Image: Setting the Monohull Race Record in the inaugural Roschier Baltic Sea Race - The young team on the Polish National Foundation's Volvo Open 70 were first to finish (Sun 24 July) after a close battle © Pepe Korteniemi /www.pepekorteniemi.fi

Volvo Open 70 I Love Poland, owned by the Polish National Foundation and skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski crossed the finish line in Helsinki to take Line Honours for the Roschier Baltic Sea Race at 19:27:35 EEST on Sunday 24th July 2022. The elapsed time was 3 days, 0 hours, 27 minutes, 37 seconds, setting the Monohull Race Record.

An astonishing light airs battle decided the Line Honours winner for the Roschier Baltic Sea Race. I Love Poland crossed the finish line just 700 metres ahead of Tilmar Hansen’s German TP52 Outsider. Volvo 70 GP Bullhound with Per Roman at the helm was less than an hour behind I Love Poland after three days of racing. VO65 Ambersail was at one stage 18 miles in front of I Love Poland on the final leg, but finished fourth, 28 minutes behind GP Bullhound.

I Love Poland was presented with the Bobby Lowein Wheel for winning Monohull Line Honours. The trophy was a highly regarded award for past performance racing classes in the Fastnet Race. Previous winners of the trophy include world famous Maxi yachts: Rothmans, Alexia, Longobarda and Leopard; and now I Love Poland will be the latest boat to be inscribed on the trophy.

“We are really happy, we have done it,” commented a very proud Grzegorz Baranowski, skipper of I Love Poland. “The plan was to fight to the end and it was exactly that. There were a few wind holes, but we crossed the line first and we are delighted. When I look at the names on this trophy, we are so proud that ours will go with them. I am even more proud of my young crew who are trying their best to go forward. Thank you to the organisers of this race, it has been a privilege to compete in the first Roschier Baltic Sea Race.”

Ambersail 2, GP Bullhound and I Love Poland had all led the fleet during the 635 nautical mile race. The Outsider crew sportingly gave a respectful three cheers to the I Love Poland team after crossing the finish line. I Love Poland returned the gesture before heading ashore for a cold case of Finnish Fat Lizard Beer.