News

The 2015 Gazprom Swan 60 Circuit starts this week at Gaastra Palmavela with racing from the 30 April to 3 May. There will be a large youth contingent from the Gazprom Swan 60 Class this year. At only 22 years of age Russian national, Viatcheslav Martynov, will skipper the Swan 60, Tssar Peter, and head up the 'Gazprom Youth Sailing Challenge'.

Based out of Saint Petersburg Yacht Club, the youth programme is now successfully in its 2^nd year working to support young talented sailors Russia reach international level sport. This is the first initiative of its kind to be developed in Russia, providing youngsters with the ability to live their global yacht racing dreams. The selection process is tough with entrants from all over Russia put through a number of trials both on and off the water. The current team comprises accomplished dinghy sailors who are now just starting their professional yacht race careers.

Gaastra Palmavela will be the first event on the 2015 Gazprom Swan 60 circuit for the team who all raced together during 2014. The youngsters showed serious strengths leading races during the 2014 Gazprom Swan 60 World Championship held at Real Club Nautico. This experience will be useful on the competitive race courses in Palma Bay.

All contenders in the Gazprom Youth Sailing Challenge will need to prove themselves again for the remainder of the 2015 season as 4 new hopefuls will be selected during June to join the team. All ready dozens of young sailors have applied to have a chance of competing internationally.

Chief Coach, Sergey Borodinov will also be racing onboard as tactician, considered one of the sailing's legends in Russia having participated in the Whitbread Round the World Race and Olympic Games, Sergey will ensure the youth team develop again through the season.

http://www.palmavela.com/2014/principal/index_uk.php