Balkan Match Race Cup

19/05/2026

🏆 What an incredible start to the Balkan Match Race Championship!

⛵ A Romanian crew led by skipper Oeru Valentin claimed victory in the opening round of the series! Oeru, winner of the Balkan Match Race Cup 2025 circuit, dominated the competition by winning every single start over the two racing days and deservedly secured the top spot in Round 1.

🏅Joining him on the podium were Ivan Georgiev from Bulgaria and Dimitris Sofitsis from Greece. A total of nine crews from Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, and Romania took part in the thrilling competition.

🌊 The second round will take place on November 19–22 in Limanu, Romania, while the third round is scheduled for December 11–13 in Kavala, Greece.

🥇 Valentin Oeru (Romania)
🥈 Ivan Georgiev (Bulgaria)
🥉 Dimitris Sofitsis (Greece)
4. Zdravko Akrabov (Bulgaria)
5. Borislav Katerinov (Bulgaria)
6. Georgi Paches (Ukraine)
7. Yasen Kachinski (Bulgaria)
8. Slavcho Mososki (North Macedonia)
9. Georgi Topchiev (Bulgaria)

🎉 A fantastic atmosphere, strong competition, and an exciting season ahead!

🙏 Huge thanks as well for the professionalism and support of Yavor Kolev, and the umpires Cosmin Andronic and and Мариета Литарска!

📸 Last but not least - special thanks to Petar Paunche Skitnik for the amazing photos!

Aegeas Yachting
BORA Sailing
Nautic Line
Bora Club Iskar
Match Race Sailing Club

11/05/2026

🌊For 2026, Bulgaria will host the opening round at Iskar Reservoir 🇧🇬 (15–17 May), a new venue following two successful editions in Varna. 💨

⏱ 2 days of racing
⛵ Round robins, knockouts & full match-race format
📍 Racing area: Iskar Dam
🎖 Prize giving: right after the final battles

🌊 This weekend, 10 teams from 4 different countries will come together to test their team spirit, endurance, and tactical skills on the water!

🔹Zdravko Akrabov (BUL)
🔹Dimitris Sofitsis (GRE)
🔹Ivan Gueorguiev (BUL)
🔹Valentin Oeru (ROU)
🔹Yavor Kolev (BUL)
🔹Slavcho Mososki (MK)
🔹Borislav Katerinov (BUL)
🔹Iskren Kulev (BUL)
🔹Georgi Topchiev (BUL)
🔹Yasen Kachinski (BUL)

🏅 Good luck to all participants — may the best teamwork and determination win!

28/01/2026

⛵ Match Race mindset: control is more important than penalties

“In match racing there is one winner and one loser.”

Luigi Bertini has been part of the Match Race world for more than 22 years — as a competitor, coach, international umpire, and rules advisor.

In one of the lectures of the Online Sailing Performance Masterclass – Winter 2026, Luigi will focus on:

🧠 Pre-start mindset in match racing
♟️ “Second-level” manoeuvres — thinking several moves ahead
👥 Managing the crew under constant pressure
🎯 Controlling the match, not just looking for penalties

Match racing is not about reacting.
It’s about structure, strategy, and control.

📅 Starts on February 5
📍 Online
⏱ ~60-minute lecture

This lecture is part of a program featuring:

Rocco Attili – match racing & high-performance sailing

Stevie Kouris – international judge & rules advisor

Luigi Bertini – match racing coach & international umpire

Yavor Kolev – sailing coach & skipper

👉 View the full program and register at
🔗 https://regatime.com

28/01/2026

In match racing there is one winner and one loser.

23/01/2026

🚤 We’re thrilled to announce the 3rd edition of the BALKAN MATCH RACE CUP!

🌊For 2026, Bulgaria will host the opening round at Iskar Reservoir 🇧🇬 (15–17 May), a new venue following two successful editions in Varna.

⛵ The BALKAN MATCH RACE CUP unites sailing communities from Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, celebrating the exciting, tactical world of match racing – where crews face off head-to-head, testing skill, strategy, and teamwork. ⚓

📅 Round 1: 15–17 May – Iskar Reservoir, Bulgaria
📅 Round 2: 19–22 Nov – Limanu, Mangalia, Romania
📅 Round 3: 11–13 Dec – Kavala, Greece

🔥 Top crews will compete on SB20 yachts in Bulgaria, First 21.7 in Romania, and Platu 25 in Greece, with a maximum of 8 crews per round.

🙌 A special thank you to maritime.bg for the media coverage and support in promoting sailing across the Balkans!

Организаторите на Балканския ветроходен мач-рейс шампионат (BALKAN MATCH RACE CUP) публикуваха Обява за третото издание. Новото в известието е мястото, на което България ще ....

