AF Offshore Race

Fog and light winds pose a challenge

For the 77'th time, the prestigious sailing race around the island of Gotland is underway. Nearly 300 boats left downtown Stockholm on Sunday morning to sail the 350 nautical mile - ÅF Offshore Race.

- With current weather forecasts, this year's race is set to pose a real challenge, says Fredrik Feldreich, race leader for 24 years.

But it is not because of the harsh conditions. Rather, on the contrary.

- The winds are light and variable. This places greater demands on the crew's mental abilities, than on their physical, says Fredrik Feldreich.

This year's competition involves 40 foreign boats from a total of ten countries.

- This is Northern Europe's largest ocean race and the most classic, says Fredrik Feldreich.

For the last four years, the start has taken place from Stockholm Stream, downtown Stockholm. Hundreds of thousands of spectators now have the chance to view everything from thoroughbred racing enthusiasts to family sailors embark on the offshore adventure.

The fastest boats are expected to reach the finish-line in Sandhamn sometime late Monday evening

AF Offshore Race 2014 (Photographer: Oskar Kihlborg)

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