recognized by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.
About:
The Esimit Europa project, founded by Igor Simčič and represented by the Esimit Europa 2 yacht, with its main sponsor Gazprom and official partner BMW, aims to promote cooperation and to spread the sense of a common European identity through the unifying power of sports. The 100 foot Maxi assembles on board 18 highly skilled sailors from 11 different nations who inspire the sailing values of teamwork, solidarity, innovation and collaboration. Furthermore, the Esimit Europa project is under the patronage of the President of the European Commission and has the official support of the President of the European Parliament, which allows the yacht to officially fly the European flag.
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Eldina Knez
E: eldina.knez(at)esimit.com
GSM: +393371093756
http://www.esimit.com
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