Around Bornholm: 34 crews, 250 nautical miles and lots of wind

July 5, 2026
sailing

It will be windy again this year during the Round Bornholm race. Photo: Pepe Hartmann

Sailors are eagerly awaiting the start of the Round Bornholm regatta. But it's also clear on land that the long-distance race is a true summer highlight. Just like last year, everyone can watch the start at the Warnemünde Beach Arena.

The 34 registered crews have almost 250 nautical miles ahead of them when they set sail on Monday at 12:00 noon. (New: 13.00 p.m.) The race is about to begin. And it's looking like this year's edition could be a challenging one. A low-pressure system over Finland is dominating the weather off Warnemünde on Monday. At the start, the crews can expect winds of almost 15 knots from the west. But the wind is expected to pick up again in the afternoon. This promises high speeds for the first leg of the race to Bornholm, as the wind will more or less propel the fleet forward. Could the course record even fall? The current record holder, OSPA, has registered again. The former Ocean Racer needed only 24 hours, 54 minutes, and 23 seconds in the 2019 edition.
The title of "First Ship Home" is always hotly contested at Rund Bornholm. Besides Otto Timm's OSPA, Oliver Schmidt-Rybandt's illbruck – also a former ocean racer – regularly battles for the best time.

The wind is expected to increase even further on Monday night into Tuesday. Gusts of up to force 10 on the Beaufort scale could pose a challenge for the participants. The real problem, however, awaits on the return journey: while the westerly wind will propel the yachts to Bornholm at high speed, the crews will then have to sail back against the wind.

The start can once again be watched from the stage of the Warnemünde Beach Arena. With expert commentary from Uli Große, who explains all the maneuvers during the starting phase, even spectators unfamiliar with sailing are sure to be captivated by the spectacle on the water.

Eurochallenge

For the first time, the Warnemünder Woche This year, Warnemünde is hosting a leg of the international Eurochallenge series. Exactly 60 sailors from five nations will compete in the U13 and U17 age groups. Over three days of racing, the international next generation of sailors will have the opportunity to test their skills off the coast of Warnemünde. The Eurochallenge is one of the most important international regatta series for the O'pen skiff class. In 2026, legs of the series are scheduled to take place in Italy, Germany, and Hungary.

Among the top favorites is Mila Weniger from Thuringia, who has won the Open Nationals twice in a row. She sees the Eurochallenges as ideal preparation for the World Championships—a large international field almost always competes. The fact that the Italians are absent this year has a pragmatic reason: they are training on their home waters.