Finishing on Monday 29 July at 17:36:41 EEST Christian Zugel’s Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA) took Monohull Line Honours in the 2024 Roschier Baltic Sea Race in an elapsed time of 2 Days 5 Hrs 6 Mins and 41 Secs, setting a new provisional race record.
Christian Zugel was at the helm as Tschüss 2 crossed the finish line outside Finland’s capital city, Helsinki. The crew are vastly experienced, but for Christian this was the longest race he has ever done, and probably the hardest. Safely tied up in Marina Bay, Helsinki, Christian Zugel spoke about the experience of near gale conditions in the Roschier Baltic Sea Race.
Tschüss 2 © Pepe Korteniemi/RORC
“I feel absolutely exhausted; last night was really rough!” commented Christian. “With the wind coming from the north and the swell building, it was so bumpy. The wind went as high as 36 knots and it was rather uncomfortable, to say the least. I am pretty much a beginner in offshore racing but I am learning from an exceptional crew; it’s fascinating. Our Boat Captain Johnny Mordaunt has helped me put the team together and you learn to figure out the chemistry of a good team. To me, it is like a big orchestra, where everybody knows their role and plays it to perfection.”
“I choose to race Tschüss because I want a race boat, on a big cruising boat, things can break. Once you are on the helm and Tschüss is properly set up, it is very lively but it feels very safe. It is rougher down below with the banging and the movement.”
Christian Zugel explains why he brought Tschüss all the way from the UK to the Roschier Baltic Sea Race. “We decided to try out the Baltic; we did the Gotland Runt Race in Sweden and then made the short trip to Helsinki in Finland and I am so pleased we did. Some people said the Roschier Baltic Sea Race might be low in wind, but boy-oh-boy, it was windier than most other races on the planet!”
“Thank you to all the sponsors and the organisers for putting on such a great show. The Mayor’s Reception was fantastic. Arto Linnervuo from Roschier even invited us to his home, which was super-nice. We have felt more than welcome in Helsinki; it is a fantastic place.”
Tschüss 2 © Pepe Korteniemi/RORC
Tschüss 2 Crew: Christian Zugel, Al Fraser, Alex Higby, Campbell Field, Christopher Welch, Cian Guilfoyle, Edward Myers, Fredric Shanks, Johnny Mordaunt, Neal McDonald, Pete Cumming, Simon Johnson, Stu Bannatyne, Toby Griffen, Trystan Seal.
RORC's Chris Jackson presents Christian Zugel Tschuss 2 with the Bobby Lowein Wheel © Pepe Korteniemi/RORC
Tschüss smashed the Race Record by nearly 19 hours, by making full use of unusually windy conditions. The early part of the race, from Helsinki to the Almagrundet Lighthouse was a light upwind struggle for boat speed. After rounding the lighthouse off the Stockholm Archipelago, the breeze filled and veered north west, giving Tschüss a fast run down the West Coast of Gotland. After rounding Gotland, the low pressure system from the north really kicked in, touching 35 knots at times. Despite the bumpy sea state, Tschüss extended their lead. In the latter part of the race, the short wave pattern relented somewhat. Tschüss Navigator Campbell Field commented by satellite: “The sea state has eased up a bit, the throttle is wide open, two reefs and the J4 on and hitting 24 knots of boat speed.”
Niklas Zennstrom’s Carkeek 52 Rán (SWE) is expected to be the next boat to finish the Roschier Balti Sea Race, followed by Arto Linnervuo’s Infiniti 52 Tulikettu Redkik (FIN). Tschüss 2 has set the time to beat for the overall win under IRC. Rán need to finish by 00.19.12 on Tuesday 30th July to beat Tschüss 2’s corrected time under IRC. Tulikettu Redkik needs to finish by 00.16.41 on Tuesday 30th July.
ROSCHIER BALTIC SEA RACE TRACKER
