In contrast to yesterday’s big breeze and waves, sunny skies and light northwest winds today are giving the 26 entries a pleasant start to their 123-mile long offshore race in the ORCi European Championship.

The breeze direction and strength has produced close reaching conditions on the first leg of the race, rewarding teams equipped with asymmetric spinnakers and Code 0’s. Accordingly, the Mills-designed Landmark 43 Destin being driven by Tore Kandahl took the early lead in Division 1, while Martin Nilsson’s Salona 37 Feelgood has jumped ahead of the pack in Division 2.

As of 1500 local time, however, Destin was being challenged by her sistership Karoline, owned and helmed by Dag Skarsgård, in a match race after rounding the first turning buoy.

This race will has the fleet sailing a two-lap clockwise loop around the southern end of the Oslofjorden, beginning with a long reach south to a turning buoy at Grisbådarna in Sweden, then west across the northern Skagerrak back to the opposite shore in Norway to a buoy at Rakkebåene. From here the fleet turns northeast back up the Oslofjorden to another mark at Tristeingrunnen, then north to Hollenderbåen light, then east back to the starting area at Garnholmen. This circuit totals 70 miles in length.

If the wind remains light, race organizers from the Royal Norwegian YC (KNS) have the option of shortening the course to finish the race here, but event chairman Per Bøymo said he doesn’t have plans to do this based on the current forecast.

“Our current forecast indicates the wind will increase steadily today, shift slightly to the west, then to the north and accelerate up to 20 knots tonight, so we think this will be fast enough to send them on another lap to complete the course.”

Besides the wind, another complicating factor for the teams is the current, which can range up to 3 knots in strength but vary widely in direction depending on location on the course.

But this is not purely a tidal phenomena here, and is complicated by a variety of factors, including weather, river flows, coastal geography and water depth, as well as lunar tides. Olympic Gold medalist Jesper Bank, tactician on Division 1 runner-up Westwind from Germany, thinks this could be a deciding factor in this race.

“It is very complicated here, and with up to 3 knots in strength, it could really affect our strategy,” Bank said this morning before the race. “Where it is against you, it will be very important to get inside the 100 m curve, but we’re restricted by the course directions to stay away from areas that have too many rocks. I’ve never sailed here before, so this will be something we’ll be looking at very hard.”

The second lap of this course will be slightly shorter at 53 miles total, sending the fleet around Sydostgrunnen instead of Rakkebåene, with the same circuit back north towards the finish at Garnholmen. Scoring points earned in this race get weighted by 1.75, with results expected early tomorrow morning once all boats finish the course.