ORC Europeans 2024 is proud to welcome Garmin as a gold sponsor
Photos: Johanna Lehtinen
European Offshore Sailing Championships will be held in Mariehamn, Åland, in August, with Garmin Nordic Finland Oy as a key partner enabling the event.
After more than ten years, the international championships, which will take place in Mariehamn from 9 to 17 August 2024, will once again be held in Finland. The main organizer of the event is the Finnish Offshore Racing Association, and we are pleased to have Garmin as a partner of the event.
"We are very excited to be involved in making the competition possible! Garmin is well known for its high quality electronics, but our versatile and high quality range of sailing electronics may be somewhat unfamiliar to some sailors and may require further exploration. By participating in the event, we want to highlight the suitability of our sailing products for both amateur and professional sailors. Sailors can rely on Garmin to help them get the most out of their hobby by using our sailing products," says Juha Kainua, Marketing Manager of Garmin Finland.
”The partnership with Garmin in the European Offshore Sailing Championships is a dream come true – a dream that has been on my mind for years. As an active athlete, I have hoped to combine Garmin, which has played a significant role in my endurance sports for more than ten years, with the sailing hobby I love. Garmin's strong sporting image also brings an active approach to the competition,” notes Noora Westerlund, Chairman of the Finnish Offshore Racing Association and Head of the ORC Europeans 2024 organisation.
"Garmin's involvement in the competition also allows us to raise the level of competition, especially from the sailors' point of view, as the cooperation will enable us to reward the winning boats of the overall race and the long offshore race with stunning Quatix® 7 Pro Marine GPS smartwatches,” adds Westerlund.
Combining tradition and modern technology, Garmin sailing products will take your sailing experience to the next level. Read more here about Garmin sailing products, their features, and what you need for your sailboat.
Prepare for the sailing season on dry land: Fitness tips for sailors
Sailing requires strength, endurance, and agility. Many focus on tuning their boats for the new sailing season well in advance, but preparing their own sailing fitness often falls short.
As a competing sailor herself, Westerlund emphasizes the importance of investing in the development of personal and the team's sailing fitness.
"Sailing fitness is built on dry land before the season starts," she says. In the Baltic Sea region, where the sailing season, especially the active competition season, is relatively short, the foundation of sailing fitness is built outside the sailing season by combining endurance and strength training.
Engaging in diverse physical activities, ideally together with the sailing team during the off-season, supports a strong competition season and maintains crew relationships. Joint runs, team sports, or training sessions at the gym keep the group connected even during off-season.
"Personally, I do a wide range of physical activities to maintain and develop my physical performance, but also to prepare my mind for challenging conditions. Versatility and maintaining mobility, among other things, are crucial to fully enjoying sailing and racing," says Westerlund.
3 tips for improving sailing fitness
Head of the ORC Europeans 2024 organisation, an active sailor and sports lover, Noora Westerlund shares her tips for developing or maintaining sailing fitness. She highlights three important forms of exercise that support sailing:
1. Strength training in the gym or with bodyweight to develop the muscle strength and endurance needed for sailing. The main muscle groups are the upper body, shoulders, arms and core. Pulling movements are particularly beneficial for sailing; use cables at the gym and resistance bands at home. Light weights and resistance band exercises that strengthen the shoulders and arms also help prevent sports injuries while sailing.
2. Endurance training: running, cycling, indoor rowing or swimming develop endurance fitness, which is important during long sailing days. Long periods of exercise also build up mental strength, which is needed for the final kilometers of a marathon as well as for long offshore sailing. Good endurance helps maintain better decision making on the water during long days, and knowing oneself at the extreme limits improves performance and allows self-reflection among the crew.
3. Body control and mobility: yoga and pilates improve body control, yoga especially develops flexibility and balance, which are important when moving on the deck of a tilting boat and when trimming sails in awkward positions. Dynamic stretching and body-opening movements such as using a stick, elastic bands or ropes are also suitable for improving body control and mobility.
The combination of these exercises provides a versatile support for the sailor's physical fitness and helps improve performance on the water.