Target: To become better sailors and safer ocean-going sailors

Johan Gransten is the skipper of the X35 Swallow, which sails in the SRS class. Johan grew up with a sailboat and has competed in windsurfing, worked as a sailmaker and today runs a company that arranges various events at sea. Johan has, as he himself says, invested in simpler boats and today has four H-boats, an X99 and an X95 in the fleet.


Johan sailed Gotland Runt for the first time in 1994 on a Finngulf 34, after that it has been 18 Gotland Runt on Scampi and various X-boats. Since 2015 Johan sail X35, a boat that is designed for windward and leeward course in lighter winds, wish conditions for Gotland Runt are according to Johan windward and straight downwind sailing in nice high summer weather.

The crew for this year's Gotland Runt consists half of sailors with previous experience of ocean racing, This year five girls aged 28-40 have also signed up, their previous experiences of sailing extend to fleet race with J/92, they look forward to complete their first ocean race and dot a Gotland Runt on their Bucket list. The crew has trained together every Sunday since April 1 and focuses their training on windward sailing and spinnaker maneuvers and pushes themselves in the maneuvers to make them feel safe at sea when it is dark and high seas out on the race. We also carry out maneuvering exercises, and several of the crew have completed the training WS safety course recommended by KSSS (mandatory in DH).

What does your goal picture look like for Gotland Runt 2022?

The goal is to become better sailors and safer ocean-going sailors. If we get optimal conditions, we are aiming for top 15 in the SRS class.

Do you have a fun GR memory that you would like to think back on?

Good memories from every year, but I remember the first year I had the X35 - 2015, we were completely fresh in the boat. I had been told the importance of sail close to land in light winds. At that time Gotland Runt went around in the opposite direction, we came from the south and sailed past Östergarnsholm in a light downwind, the wind eased even more and we decided to go the much longer way near land in the bay north of Östergarnsholm, and we get wind, we accelerated and took ten boats on that detour, it was a great feeling.

What is special about Gotland Runt for you?

To meet every Sunday and train for a given goal with nice friends, to come to Race village and feel the feeling that soon it's time, and to meet all the other crews and to get to the finish line and have a beer together in Sandhamn. Of course also the race itself, but as Johan says "everything around the race is at least as important". We usually stay in Sandhamn and enjoy our trip one to two days afterwards, eat a good dinner and talk through what we have been through and what experiences it has given us.

KSSS wish Johan and his crew good luck on Gotland Runt!
Philip Schröderheim