Vene Båt show to feature outstanding sailing-based programme and exclusive guests
Northern Europe’s largest boating event, the Helsinki International Boat Show, Vene Båt will be held on 7 to 16 February. This year, Helsinki Messukeskus will provide a particularly full programme based on the theme of sailing. There will be lectures on both competitive and leisure yachting, as well as dramatic stories from around the world and insights on preparation for sailing contests. Star guests include America’s Cup winner Kyle Langford and round-the-world sailor Jimmy Cornell.
Most of the sailing-themed programme will be held in the show’s sailing boat area in Hall 7, on the Purjehdussatama (Sailing Boat Harbour) stage.
PURJEHDUSSATAMA PROGRAMME:
Kyle Langford, the young winner of the America’s Cup, will attend the fair
Australian Kyle Langford (24), trimmer of Oracle Team USA’s massive wing, was a key member and the youngest sailor of the American team that recorded a historical 9-8 victory. During his career, Langford has won gold in the multihull class of the ISAF Youth World Championship in 2005, was a winner in the RC 44 World Championship in 2010 and came second in the World Match Race Championship in 2009. In 2006, at just 17 years of age, he was a crew member on the Mean Machine when it won the TP52 MedCup. In Finland he is best known as part of the coaching team for the bronze-winning trio in the 2012 London Olympics, Silja Lehtinen, Silja Kanerva and Mikaela Wulff.
Langford will appear at 12 noon on Friday 7 February, Saturday 8 February and Sunday 9 February, on the Purjehdussatama stage.
Solo Atlantic crossing, Route De Rhum – Ari Huusela
Flight captain and solo sailor Ari Huusela will share his thoughts on the forthcoming Class 40 solo Atlantic crossing race. Route du Rhum 2014 is a continuation of Huusela’s earlier ocean crossings in the races for Mini Transat and Transat 6.50 class vessels in 1999 and 2007.
Huusela will appear at 4 pm on Saturday 8 February on the Purjehdussatama stage.
Finns in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
Several Finns were crew members of the Team Finland and Visit Finland boats in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 2009-10 and 2011-12. Team Finland’s skipper (9 am-10 am) Eero Lehtinen will chat with the following Finnish Clipper sailors: Emil Vartiainen (9 am-10 am) and Inga and Perttu Monthan (11 am-12 noon).
The interview will be held at 4 pm on Saturday 9 February on the Purjehdussatama stage.
Pleasure boating from the bridge of a passenger ship – First Mate Jukka Uusitalo
As an experienced seaman, Jukka Uusitalo has a ringside view of pleasure boating as a crew member on the bridge of a passenger vessel. Sea captain Uusitalo talks about his experiences and nerve-wracking situations in narrow island straits, from the viewpoint of the crew of a large and ungainly car ferry.
Uusitalo will appear at 4.30 pm on Tuesday 11 February on the Purjehdussatama stage.
Piracy and protecting merchant shipping on the Indian Ocean – Commander Mika Raunu
Many Finns are either planning to circumnavigate the globe by sea, or are already doing so. Aside from storms, the greatest threat they face is piracy. Commander Raunu will share his experiences of protecting merchant shipping in the Indian Ocean.
He will appear at 6.00 pm on Wednesday 12 February on the Purjehdussatama stage.
Sailing sponsorship forum
Looking ahead to the Rio Olympics, Finland’s greatest hopes are pinned on sailing. What will it take to realise the related, ambitious goals and how can we ensure the deployment of our top sailing resources? Sailors, partners and marketing and sponsorship professionals will join the conversation.
The forum will be held at 3 pm on Thursday 13 February on the Purjehdussatama stage.
Volvo Ocean Race 2014 Team SCA – Richard Brisius
In the autumn, the Swedish Team SCA will participate in one of the world’s toughest sailing competitions, with an all-female crew. Richard Brisius, an experienced sailor and the team manager, will talk about how the training and preparations in Stockholm and Lanzarote are progressing.
