Gotland Runt Start Postponed Due to Extremely Severe Weather
Today marks the start of this year's Gotland Runt, the world's largest annual offshore race, off Sandhamn. The first start was scheduled for 2:00 PM, with subsequent starts for the various classes.Shortly after 1:00 PM, the race management decided to postpone the entire start for safety reasons. The competing boats were ordered to return to port in Sandhamn
"We have received a new weather forecast showing that the wind gusts the meteorologist warned about have increased, indicating a high risk of squalls with rain, hail, and wind gusts up to 30 m/s at Svenska Högarna. We don't want to risk sending the sailors out in this," says Håkan Andersson, Race Director. "However, this is an isolated weather system that will pass, and we hope to be able to start later this evening."
The new planned start time is 8:00 PM tonight, but a definitive announcement will be made to participants by 6:00 PM at the latest. KSSS (the Royal Swedish Yacht Club) is closely monitoring the situation along with race management and meteorologists.
It is very unusual for the start of Gotland Runt to be postponed, but safety always comes first.
