First round Denmark solo yacht race opens to entrants

The race was inspired by Erik Venobo's successful single-handed sail around Denmark in 2015.

Silverrudder challenge
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Two Danish sailors have conceived and organised a solo race around Denmark scheduled to take place in 2016.

The Silverrudder Challenge will be based on the route Erik Venøbo took when he completed the first successful solo sail around Denmark in 2015. The sailor collaborated with Jan Møller to organise a formal race that will make its first run on July 1, 2016.

The race will start from a marina close to Copenhagen. The Scandinavian Singlehand Sailing-Association and the Royal Danish Yacht Club have been brought on as partners.

Venøbo made a personal challenge to other solo sailors to participate in the competition:

“In my years as a sailor, I have always sought to challenge myself. This race is the ultimate challenge, and it’s a tough course. There [were] a few times when I wondered if I should take up golf instead,” Venøbo said of his own trip on the race course where he faced difficult weather conditions.

Erik Venøbo

The Royal Danish Yacht Club (KDY) supported Venøbo’s attempt in 2015 and have become partners in the first round-Denmark race with Mads Ehrhardt from KDY as Race Director and KDY Director Dan Ibsen also offering support.

Sailors Jan Møller and Erik Venøbo and journalist Katrine Bertelsen are also part of the organizing committee, representing Scandinavian Single Hand Sailing-Association (SSF) .

“Despite that I have sailed 50,000 nautical miles alone on the high seas, I am still challenged by sailing this close to land. Erik’s initiative to sail around Denmark alone, [has helped] to break new water and stimulate the development in solo sailing,” said Moller, who has himself completed a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the world.

The race starts on 1 July 2016 and will run over six stages with individual starts eight hours after the finish at each pit stop. The race will be divided between three boat classes, and the route runs from Øresund to Assens and back, totalling 646 nautical miles. Only qualified sailors will be invited to participate and safety is a top priority for the group. Sailors must also be able to field a shore-crew to support the skipper with weather and navigation information throughout the race.

Sailors hoping to compete in the race should contact the organisers.

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