Helsinki (September 3, 2019) – After a phenomenal 12 Metre World Championship in Newport, RI (USA), the NJK yacht club in Helsinki and the International Twelve Metre Association (ITMA) are moving at full speed to organize the next 12mR Worlds in Helsinki from August 16-23, 2020.
Helsinki, Finland to Host 2020 12mR World Championship
A Historic Gathering of the 12mR Fleet is Expected
Helsinki (September 3, 2019) – After a phenomenal 12 Metre World Championship in Newport, RI (USA), the NJK yacht club in Helsinki and the International Twelve Metre Association (ITMA) are moving at full speed to organize the next 12mR Worlds in Helsinki from August 16-23, 2020.
Approximately 15-20 12mR yachts raced by teams from a dozen countries are expected to compete. The European vintage fleet will be well represented and the organizers have high hopes for representatives for Modern and Grand Prix division boats well.
Blue Marlin (FIN-1) and the 2017 European champion Wings (K-15) raced by a Danish-Finnish syndicate, will both sail under the flag of the event host NJK– the oldest yacht club in Finland, founded in 1863.
It has been more than 30 years since the memorable 1988 12mR Worlds at Luleå — the last 12 Metre World Championship to be sailed in the Northern Baltic. ITMA Vice President Patrick Howaldt said: “The rapidly growing interest for the Twelves in Northern Europe is a testimony to the Class. Combined with NJK’s reputation for world-class racing, glamorous social events and vibrant Helsinki location, we expect the 2020 Worlds to exceed every 12mR event previously raced in the Baltic.
The fleet will include the 2019 European Champion, Howaldt’s famous Sparkman & Stephens design Vim (US-15), The recently rebuilt Jenetta (K-1) and Wilfried Beeck’s Trivia (K-10), both representing Germany, will also face off against the reigning 12mR Vintage Champion, Patrizio Bertelli’s Nyala (US-12) representing Italy and the Southern Europe 12mR fleet.
“After sailing Blue Marlin since 2014 in Continental Europe and recently in Newport, it will be exciting to race in my hometown waters with a fleet of impressive size,” said 2020 Worlds event chairman, Henrik Andersin. “This will be a historic occasion for us, no 12 Metre has raced in Finland since WWI. We are hopeful that all 15 of the Northern European 12mR fleet will participate and be joined by additional 12s from Southern Europe and the United States as well as some of the oldest gaff-rigged 12s in Europe.”
The organizers are currently working on logistics solutions that would enable participants from other continents to get their boats skipped from to Helsinki for a reasonable fee.
For more information visit: https://12mrworlds.com/ or Henrik Andersin henrikandersin@mac.com
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ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL 12 METRE CLASS
The 112 year-old International 12 Metre Class encompasses a living history of racing yacht design by the world’s foremost naval architects including Olin Stephens, Clinton Crane, William Fife III, Johan Anker, Alfred Mylne, Charles E. Nicholson, Philip Rhodes, Ben Lexcen and more who pushed their designs to the very limits of innovation. The resulting boats represented the pinnacle of yacht development from 1907-1987 for the highest levels of international sailing competition– the Olympic Games (1908-1920) and the America’s Cup (1958-1987).
The 12 Metres are divided into divisions based on when they were built. At the Worlds, the contenders sail in Grand Prix (for 12 Metres built in 1987, winged keel), seven in Modern (1967-1983), in Traditional (1958-1966), in Vintage (1920-1958) and in Historic (1907-1919). Vintage and Historic division represents those built prior to the Cup’s 12 Metre era and when 12 Metres held a place in Olympic history. http://www.12mrclass.com
CONTACTS
Event Chairman:
Henrik Andersin
henrikandersin@mac.com
Sponsorship:
Thomas Ahlström
thomas.ahlstrom@bha.fi
Media & Comms:
Kim Weckström
kim@avaus.fi
Social:
Edward Krogius
edvard.krogius@gmail.com
Logistics:
Kristian Räme
kristian.rame@marinetek.net
Social Responsibility & On Shore Activities:
Johanna Catani
johanna.catani@gmail.com
Program Management:
Carolina Andersin
carolina.andersin@gmail.com
International 12 Metre Class:
SallyAnne Santos
sallyanne@windlasscreative.com
