On 26-27 May 2012 (the Whitsun break in Denmark), the Kerteminde Sailing Club did repeat previous years’ successes with the Big Boat Challenge event.

Sailsport enthusiasts and sailing aficionados alike put a big mark in their calendar for the Whitsun holiday on 25–27 May 2012. This is the date when Kerteminde Sailing Club in Denmark holding year 2012 Big Boat Challenge – the highly successful regatta for northern Europe’s absolute best and fastest big boat teams. The Big Boat Challenge (BBC) is an invitation-only international event for larger keel boats from Denmark and nearby countries, organised by Kerteminde Sailing Club and held on the waters of Kerteminde Bay.

The regatta took place for the first time in Whitsun 2009, with 36 boats taking part.We will be repeating the 2009, 2010 and 2011 successes on 26-27 May 2012. Also this year, about half of the invitations will go to boats from Norway, Sweden and Germany. Our target group is boats in the 35–70-foot range, with crews numbering 8–18. All those we invite are boats with good results in the biggest sailing events in Denmark and abroad. We have limited the fleet to approx. 50 boats. The race committee will begin by sending out invitations to 40–45 boats, and the remaining slots will be wild card invitations. The way the 2009, 2010 and 2011 events were held set a new standard for sailing events in Denmark, and were a huge success for those taking part as well as for the event’s sponsors. It was a breakthrough format that has attracted international interest and attention. In 2012, the Big Boat Challenge event was held side by side with Sail Extreme (www.sailextreme.dk),Scandinavia’s largest dinghy event for youngsters and also organised by Kerteminde Sailing Club.

We were looking forward to see so many boats, with crews of all ages, on the water in one of Denmark’s best venues for competitive sailing.For the fourth consecutive year, racing crews and boat lovers from Denmark and northern Europe set course towards Kerteminde to compete against each other and explore the capabilities of their finely tuned sailing machines in five races over two days. Kerteminde Sailing Club and the entire team behind the Big Boat Challenge wanted to provide the crews, spectators and sponsors with a fantastic sailing experience. For the many skilled crews who attend, the event was a framework for fierce competition, good sportsmanship and a convivial opportunity to meet up again.

We are continuing to develop the concept and have challenged ourselves to yet again do things better, and make the Big Boat Challenge experience even more amazing in 2013.

Big Boat Challenge 2012 took place in accordance with DH and IRC rules, as previously. But in 2013 this will change.

Read more about the 2013 BBC planning.