The Swedish sun broke through the clouds in lively Gothenburg today (Sunday 4 September) and trainees and crews of the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016 had a lot to celebrate as the race winners were awarded and other final awards announced.
Sky high opening
Yesterday (Saturday 3 September) the event officially kicked off with a “sky high” opening ceremony.
Master of Ceremonies, Harald Treutiger revved up the audience and introduced Sail Training International Race Chairman James Stevens, Lord Mayor Lena Malm, Colonel Peter Adolfsson, Commanding Officer of Gothenburg garrison, and F7 pilot Max Hederström. The crowd was then treated to a fly over by pilot Peter Fällén in his Hercules JAS Gripen plane.
Later in the afternoon, crews from several ships took part in a Crew Stage Challenge. The trainees (and some captains!) involved the crowds and showed off their dancing, singing and musical skills in a series of fun and spirited performances that entertained and put a smile on everyone’s faces.
Gothenburg Crew Parade
Following a day packed with crew activities, which included a football tournament, rowing competition, and BMX and skateboarding, trainees and crew members brought the carnival to Gothenburg with a Crew Parade this afternoon.
Every vessel from the international fleet was represented, with crew members and trainees embracing the party spirit by dressing up, singing, dancing. The parade started in Bältespännarparken and proceeded over the Göta Älv-bridge, before finishing by the stage in the Race Village, where the final Regatta Prize-Giving Ceremony.
North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016 Awards
3rd Class C/D on Corrected Time:
Challenger 3 (UK)
2nd Class C/D on Corrected Time:
Urania (The Netherlands)
1st Class C/D on Corrected Time:
3rd Class B on Corrected Time:
Brabander (Lithuania)
2nd Class B on Corrected Time:
Maybe (UK)
1st Class B on Corrected Time:
Vega Gamleby (Sweden)
3rd Class A on Corrected Time:
Oosterchelde (The Netherlands)
2nd Class A on Corrected Time:
Christian Radich (Norway)
1st Class A on Corrected Time:
Shtandart (Russia)
1st Line Honours:
Dar Mlodziezy (Poland) (In two days, three hours, 48 minutes, 24 seconds.)
1st Overall:
Vega Gamleby (Sweden)
Race Communications Award:
Fryderyk Chopin (Poland) (For providing most assistance to the communications ship.)
Ship With Greatest Number of Nationalities:
Christian Radich (Norway) (Ten nationalities, including Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Germany, UK, Turkey, The Netherlands, Czech Republic.)
Winner of Football Competition:
3rd: Fryderyk Chopin (Poland)
2nd: Kapitan Borchardt (Poland)
1st: Vega Gamleby (Sweden)
Winner of Rowing Competition:
Brabander (Lithuania) (Three minutes, 52 seconds.)
Winner of Crew Stage Challenge:
Brabander (Lithuania) (For their audience participation Lithuanian folkdance.)
Best Crews in Crew Parade:
Thalassa (The Netherlands)
Fryderyk Chopin (Poland)
Environmental Award:
Johann Smidt (Germany)
Awarded to the vessel which, in the view of the judges, has best met environmental standards during the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016.
Best Team Player Award:
Kaspar Nielsen, 17, Skonnerten Jylland (Denmark)
Awarded to a trainee, aged under 26 years of age, who has demonstrated outstanding individual achievement and personal effort during the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016.
Kaspar was described by his ship as a responsible, knowledgeable and fine sailor who has worked very hard to learn seamanship skills. He helped new trainees and he knows his future is going to be on the sea.
Friendship Trophy:
Shtandardt (Russia)
The most prestigious award of The North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016 presented to the vessel who, in the opinion of the rest of the fleet, contributed most to international understanding and friendship during the Regatta.
What’s next?
Tomorrow (Monday 5 September) will be the last full day in port before the fleet departs in the traditional Parade of Sail out of Gothenburg on Tuesday 5 September, starting at 15:30.
You can check out the full programme of activities and events at www.tallshipsgothenburg2016.com/en/programme-2/.
News from behind the sails: Sweden Celebrates Fleet Sustainability
Gothenburg aims to be a sustainable city. The North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016 meets the Swedish Environmental Base standard for sustainable events and the city has asked all participating vessels to consider sustainability issues while visiting Frihamnen and the port.
The Environmental Award was presented to the vessel which has best met environmental standards during the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016. Amongst other criteria the judges considered on board briefings, restrictions for discharging black water, recycling at sea and in port and use of renewable energy.
The judges were impressed by the most of the fleet’s general high standard of environmental awareness, procedures and activities and discovered that many vessels take their activities much further.
Award winner, Johann Smidt visits Costa Rica so students can spend time working on farms and learning about the rain forest. They make the connection between the environment and wider social issues – notably how our demand for coffee, chocolate and other crops can affect the environmental on the other side of the world. They then share their knowledge with other students and make informed purchasing decisions when they get home.
Other great initiatives included…
Oosterchelde (The Netherlands): disinfected footwear going off and coming on to ship to stop the transfer of any non-native species or diseases when visiting remote islands.
Brabander (Lithuania): has just finished a circumnavigation of Iceland measuring water quality and pollution levels.
Vega Gamleby (Sweden): aspires to be a totally vegetarian vessel to reduce its environmental footprint.
Thalassa (The Netherlands): is part of the ‘by the oceans we unite programme’ which aims to sail around the world measuring environmental factors.
Fryderyk Chopin (Poland): sails with the Baltic University studying a range of environmental sustainability issues including energy, climate and social issues.
Lord Nelson (UK): uses different coloured cable ties to identify contents of black garbage bags to make recycling easier in port.
You can find out more about Gothenburg on our port page, and about the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016 on our event page. Don’t forget to check out our blog for the latest from the event.
You can also check out our latest photos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Photo: The crew of Vega Gamleby (Sweden) at the Prize-Giving Ceremony.