Mrs. Sari Multala, Minister of Science and Culture visited the Worlds Regatta dinner

The Europe Class Worlds Championship hosted a Regatta dinner at Hanko Casino for 250 sailors and guests. During the dinner, The Worlds honorary guest, Minister Sari Multala greeted the sailors, organizers and other guests with the  following warm words:

“Dear friends of sailing, distinguished athletes,

I’m delighted that the sailing regatta for this wonderful and well-established class of dinghies is being held in Hanko. Hanko has long experience in organizing regattas as well as expertise in hosting international events.

I sailed a Europe dinghy myself from 1994 to 2005 and cherish many great memories of international competitions around the world from those days of sailing. The Sydney Olympics were the finest sailing contest I’ve ever taken part in with a Europe dinghy. The Europe is a fine dinghy that demands not only tactical skills but also technical knowledge and physical fitness. In fact, the Europe teaches you virtually all the basics of sailing, including how equipment evolves. It gives an excellent foundation for sailing in almost any sailing class. Moreover, this dinghy is suitable not only for young sailing contestants but also for experienced ones. Indeed, I’m pleased to note that the age range of the participants is wide in this regatta.

Nature has always been a powerful resource for people in Finland. The natural habitat nurtures our wellbeing and boosts our resilience. Biodiversity is plentiful in Finland and nature offers endless opportunities for physical activity and relaxation on both land and water. I’m pleased that the organizers of the Europe Class World Championships have decided to promote sustainable development and wish to respect and protect our nature and watercourses. Boating as a pastime, including sailing, is a versatile form of physical activity that fosters a healthy lifestyle and offers an ideal opportunity to enjoy nature and Finland’s unique archipelago.

This summer will also be particularly interesting for audiences who follow sailing competitions. We will be seeing a very competitive Finnish sailing team in the Summer Olympics in Paris. I wish everyone taking part in the Europe Class competition and all the athletes going to Paris the best of luck!

Sari Multala

Minister of Science and Culture”