For almost six months we waited for the start of the yachting competition season for large sailboats. Already a tradition, Regatta Seanergya also opened the 2025 edition of the Romanian Offshore Cup. 34 sailboats competed for the laurels of victory.
As usual, the Seanergya Regatta, organized by the sports club of the same name, opened the ball. The 34 sailboats present at the start were divided into four classes: A1 and A2 for racers and performance cruisers, respectively B1 and B2 for cruisers, plus the Sportboat class.
Now in its fifth edition, Seanergya Regatta 2025 is one of the most prestigious offshore competitions in Romania. The regatta brings together at the beginning of the yachting season in Romania the most passionate sailors in the country, but also competitors or officials from abroad.
Romanian Offshore Cup 2024 – Seanergya Regatta – stage 1
Being the first stage of the five of the Romanian Offshore Cup, the crews are aiming for a perfect start, so ambition, adrenaline and competitiveness were the order of the day in Mangalia.
During the two days of competition, a coastal race was scheduled for a distance of about 8 miles on the Mangalia – Costinești route and back, respectively three inshore races in the roadstead of Mangalia Port.
After the wreck… Comfort
In conditions of weak wind on the environment, the organizer decided that the first day of the competition would be dedicated to the “coastal” race, basically a race where navigation prevails and not just the skill of the crew or the performance of the boat.
Initially, because the wind was forecast to be weak, at the meeting with the skippers, a possible shortening of the route was discussed. In the end, no changes were made, the initial favorable wind in terms of direction and strength sending the boats directly towards Costinești, the return being scheduled in front of the wreck at about 1 nautical mile to the sea.
But a total drop in the wind caused almost the entire flotilla to remain immobilized on the water for more than two hours. This meant that until the time expired, only the sailboats of Class A1, two sailboats from A2 and only one from B1 could cross the finish line until the time limit expired. It was a race where skill, crew training, tactics, but also patience prevailed.
Three fast races
The second day, however, took place in almost ideal weather conditions, with medium to strong winds, which reached 20 knots in gusts, but in the west-east direction, which made the sea almost completely devoid of the wave.
Under these conditions, all three inshore races were scheduled and carried out in good conditions on a 1.2-mile route, which was traveled twice by the sailboats of the A1 and A2 classes, respectively once by the others.
At the end of the two days of competition, the fastest boat was LionStory (Swan 42) driven by Valentin Oeru – who also won the A1 Class. She was followed on the podium by MyWay (Rodman 42) led by Ciprian Onose and Quebramar (JV42) led by Iulia Fulicea.
Class A2 was won by the sailboat Hope (Italia 998) led by Mihnea Sandu, followed on the podium by Ops (First 35) led by Florin Olteanu and Elixirium (Elan 340) led by Ionuț Stan.
The fastest cruiser was Ostwind (Bavaria 45) driven by Andrei Nicolescu at B1, while the B2 category was won by Baby One (Bavaria 38) led by Florina Popa.
The Sportboat class was won by Cosa Nostra (Grand Surprise) led by Adrian Petcu.
The next stage, which will also host the award ceremony for stage 1, Friendship Regatta and will be organized jointly with Bulgaria between June 13-15 on the Mangalia-Varna route and will schedule the inshore races in Varna.
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