Twenty two yachts to head to Lerwick in Bergen-Shetland race
THE 40th annual Bergen-Shetland yacht race is due to arrive in Lerwick next week.
A total of 22 yachts are expected to bring 135 sailors to the port, arriving next Thursday (18 June).
There will be 17 Norwegian entrants, led by the 76’ EnderPearl which previously won the ‘Blue Ribbon’ as the first to arrive in Lerwick.
There are three entries from Scotland, led by Shetland’s own James Anderson skippering Swiftwing.
Two other yachts from Clyde Cruising Club will join the crossing to Bergen before racing to Lerwick on leg one.
The large German yacht Haspa Hamburg is making a welcome return to the race and will be competing for line honours which they previously won in 2022. Completing the international line-up is Swedish entrant Luft.
The crews will enjoy two days in Shetland prior to the return leg of the Race, which will start at 5pm on Saturday 20 June.
The main event for the competitors is the prizegiving ceremony at Islesburgh Community Centre, which is supported by sponsors EnQuest and Sullom Voe Terminal, and Peterson. There will also be a civic welcome from Shetland Islands Council.
New bonded stores company 60°N Bond Ltd will be supporting the welcome packs and yachts will each be receiving a commemorative 40 years pennant and pin badges.
Lerwick Boating Club, Lerwick Port Authority and the volunteers on the local Shetland Race organising committee said they are looking forward to welcoming friends both “old and new”.
The progress of the race can be followed on an online tracker. People are asked to head to shetlandrace.no for a link when the yachts depart Bergen on Wednesday 17 June at lunchtime.
Arrival times, of course, are dependent on weather conditions.
From its beginnings in 1987, the 200-mile offshore race has become a standard event in the Norwegian sailing calendar – bringing a splash of colour to Lerwick Harbour too.
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