NJK had the pleasure of organizing the Atlantic Round 9-11.08.13. 

No rain, mostly sunshine and favourable wind conditions were ingredients that ensured a  successful regatta. This year the participants came from the North American Station, KNS, KSSS  and NJK. KDY and GKSS did not join, but hopefully all member clubs participate next time. 

The Atlantic Round event has been challenged among some of the North American Station  member clubs. After a meeting at KDY in Copenhagen last year it was decided to continue with  the tradition and it was decided that NJK would host the event in 2013. However, when the time  for registration was due, in the beginning of the summer, member clubs were slow in  responding and at one point, three weeks before the event, only two clubs had signed up.  Luckily one club decided at the last minute to join. Finally four clubs participated and all  participants agreed that this event is worth supporting.  

History goes way back to 1945 when Count Pehr Sparre founded the North American Station as  an outstation for KSSS in the USA. Later the Scandinavian Clubs and NJK joined and The North  American Station of the Royal Scandinavian Yacht Clubs and Nyländska Jaktklubben was born. In  the beginning when the station represented only KSSS an exchange programme for young sailors  was established. This has expanded and is today called the “Five Club Junior Regatta”,  embracing also juniors from the North American Station. 

The AR has been criticized for being expensive to organize and as everyone is busy, the event  has taken up too much time. This year only two days were reserved for sailing and a small  entrance fee was introduced. These measures were taken in accordance with what the meeting  in Copenhagen recommended.  

As NJK acted as a host for both the AR and the Five Club Regatta this year, it was decided to  organize both events partly together. It turned out to be a good decision. NJK has seven J80’s  and they were used both by the juniors and the more mature sailors in the AR.  

The four participants from the North American Station arrived on Thursday and the rest  dropped in later during the day and on Friday morning. The programme started on Thursday  with a visit to the American Embassy where Ambassador Bruce Oreck proudly presented the  new Innovation Centre. We were enlightened on new ways of saving the world’s resources by  using the right kind of light, shower curtains turning into TV screens and other mysterious  innovations. According to Ambassador Oreck this is not science fiction, it is just around the  corner… 

After this interesting visit we headed towards Blekholmen to NJK’s prestigious club house where  dinner was served in the member rooms. 

On Friday the actual races were due to start. All participants had arrived and the Skipper’s  meeting was at noon at Björkholmen, NJK’s sailing centre. The wind was moderate and six races 

were carried through. The races were for the Stephen Swope’s Memorial Trophy. In this race the  helmsman stays on board but teams swop boats after each race. The race form appeals to the  competitors as they learn new ways of sailing and get to know each other while racing in the  same boat. 

A regatta dinner at the club house on Blekholmen ended a good day of interesting racing.  Juniors and seniors enjoyed good food and each other’s company.  

Saturday was a tough day for the seniors. Fleet racing with an early start as, according to the  Notice of Race, no starts were to take place after 12 pm. Conditions were excellent and three  races were completed. Races were good and in the end the team from KSSS was the winner. 

A cold drink after the races was relaxing and as the weather was excellent it felt good to chat  and discuss various sailing topics on the terrace outside the clubhouse.  

As some of the participants had to catch a plane in order to be on time to other big sailing  events, such as The Fastnet Race, the prize giving was held immediately after the races. KSSS  was the overall winner and they were well prepared as the trophies already were in Sweden.  This was due to a mistake and not planned beforehand… 

In the evening juniors and the more mature sailors enjoyed a barbecue dinner at Björkholmen.  After a debate, tables were re-organized and finally the seating was according to how the  Vikings were seated in the good old days, facing each other in a square. Glasses were raised in  the way the old Vikings did.  

On Sunday the NAS team visited the Hvitträsk museum where Eliel and Eero Saarinen lived. Eero  Saarinen is known primarily for the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Those who still remained in  Finland had been invited to the beautiful home of Jaana and Klaus Cavén in Westend. Everyone  enjoyed the good food excellent wines and good company so much so that the elapse of time  was completely forgotten. Late, farewells were said and everyone agreed that the AR is worth  preserving! 

New ideas are more than welcome, but we all hope to keep up a good tradition and involve a  new generation, especially those who do not compete professionally but sail just for fun. The  whole idea is to keep in touch, sail and socialize on a sporty and informal level. 

31 August 2013 

Gunilla Antas 

Passed Commodore