Vegvisir Race 2018 –
The Courses
Vegvisir Race 2018 feature 3 courses. A double handed short course, a double handed long course and a singlehanded course.
All courses start in the heart of Nykøbing Flaster – the main city in the municipality of Guldborgsund. Then the participants will head out through the winding sound of Guldborg on a Northeasterly course. They'll be heading towards the archipelago of Smålandshavet.
But first they'll pass through the narrow gap between the islands of Falster and Lolland at the town of Guldborg. This happens as the Guldborg Bridge uniquely closes for traffic and opens for sailing letting the fleet through.
From this point the participants head out into the sunset of the late summer night only see the big harvest full moon rising at 7:17 PM for the 2Star-sailors and at 7:49 for the singlehand sailors.
Leg 1 & 5 the mandatory challenge
The first leg of Vegvisir Archipelago Race is marked on the screen dump as the white line. After the bridge at Guldborg the participants will head out towards a Cardinal buoy Southeast of the island of Femø. This part of the course is mandatory for all boats on all courses. And it will also serve as the last common leg 5 when the skippers and crew are heading home for Nykøbing.
The junction buoy
The Cardinal Buoy Southeast of the island of Femø just mentioned before serves as a kind of “junction” for the race. That means that the strategically part of the race opens when the buoy is passed. From this point skipper and crew will unfold their own strategy by choosing to go either clockwise or counter clockwise round the course.
Among other things the strategic planning should include weather and current predictions for the following days and nights. But also calculations estimating when the most difficult passages will be passed in the best possible and most safe way.
Double handed Long Course (Counter Clockwise)
After the mandatory first leg the participants start out on Leg 2 by passing the island of Fejø with the island on port side. Heading north towards Agersø. Circumnavigating Agersø keeping the island on starboard side. Passing south of the island of Omø. Crossing Store Bælt north of Langeland. Heading south with Langeland on port. Continue south in Rudkøbing Løb passing under Langelandsbroen the bridge between Siø and Langeland (vertical clearance 26 m). Heading for Marstal through the tricky and shallow waters passing south of Strynø.
Leg 3 enters The Baltic Sea at Marstal. Rounding Buoy #6 on Port. Heading east and rounding the Safe Water Buoy outside Rødby Havn. Going north passing entrance of Nakskov Fjord. Following the shoreline on a northeasterly course.
Leg 4 starts when passing the buoys outside Onsevig Havn. Continue keeping south of Vejrø. Continue east passing North of Femø before going south to the junction buoy southeast of Femø.
Double handed Short Course (CCW)
The double handed Short Course is for boats under 25 foot. even though we call it short course it is a long and demanding challenge that takes both skills and endurance. The route is similar to long course until the boats enters The Baltic Sea right after Marstal. Here Leg 3 is headed southeasterly directly at the southern tip of Langeland. After rounding head northeast passing by the entrance of Nakskov Fjord. Leg 4 is similar to the Long Course and hence starts to the east of the entrance to Onsevig Havn. And finally Leg five is as mentioned mandatory for all participants.
Vegvisir Race 2018 Singlehand Course CCW
After the mandatory first leg, Leg 2 starts at the cardinal buoy southeast of Femø heading north. When the participant feels safe to head more west he or she will do so following a northwesterly bearing heading for Omø. Leg 3 starts when the sailors are right north of Omø starting to go on a southernly course rounding Omø with the island on port side. Going back south passing afar Vejrø on port, later closer to Rågø on starboard as the navigation gets tight. Leg 4 starts when changing direction from southbound to northbound west of the island of Fejø. Passing Fejø on port side before going northeast to find and pass through the "gate" south of the easteren tip of Fejø. Then navigate towards the Cardinal "junction" buoy to get started on the 5th and final Leg 5.
Clockwise walkthrough
As leg 1 and 5 are the mandatory first and last leg to all participants they are not a part of the strategic planning as leg 2, 3 and 4. So if you choose to go round the course clockwise your course will consist of the legs in the following order 1, 4, 3, 2 and 5.