90th Balaton Sailing Season Kicks Off

The Raiffeisen Fifty-Fifty won the Balaton Season Opening Blue Ribbon Port Grand Prix over the weekend, kicking off the 90th Balaton sailing season. The race, which started at noon on Saturday, attracted 249 boats with a total of around 1,000 crew members to complete the Balatonfüred-Alsóörs-Tihany-Balatonfüred distance.

The race was traditionally preceded by a wreath-laying ceremony on Lake Balaton from the deck of the oldest, 129-year-old sailing boat on the lake, named Kishamis, built in 1896, in front of the Balatonfüred pier. In his welcome speech on the pier, László Alajos Gellér, president of the Hungarian Sailing Federation, said that

the first sail launching event was held on Lake Balaton 90 years ago, in June 1935.

In his speech, the federation president also pointed out that 2025 will mark a new stage in small boat sailing, with the development of the South Balaton Aquatic Circle, led by the Hungarian Sailing Federation consortium that will provide the possibility of small boat launching in six settlements. He added that there are also plans for a similar small boat project on the northern coast.

Gellér also praised the Veszprém-Balaton European Sports Region 2026 tender that aims to make physical activity part of everyday life. He said that they have 4,300 registered athletes in 150 member organizations, and organize four to five competitions every weekend, but also aim to increase active membership and operate a competition system where everyone can find their place.

László Fábián, Secretary General of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, said that the region and Balatonfüred could be a venue not only for “sailing or windsurfing enthusiasts,” but also for other sports, sports facilities, training camps, and competition venues.

The crew of the winning Fifty-Fifty took to their social media page to express their delight:

We won the race, which was held in very tricky winds of varying strengths throughout, and the catamarans completed it in around 40 minutes. We found that whoever sailed hard, trimmed and adjusted the boat all the way, was able to come up with a very similar speed to us,”

they wrote.

Second place went to RSM Sailing Team, while the Audax Django team took home the third place prize.

The main race of the year, the 57th Blue Ribbon Raiffeisen Grand Prix, will take place between July 10-12, while the White Ribbon Generalcom Grand Prix – Szabolcs Izsák Memorial Race will be held on July 5 as a ‘rehearsal.’

Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Bodnár Boglárka