Tapio Lehtinen, The Patron of Europe Class Worlds 2024, visited sailors in Hanko

We had the honor of having Tapio Lehtinen, The Patron of The Europe Class World Championship 2024, visiting Regatta dinner on Thursday evening, August 1st. Here’s some highlights of his interesting and heartwarming speech. 

What’s up with Tapio Lehtinen Sailing?

We just came ashore after Baltic Sea race on Galiana with the new team and enjoyed sailing for four days on the Baltic. It was just fantastic, as it always is. This time the weather conditions were favourable to us. We had good wind all-the-way to the finishing line, while some other boats were left without wind behind us.

In Europe Class there are a lot of young sailors, who might be thinking of what to do in the future. In your opinion, what are the best qualities for solo and team racing?

The things which your class, Europe dinghy teaches sailors is that they become very good helmsmen. It’s a fast small boat so you get the feel for the waves and the elements. Sailors who have learned to sail in small and fast boats, they become the best helms people for bigger boats too. On our Galiana with Secure team, in Ocean Globe Race had Viivi Moisio, who is a 21-year-old ex Europe dinghy sailor. So now she’s also a round-the-world sailor. So, sailing-wise, Europe dinghy can lead anywhere.

There are many Olympic sailors, who have started their career in Europe dinghies, and you can also end up as a politician and Minister of Science and Culture having a background in sailing Europe dinghy.

You are a passionate sailor, who also often talk about the wellbeing of our seas and environment. How do you see the situation with our seas currently, and what can we do to help?

It’s sad and unfortunately the state of Baltic Sea is improving very slowly. We must take every action to help the sea to recover. In my opinion, absolutely the most important thing is to keep these things in mind when you go to vote in an election. Because the only way to get big changes is through change of legislation. So, talk to your member of parliament!