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Sinem Kurtbay (left), skipper Arto Linnervuo, Akseli Keskinen, Oskari Muhonen, and Andy Meiklejohn on the deck of Tulikettu in the harbour of Valletta, the capital of Malta, where the 2024–25 season of the world’s largest offshore RORC racing series begins this Saturday. 

Olympic Sailors Sinem Kurtbay and Akseli Keskinen and Finn Class World Champion Oskari Muhonen under the guidance of Volvo Ocean Race legend Andy Meiklejohn in the world’s largest offshore racing series.

With the Whitbread Round the World and Volvo Ocean Race, once renowned among Finns, no longer held in their original format, the premier events of the world’s largest offshore racing series, RORC (Royal Ocean Racing Club), have risen to become the most prestigious in the sport, comparable to tennis’ Grand Slam tournaments. One of these, the Rolex Middle Sea Race, will kick off the 2024–25 RORC season this Saturday, October 19, in Valletta, Malta, and is drawing unprecedented attention from Finland this year.

The Finnish team Tulikettu Redkik Racing, skippered by Arto Linnervuo already includes Finn Class World Champion Oskari Muhonen, will be bolstered in Malta by the addition of Nacra 17-class Olympic sailors Sinem Kurtbay and Akseli Keskinen.

“This is yet another step towards our main goal—to be the first fully Finnish team to win the biggest offshore races and the overall RORC series. To achieve this, we need to learn everything possible about our boat. That’s why, at this stage, our crew still includes two strong foreign professionals: New Zealand Volvo Ocean Race legend Andy Meiklejohn and Italian Stefano Nava, who designed all of our sails, including the new mainsail, which is essentially the boat’s main engine,” says Linnervuo.

“While our crew is both strong and dynamic, and our boat is more prepared than ever, we must keep in mind that this is Akseli’s first offshore race and that he has never raced overnight before. Sinem, on the other hand, has two offshore races under her belt. With our head coach, multiple-time Volvo Ocean Race champion Stu Bannatyne, unable to join us in Malta, Andy’s mentorship will be invaluable. Alongside Andy, Stefano, Sinem, and Akseli, our core Finnish crew from the Tulikettu team remains unchanged,” Linnervuo adds.

Kurtbay, Keskinen, and Muhonen are excited about the chance to elevate Tulikettu to new heights on the global stage. The boat demonstrated its potential by finishing as the third fastest in the RORC series’ Baltic Sea Championship, the Roschier Baltic Sea Race, held in Helsinki in July. However, it has yet to secure a podium finish in the overall RORC races, where handicap points come into play.

“It’s fantastic to get back to sailing, especially with Akseli. In my opinion, he has the perfect qualities for offshore racing. He is mentally and physically strong, with a top-notch attitude,” says Kurtbay, who carried the Finnish flag at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in the summer. 

“My first race, and what a boat and team! It’s really interesting to see how a team of 12 sailors works together and maximizes the boat’s performance. I have a lot to learn, and I’m looking forward to it” says Keskinen.

“Tulikettu has felt better with each race and once again, we have high hopes. The Middle Sea Race is one of the toughest and most impressive in the RORC series. Especially the start from Malta’s old harbor will surely be an unforgettable experience, and the entire course is one of the finest in the series,” adds Muhonen, who did an excellent job as helmsman in the Roschier Baltic Sea Race.

One unique feature of the Middle Sea Race is that its 606-nautical-mile course circles two active volcanoes, Mount Etna and the smaller Stromboli, as well as Sicily. The race starts and finishes in Valletta.

Following the Malta race, Tulikettu will head to the Caribbean to compete in the Caribbean 600, one of the season’s four biggest races. The season will culminate in the summer of 2025 at the “Wimbledon of offshore racing,” the prestigious Rolex Fastnet Race, where the team will also represent Finland at the Admiral’s Cup in England. 

“Experience has demonstrated that it typically takes two to three years to develop top teams before they begin to win races. Tulikettu has been sailing for a year and a half, during which we have become familiar with and tested the boat. The upcoming RORC season will be crucial in unlocking the boat’s full potential and speed,” Linnervuo explains.

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