Everyone, who has ever stayed alone with the sea, certainly thought about the nature of the things, about his own significance on the Earth, vanity of the «shore» life. And this is a kind of philosophy. Russian nothern seas might be very attractive to people, who know what power and beauty can do together. It's not just all about ordinary beaches with tents and umbrellas, and tourists burning under the sun. It's romance.

One of the most romantic sport events will take place in Russian “Northern capital” Saint-Petersburg this summer. From 10 to 20 of August tens of yachts from Russia and all over the world will stand out and compete in the international regatta “ Saint Petersburg sailing week”. The yearly regatta is a beautiful contest to watch and it’s surely amazing to take part in.

About 70 yachts with more than 350 yachtsmen on board will race at several stages from 15 to 110 miles long in Neva Bay and Gulf of Finland.

This regatta has more then a hundred years history. Initially competitions were founded in 1898 by the United Racing Commission of St. Petersburg’s yacht-clubs and till 1913 it had been recognised as the main event in the sport life of St. Petersburg’s yachtsmen. Now, according to the Seaport Saint-Petersburg joint-stock company, The Sailing Week has become a part of the city’s programme aimed at gaining the right to host Olympic Sailing Regatta in 2012.

Every year several sailing regattas gather professionals and youth from Russian regions and from abroad in Saint Petersburg. The city is concerned to be marine capital of Russia, the cradle of Russian Navy and one of the biggest ports of the country. In Saint-Petersburg there are concentrated leading civil and research marine establishments, educational institutions train highly qualified personnel, modern ships are build at shipyards. At present in the city on Neva there are lots of yearly successfully held competitions in yachting, sailing and water-motor sports not only on all-Russian level but also on a level with the highest world standards.

In June 2006 the 9th International Exhibition «Boat Show Petersburg-2006» has gathered thousands of professionals - manufacturers of yachts, launches, camping outfit - and amateurs of water sports. 138 companies from Russia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Spain, Turkey participated in it. The exhibition had more than 17.000 visitors including delegations from Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, the Republic of Croatia, Poland and different regions of Russia.

Nastya Makryashina