Facebook

Login

Support Sailonline

If you haven't already - join the SAILONLINE YACHT CLUB!

Please also consider making a donation - all amounts are greatly appreciated!

25 January 2018


For the eighth consecutive year, Sailonline is delighted to be associated with Promote Shetland for the running of the 2018 virtual race to the annual Up Helly Aa fire festival in Lerwick.

Shetland is a group of about 100 islands off the NE coast of the British mainland, as close to Norway as they are to Aberdeen in Scotland. The islands have been inhabited for about 5000 years and have to this day retained many of the traditions and customs of those who lived there over the centuries. Little is known about the original Pictish people as they appear to have been displaced when the Vikings arrived in the 700s. Over many years there was a strong Viking and Scandinavian influence until the islands were given to Scotland by Norway in the 15th century as part of a royal dowry.

The fire festivals, however, are not so ancient, being dreamed up in the 19th century to serve a dual purpose of raising spirits in the long dark winter and of reminding folk of historic Viking influences. These days Up Helly Aa in Lerwick has become a fairly riotous and colourful fire festival involving almost the entire community, when the streets fill with "guizers" - groups of people in themed disguise - and the Jarl Squad (the Vikings) and a livestream of the event is broadcast over the internet enabling everyone around the globe to join in!


Up Helly Aa: Shetland's Fire Festival Season

About Up Helly Aa
Shetland Webcams

Sailonline’s Race:
Sailonline will be racing Elan 410s from Aberdeen to Lerwick, starting on Monday, 29 January @1100utc. Our route is unchanged from previous years and takes us past Inverness, a mark in the Moray Firth, past Fair Isle and then around several of the islands of Shetland to the finish in Lerwick Harbour. The timing this year is intended to encourage an even bigger virtual participation than before in the festival of Up Helly Aa on the evening of 30 January. The race will open for practice on Tuesday, 24 January at 1100utc.


Comments are closed.

Comments have been closed for this post.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


Current Races:

Vendee Home - Cape Horn to Olon 2025

Welcome to our 2025 Ocean Race Championships starting off with the classic 6900nm drag race from Cape Horn back to the coast of Brittany leading or following the boats of the Vendee Globe fleet. A new polar from the board of the BNH Design Partnership is being made available to you for this one, in the hope that aboard her you too will be able to cover 600nm in a day when the conditions are right! It's winter outside, so like the IRL sailors, enjoy and stay inside!
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1874
INFO by brainaid.de
IMOCA 60 Foil v2 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ1 - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Jan 06th 11:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

AGage TIMED 100 Race 2025

SOL's gift to the memory of AGagewas a yearlong series of races circumnavigating Australia. This 100 nm race takes place in the St. Vincent Gulf off Adelaide to mark 12 years since the too-sudden end to the life of this remarkable SOLer. These were Aaron's home waters - he was a total competitor so... race to win! Please take the time to read the many tributes left in his memory. This is a TIMED race, so you may RE-REGISTER HERE to try again, after finishing a run. You will have 13 days and 11 hours to test your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #1879
INFO by brainaid.de
Sun Fast 3600 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ1 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
18 January at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Jan 05th 12:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Auckland Islands PYOC Sprint 2025


You bored with The Falklands?
We give you The Aucklands!
Well the wind could be West,
But which side shall be best?
North or South?
There will surely be doubt,
Where your Platu to rout(e)! <
Race 1878
INFO by brainaid.de
Platu 25 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SPRQ1 - SPRCH - SUPSOL – SYC
Race starts: Jan 04th 03:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Tasman Double 2024 - Hobart to Sydney

The echoes of New Year's Eve parties have already faded away. The world welcomed the new 2025 and said goodbye to the old 2024. Still silently reflecting on what the next days will bring. For us and our Super Maxi 100 V2, it's time to return to Sydney, again waiting for us 625 NM of difficult sailing through the always demanding waters of the Tasman Sea. So goodbye Hobart, we will come back here again to celebrate another new year 2026 together. In the meantime, Happy New Year 2025!!!
Race #1877
INFO by brainaid.de
Super Maxi 100 V2 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: TD - SYC
Race starts: Jan 02nd 02:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

ORCV Melbourne to Hobart 2024


Welcome to the legendary "Westcoaster," a race that has tested sailors for over 50 years. Spanning 435 nautical miles, this iconic journey takes racers from Melbourne, across the formidable Bass Strait, and around Tasmania's rugged west coast to the finish line in Hobart. Organized by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria, the Westcoaster is renowned for its challenging conditions and adventurous spirit. This year, our SOLers will tackle the course in the swift and capable First 47.7, a yacht launched by Beneteau in 2000, built for speed and endurance in long ocean races. Get ready for an exhilarating ride in one of Australia’s most celebrated yacht races!
Race #1841
INFO by brainaid.de
First 47.7 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC
RACE CLOSE: Friday,
January 3 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Dec 26th 23:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Christmas(W) to Christmas(E) Island 2024

Two waypoints, start and finish, and between them 5827 NM of two oceans. Not much time if we want to sit at the Christmas Eve table. You will need to maintain an average speed of over 10 knots, so prepare your 90ft well and choose the best of the many possible routes. Hands up everyone who knew there were TWO Christmas Islands?! OK, maybe you have sailed this Sailonline course before... but it's time to get ready for the 2024 challenge of a reversed race, starting in the Indian Ocean, racing to the Christmas Island in the Pacific! It also marks the conclusion of our prestigious Ocean Race Championship 2024. Please have fun! Fair winds!
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1868
INFO by brainaid.de
90ft Monohull PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ4 - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
January 4 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Dec 02nd 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member FreyjaUSA
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Satori
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Kipper1258
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

SYC members have the benefit of access to our mobile/lightweight web client!

The mobile client