The Saint Petersburg Classic Yacht Week gets underway this week and is the first of its kind in Russia’s beautiful and historic former capital. The event forms the final leg of the racing series for classic yachts in the Baltic Classic Circuit organised by the Scandinavian Classic Yacht Trust. Participants will include the classic yachts of St. Petersburg such as Mirame, Nayada, Zvezda; the national yacht class of Russia, L-6; Swiss and Russian 8mR and Russian 12mR and Old Gaffers.
During Monday and Tuesday all visiting yachts will pass customs procedures and border formalities with the assistance of yacht agents. Racing begins on Wednesday with two races in the afternoon following the skippers meeting, opening ceremony and press conference. The second day of racing on Thursday will begin with two fleet races and the Old Windsurfing Cup. Racing ends on Friday with the final two races.
During the week the Old Windsurfing Cup will be held. The champions of the last century will participate and, for the first time, the public can get acquainted with the legends of Russian windsurfing.
Evening entertainment includes a variety of events beginning with a Folk Show at the Nikolayevsky Palace on Wednesday. Thursday evening there is a ‘Wild Sailors’ themed party for participants and an optional evening at the opera or ballet. Once the final races have finished on Friday participants will be treated to a passage through the St. Petersburg Bridges into the Neva River, accompanied by gigs with torches. During Saturday participants can spend the day in the Peter and Paul Fortress Embankment at The Festival where the opening and award ceremony along with wide social program will take place on the fortress shore. During the festival historic reconstruction of seizure of the Swedish frigate will take place and the citizens will be able to visit classic yachts anchored on the roads. The festival will proceed on Sunday, including a bus tour to the Summer Palace, the Children’s Violin Orchestra on the shore and an exhibition of old yacht photographs.