ORC Europeans Announces a Prologue Race: A Perfect Chance to Test the Waters and Your Team Before the Main Event

Lithuania has modified its largest offshore regatta – “Curonian Lagoon Regatta” – to become the ORC Prologue Race Klaipėda just before the ORC European Championship that will take place in Klaipėda on 7-15 August. The ORC Prologue Race Klaipėda will be held on 25-26 July in the same waters as ORC Europeans championship and will consist of a day dedicated for windward-leeward races and another one for short offshore race. All the participants of the ORC Europeans are invited for a short preview of the main event.

“The ORC Prologue Race Klaipėda will take place two weeks before the European Championship. We modified the original format of “Curonian Lagoon Regatta” so it would be like a shorter version of ORC championship and all the participants could have perfect quick warm-up: to test the waters, the teams, the format. We encourage all the teams to participate and to start enjoying everything that Klaipėda and Lithuania has to offer a little bit earlier”, – says Mantas Klimantavičius, the head of organization.

The ORC Prologue Race Klaipėda will be conducted as a part of the “Curonian Lagoon Regatta”, which is the largest offshore regatta in Lithuania with deep traditions going back to the year of 1954 when it started. The regatta gathers around 50 teams from Lithuania and sometimes abroad every year. It also offers a festive event ashore, dedicated not only for the sailors, but for the public as well.

„I participated in „Curonian Lagoon Regatta“ 14 times since 2006. And there is a good reason for that. The regatta and Lithuanian sailing community are special: the atmosphere is unique and festive and as a foreign participant I felt great respect. I found some good friends among Lithuanian sailors which I appreciate highly. The Baltic Sea coast waters are here deep and create high seas in westerly winds. Sometimes you can even surf on those waves - it’s fun! And, of course, Klaipeda city, Nida village, Neringa sand dunes is something you must see and feel“ – says Mart Tamm, the skipper of “Katarina Jee” and “Mesilinde” and a six times winner of “Curonian Lagoon Regatta”.

John Victorin from Germany that participated in “Curonian Lagoon Regatta” in 2020 with his Farr 30 “Maiko” also has only positive impression of the regatta:

„I found it to be an excellent event well worth participating in. It contains a good match of distance races and windward/leeward ones. Organisation was very professional and friendly, on and off the water. Also including an excellent media team that followed the races, generating content for social media as well as local newspapers and TV.“

According to him, the touristic aspect shall not be neglected as sailing on the Curonean lagoon with its shallow waters and beautiful sand dunes is an experience in itself.

The ORC Prologue Race Klaipėda organizers encourage all the sailors to come to the event with families and friends, because at the same time in Klaipėda “The Sea Festival” takes place, which is largest summer event in the city and one of the biggest cultural events in Lithuania. Almost a hundred different events will take place during the celebration: various exhibitions, concerts, street performances, educational events and the largest summer fair in Lithuania.

The ORC Prologue Race Klaipėda will be sailed on Saturday and Sunday of the “Curonian Lagoon Regatta” (July 25–26, 2026). On 25 of July three windward-leeward races are scheduled that will take place in the Baltic Sea, outside of Klaipėda. On 26 of July the participants will compete in a short offshore race.

The ORC Prologue Race Race is open to yachts holding a valid ORC International or ORC Club certificate for 2026 and entered in the Curonian Lagoon Regatta 2026. Eligible groups: ORC A, ORC B, ORC C.

After the ORC Europeans Prologue Race, the “Curonian Lagoon Regatta” will move to the waters of Curonian Lagoon and Nida town. All the yachts that have a draught not exceeding 2.20 m can continue racing in “Curonian Lagoon Regatta”, as the waters of Curonian Lagoon are too shallow for yachts with bigger draughts. The “Curonian Lagoon Regatta” will conclude on 1 August.

In addition, the ORC Europeans organizers guarantee that all the ORC Europeans Prologue Race participants from abroad will have a mooring place for the time between the Prologue Race and ORC European Championship.

You can register for the ORC Europeans Prologue Race here.

Also, if you still haven’t registered for ORC Europeans in Klaipėda, it is the perfct time to do it now, as the early-bird registration fees applies for participants registered by the 1^st of June. Registration for ORC European championship can be found here.