In the stunning Boka Kotorska Bay, surrounded by the mountains of Orjen on the west and Lovćen on the east side, the yachts participating in the Thousand Islands Race gathered together after they finished the first leg of the race from Rijeka in Croatia to Tivat in Montenegro. Before they return in the second leg of the race, scheduled to start tomorrow at noon from Porto Montenegro towards Rijeka, some of the yachts took part in the coastal challenge organized today.
In light westerly wind with up to ten knots of speed, nine yachts took part in an eight-nautical-miles long costal race set inside the Boka Kotorska bay. Esimit Europa 2 was the first to cross the finish line after 1 hour and 9 minutes.
Before this coastal race, the Esimit Sailing Team welcomed children from children's home "Mladost" on board the fastest European racing yacht for a sailing adventure. Not only does this activity reflect the mission of the Esimit Europa project, which is connecting people without boundaries, it also enabled children to spend one day out of their regular daily obligations and enjoy the sunny day in the pleasant shade of the sailing wings with one of the best sailing crews. The international team of professional sailors coming from eleven different countries, multiple-time winners of the America's Cup, Olympic medalists, World and European Champions, welcomed among them Stojanko, Nermin, Ivan, Milica, Danica, Milija and another Milica from children's home "Mladost", which is an institution of a social type that provides care for children deprived of parental care and children whose development is hindered by family circumstances and it is the only one of its type on the territory of Montenegro. The aim of the Esimit Europa project is also to raise awareness and call upon all people to do what is in their power to help such institutions, which are dedicated to such a noble cause.
Under the supervision of the skipper Jochen Schümann and all the crew members, the children also experienced true helming and turning of the 30-meter yacht and hoisting of the main sail, but most of all, as they say, spent an unforgettable day on the sea. After the sailing, the welcoming Porto Montenegro staff took the children for a visit of the Naval Heritage Collection in a beautifully restored building in the port with its star attraction - the colossal P821 ‘Hero' submarine.
Tonight at 8 pm, the crew will attend the prize-giving ceremony for the first leg of the race and today's coastal race  in the wonderful setting of Porto Montenegro.