On the Europe Day, during the first official training in the new season, Igor Simčič, founder of the Esimit Europa project, and Jochen Schümann, skipper of the Esimit Europa 2 yacht, revealed ambitions for the upcoming sailing season. After achieving 19 victories at all the attended races so far and setting 5 new course records, one of the fastest yachts in world is eager to repeat its success – for the first time outside the Mediterranean since its christening in 2010. New challenges will be accompanied with the new hull and sails design. Brand new big yellow stars on the sides of the hull and on top of the mainsail, together with new light blue lines, illustrate new ambitions in the northern seas, while they project the team spirit among crew members and cooperation within all partners in the Esimit Europa project at the same time.
At the end of June, Esimit Europa 2 will race at the Kieler Woche. The happening with more than 3 million visitors, 1800 sailing yachts and 450 races is one of the biggest sailing events in the world. The Esimit Sailing Team will perform at 2 races and will move to Stockholm immediately after for the start of the most renowned Swedish regatta, the ÅF Offshore Race, on 30. June. The 350 nautical miles long race, which rounds the scenic Gotland Island and ends in Sandham, will see the record fleet of extremely attractive yachts, all of them eager to take line honours at this Swedish classic. After its performance in Sweden, 30-meter canting keel beauty will be shipped to the United Kingdom for the start of the Cowes Week at the beginning of August, one of the oldest continuing sporting events in the United Kingdom (established in 1826). 18-member crew will show its skills at 3 inshore races and prepare for one of the toughest and most renowned European races, the famous Rolex Fastnet Race. With 608 nautical miles in front of legendary Jochen Schümann and his all-star crew, the Rolex Fastnet Race represents season’s highlight, but also a big test for the yacht itself due to always unpredictable weather conditions. In addition, the competition will be very tough, many excellent boats registered for the race, in total 380 yachts from 20 countries.
After the Rolex Fastnet Race, Esimit Europa 2 will return to Mediterranean for 4 races in October. Starting with Bernetti Lombardini Cup and Barcolana in the Gulf of Trieste. On its way to Malta’s Rolex Middle Sea Race Esimit Europa 2 will try to break the course record (Medot Sailing Trophy).
New sailing challenges of the Esimit Europa 2 yacht and its mission in fostering European unity are embodied in the new yacht’s design. It features two big yellow stars on the sides of the hull and additional one on the top of the mainsail. Accompanied with light blue waving lines, showing a dynamic environment we are living in, all new graphic elements illustrate collaboration among crew members and cooperation within the partners of the Esimit Europa project.
About the Esimit Europa project, Esimit Europa 2 yacht and Esimit Sailing Team
Founded in 1995 by Igor Simčič, the Esimit Europa project, represented by the Esimit Europa 2 yacht and Esimit Sailing Team, aims to promote pan-European cooperation and spread a sense of common European identity through the unifying power of sports. The 30 meter long, 5.3 meter wide yacht with a 44 meter high mast, on board joins 18 highly skilled sailors, coming from 10 different European nations. With maximum speed of more than 38 knots it is one of the world's fastest monohull yachts. Inspired by Esimit Europa’s main message “All together – for Europe”, the Esimit Sailing Team sails under the flag of the European Union, competes for the Slovenian Sailing Federation and Yacht Club de Monaco and promotes the sailing values of teamwork, solidarity, innovation and collaboration. Since its christening in June 2010, Esimit Europa 2 claimed 19 line honours at the 19 races attended and set 5 records. Main sponsor is the global energy company Gazprom, while BMW is the official partner. The Esimit Europa project is under the patronage of the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and is endorsed by Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament, and Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation.
