Young yachtsmen and “own sea”: how 120 athletes conquered the expanses of Lake Pskov

The long holiday weekend in the Pskov region turned out to be full of sporting events. The region hosted the Cup of the Pskov region and the championship of the city of Pskov in cycling; the championship of the Pskov region in beach volleyball; International meeting of balloonists in Velikie Luki… The Pechora region did not lag behind. He, meanwhile, became a haven for the conquerors of the water element. Passed there for the 19th time Pskov sailing regatta.

On Friday, June 9, on the shore of Lake Pskov in the Pechora region began dozens of participants arrive – adults and experienced and very young. The geography turned out to be extensive: Vladivostok and Nakhodka, St. Petersburg and Moscow, Veliky Novgorod and Novorossiysk, as well as the cities of the Leningrad Region and, of course, Pskov.

The boarding house on the shore of Lake Pskov became the gathering place for the athletes. For the children who arrived at the competitions, accompanied by their coaches and mentors, a whole tent camp was set up in the clearing.

Children on yachts

Around noon on the shores of Lake Pskov, preparations for the starts are in full swing. The sun’s rays are reflected from the sides of the snow-white yachts and blind in the eyes, the masts creak, the sails toss and turn under the gusts of wind … Taking advantage of the free minutes before the official opening of the competition, the yachtsmen complete the last preparations. Looking with curiosity at everything that happens, the creator of the Russian Navy, Emperor Peter I, is walking along the shore. [правда, не собственной персоной – при.ред.] and his midshipman.

“I anchored and everything, then it was already normal”; “So that! The rigging had to be replaced”; “And I almost hooked her on board, passed about five centimeters“, – Fragments of phrases are heard from different sides.

This is how the Pskov sailing regatta turns out to be not just a competition, but also a meeting place where you can exchange news and make new acquaintances.

We go to get acquainted with the participants and we.

“We are not participating for the first time, Sasha has been studying for three years, – pointing to her son, standing at a distance, shares the Pskovite Maria Ganyukova. – He was brought by his elder sister, participant, prize-winner and winner of many regattas. Really like. The team, of course, has now broken up ours. So Sasha personally plays for Pskov. I really like the water area. Everything is always well organized here.”

12-year-old Alexander Ganyukov meanwhile diligently prepares his yacht for launching.

“Managing a yacht is not difficult in most cases. But the wind is different – if it’s strong, it’s not easy, but if it’s weak, then it’s easy, ” – the young participant of the regatta admits. He adds: “Today the weather is good and the wind is fresh. So everything should be fine.”

Well, good luck and goodbye. Here, on the shore of Lake Pskov, I manage to talk with Moscow team coach Anastasia Salakhutdinova. She brought a whole team of young yachtsmen to the region.

“The water area is great. The weather conditions this year are wonderful compared to the past. The direction is good, I think today they will hold 3-4 races for sure, – she shares her impressions. – There were 14 kids from 9 to 17 years old. Someone started training last year, someone has been in sports for 3-4 years already … But there are no such people for whom today’s competitions would be the first. Everyone has already entered the competition.“.

Watching the preparations going on ashore is exciting. Members of the Paralympic team, a team from Novorossiysk, which came to the Pskov region in 2023 for the first time, so to speak, for reconnaissance; about 70 adults and experienced participants and almost fifty young yachtsmen…

By the way, spectators were not allowed to take a look at the yachts on land. They were asked to follow the ships in the waters of Lake Pskov from afar: from the village of Pechki or from the western shore of Lake Pskov. The logic is simple – athletes should not be distracted.

“Seven feet!”

The start of the competition is given at the grand opening of the Pskov sailing regatta.

“Our regatta is included in the calendar of All-Russian competitions, – before the ceremony, Aleksey Grunenyshev, director of ANO Pskov Sailing Regatta, shares in an interview with a correspondent of MK in Pskov. – The first competitions were held here on boats provided by Pskov athletes. Just imagine, there were four boats in total! And 16 crews – 3-4 people each. Participants arrived from all over Russia – from Vladivostok to Kaliningrad. So, with a transfer on four yachts, we held the first regatta. But she developed“.

As a result, according to Alexey Grunenyshev, the regatta entered the calendar of international competitions. In recent years, 15 stages of the European Cup in the Micro class have been held on Pskov soil, and in 2016 our region also hosted the World Championship. After the start of the special operation, the situation changed somewhat. However, the traditional regatta is still held to this day.

Warm words, shouts of “Hurrah!”, applause, congratulations, a prayer service, raising the regatta flag, singing the anthem and consecrating the yachts, finally, bread and salt shared among all those present … The ceremony takes place, as they say, in one breath. Words become her final chord chief referee of the all-Russian category Sergey Budanov.

“More than 100 people participate in the regatta. According to preliminary data, 126 are declared. I would like to thank the organizers, and wish the participants a good start, fair wrestling. Seven feet!» he adds.

***

Adults and children start launching ships a few minutes later. Dozens of yachts with white sails rush to the start line on the very horizon. Wind, spray, screams, excitement… This is how the race on the water begins – a real tactical game with rivals. The winner in each of the classes is different.

Races continue on June 11 and 12. Only in the afternoon on Russia Day can yachtsmen take a deep breath – the competition is over. All that’s left is the reward and the way home.

The Pskov sailing regatta, the organizers say, is of great importance for the athletes. Competitions held on Lake Pskov attract dozens of yachtsmen and hundreds of spectators every year. And the best of the best take away not only warm memories and medals with souvenirs, but also crystal ships – the main award of the regatta. Who got it this year, look HERE.