Brisius will appear at 3 pm on Saturday 14 February on the Purjehdussatama stage.
Northwest Passage among icebergs, award-winning film and interview – Cameron Dueck
In 2009, this Canadian ocean adventurer, reporter and film-maker sailed 8,000 nautical miles through the Northwest Passage, from Victoria to Halifax. He wrote a book and directed a multiple award-winning 53-minute film about his journey. His presentation and film focus on a four-month voyage in Arctic conditions, accomplished by a four-man crew on a 40-foot yacht, as well as exploring the indigenous Inuits and their lives, and the effects of climate change.
Dueck will appear at 12 noon on Saturday 15 February and Sunday 16 February, on the Purjehdussatama stage.
Voyage around Fenno-Scandinavia 2013 – Tuomo Siitonen
Tuomo Siitonen presents a spellbinding account of his sailing voyage through Russia to the White Sea, around Fenno-Scandinavia and back to Finland. Is Russia opening up to sailing enthusiasts and how did this exotic journey go?
Siitonen will appear at 3 pm on Saturday 15 February on the Purjehdussatama stage.
SAILING PROGRAMME EVENTS WILL ALSO BE HELD ON THE MAJAKKA (LIGHTHOUSE) STAGE:
Jimmy Cornell will talk about his voyages and his latest project, Blue Planet Odyssey
Sailor and writer Jimmy Cornell has sailed 200,000 nautical miles, been around the world three times and has sailed to places such as Antarctica, Alaska and Spitsbergen. His books include the popular World Cruising Routes and he has organised several sailing events, in which over 3,000 boats and 15,000 sailors have participated. His latest project is Blue Planet Odyssey, a sea voyage around the world in which Cornell intends to focus attention and shape opinions on climate change.
Cornell will appear at 1.00 pm, 1.45 pm, 4.00 pm and 5.30 pm on Saturday 15 February and at 11.00 am and 3.30 pm on Sunday 16 February on the Majakka stage.
Voyages around the world and to Spitsbergen in a fibreglass boat
Sailing adventurers such as Matti Lappalainen, who made a solo ocean voyage around the world lasting eight years, Kalle Sysiö, skipper of the s/y Elaine during its four-year journey around the world and Kari “Ruffe” Nurmi, who sailed around Spitsbergen in a small fibreglass boat, will talk about their journeys.
Matti Lappalainen will appear at 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm from Saturday 8 February to Friday 14 February, at 11.30 am and 3.30 pm on Saturday 15 February and at 1.00 pm and 2.30 pm on Sunday 16 February, on the Majakka stage.
Kalle Sysiö will talk about his voyage at 1.00 pm on Wednesday 12 February, on the Majakka stage.
Kari ”Ruffe” Nurmi will appear at 4.30 pm on Friday 7 February and at 11.00 am and 5.00 pm on Saturday 8 February, on the Majakka stage.
Messukeskus organises the annual Helsinki International Boat Show, Vene Båt, on behalf of the Finnish Marine Industries Federation Finnboat.
This year, the boating event will be held for the 45th time. The boat show’s main partner is Volvo Auto Oy Ab.
Helsinki International Boat Show:
Fri 7 Feb 10 am-6 pm Trade Day (for professionals only)
Sat-Tues 8-11 Feb from 10 am-6 pm
Wed 12 Feb 10 am-8 pm
Thurs-Sat 13-15 Feb 10 am-6 pm
Sun 16 Feb 10 am-5 pm
Ticket prices: EUR 16 for adults, EUR 10 for children (7-15), students, pensioners and conscripts, EUR 37/family ticket (2 adults and children under 15), groups EUR 10/person (at least 10 persons).
Special tickets: Mon-Wed 10-12 Feb adults EUR 10/person, for advance tickets bought (on or before 7 Feb) from our online shop. http://shop.messukeskus.com. All other ticket types can be bought from our online shop.