19/01/2026

Winter Online Match Racing Seminar Series 2026

The Balkan Match Race online seminar series has become a meeting point for sailors who truly live match racing – competitors, umpires, coaches, tacticians and complete teams from across the region.

👉 Most of the topics in this winter series are directly focused on Match Racing – pre-start strategy, umpiring decisions, rules in action, boat handling and tactical decision-making on the water.

📺 Selected sessions are available on YouTube, allowing sailors to revisit key moments and concepts whenever needed. You can watch here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVDhfDq01AhaQqE8bzk_zBcOU9saYABtn&si=KZbQrVI-b63QI7U_

This seminar series is delivered in partnership with https://regatime.com/, an international platform dedicated to education and knowledge sharing in competitive sailing.

📅 Starting in February
📌 7 live online lectures
⏱ Duration: approx. 60 minutes
🕖 Every Thursday at 19:00 (EET)

🎤 Lecturers in the series:

• Rocco Attili – professional sailor & match racing specialist; high-performance sailing, boat handling and race tactics
• Stevie Kouris – international judge & rules advisor; match & fleet racing, jury work and protest procedures
• Luigi Bertini – match racing coach, international umpire & rules advisor; pre-start strategies and tactical decisions
• Yavor Kolev – sailing coach & skipper; development of sailors and racing programs from entry level to elite competition

🔴 Live online sessions
💬 Interactive Q&A and open discussion
⛵ Designed for active sailors and racing teams

👉 See the full lecture program and register here:
🔗 https://regatime.com/

🧭 This seminar series is especially valuable for skippers and crews preparing for Match Racing events such as the Balkan Match Race Championship.

Winter 2026 Online Sailing Seminar Series. Expert-led performance education for experienced sailors.

09/12/2025

Второто издание на Балканския ветроходен мач-рейс шампионат приключи с първа победа за екипаж от Румъния. Заключителният кръг на Balkan Match Race Cup‘2025 събра в Кавала сед...

08/12/2025

🌊 A spectacular weekend in Kavala, Greece, where the Aegean sea once again proved its unpredictable December character! 💨

⛵ Despite the shifting winds and moody weather, the latest round of the Balkan Match Race Cup’2025, hosted by Aegeas Yachting , delivered dynamic, tight, and fiercely contested races from start to finish.

🏆 Bravo to Valentin Oeru and his Romanian team, who mastered the challenging conditions and emerged victorious after a series of brilliant tactical duels! 🇷🇴

🔥 The atmosphere, the adrenaline, the level of competition - everything was on another level! And the final standings crowned a well-earned Romanian triumph at the top:

🥇 Oeru (ROU)
🥈 Papaioannou (GRE)
🥉 Kanatoulas (GRE)
4. Sofitsis (GRE)
5. Margiolos (GRE)
6. Akrabov (BUL)
7. Kachinski (BUL)

25/11/2025

🌊 What a thrilling weekend in Limanu, Romania! 💨 The 2nd round of the Balkan Match Race Cup’2025 brought 14 teams together for three days of fierce competition and unforgettable sailing battles! 💦

🏆 Huge congratulations to Dimitris Sofitsis’ team, who sailed their way to victory and took the trophy home to Kavala, Greece – also the host of the grand finale on December 6-7! ⛵

And the final results:

🥇 Sofitsis (GRE)
🥈 Corduneanu (ROU)
🥉 Fulicea (ROU)
4. Oeru (ROU)
5. Sandu (ROU)
6. Akrabov (BUL)
7. Kachinski (BUL)
8. Stan (ROU)
9. Gituran (ROU)
10. Iliescu (ROU)
11. Gueorguiev (BUL)
12. Raciu (ROU)
13. Marinescu (ROU)
14. Pantea (ROU)

👉 The final round is coming – stay tuned for more high-speed action and epic match racing!

13/11/2025

🇷🇴 Balkan Match Race – Limanu Stop

20 – 23 November | LifeHarbour Limanu Marina

The next battle of the 2025 Balkan Match Race Championship is heading to Romania! ⚓🔥
Three intense racing days, tight duels, fast tacks and world-class match racing on First 21.7 boats await our teams at LifeHarbour Limanu Marina.

What to expect:
⏱ 3 days of racing
👥 4-person crews
⛵ Round robins, knockouts & full match-race format
📍 Racing area: LifeHarbour Limanu
🎖 Prize giving: right after the final battles

Romania welcomes the Balkan fleet for another spectacular stop of the tour.
Stay tuned for flights, live updates and behind-the-scenes moments from the sailors! ⚡️