In connection with Croatia becoming a member of the European Union on the 1´st of July 2013, a Swedish crew set a new world record in backwards sailing between Croatia and east coast of Italy. The new record took 33 hours and nine minutes.

Travel essay by Rassmus Richter Pdf ........................................

Weak north east winds dominated the sail, which along the way was accompanied by jumping swordfish, tunafish and curious dolphins.
-“Doing things differently is development, and should always be welcomed within a community”, says the artist Mikael Richter, who since the 1990´s has fought for a more fun planet. The world record is a manifestation of increased tolerance and a more open world without boundaries between people. Technically backwards sailing is accomplished by stabilizing the genoa upwind, by a whisker pole and by attaching the mainsail to a preventer guy.
The world record in backwards sailing from 11´th of June 1996, set between The Lighthouse of Remmaren in Sweden and

How did you come up with the idea of sailing backwards? Which record did you break?
One of Mikaels philosophies is to try things the other way around, something he has tried when it comes to both big and small projects and decisions. Besides we were also practicing for the World Championship in Freestyle Sailing in Saltsjöbaden -Sweden 2015. Mikael actually broke his former record from 1995 which was held by him and Stefan Sjöström. Here the sail took place between Remmarens lighthouse outside of Sweden and Eckerö on Åland which is a part of Finland.

Where you actually started sailing? The name of the place? Where have you sailed in Italy?
The sail started in Palagruza the Croatia outpost in west , crossed the Adriatic Sea and ended 33 hours and nine minutes later in Vieste on the Italy east coast,. The wind were mostly ligh.

On what type of boat do you sail?
Elan 431

What do you do in your private life?
Mikael Richter Artist.
 

Could you please, in layman terms, explain for our readers the technical details of sailing backwards? How strong was the wind?
In laymans terms this means that you put the stickshift for the sails in position marked with the latter "R". Technically backwards sailing is accomplished by stabilizing the genoa upwind, by a whisker pole and by attaching the mainsail to a preventer guy.

Do you have any new plans?
Yes, we are longing to hook on the harness and sail our multi hull Tornado-dinghy if the wind are strong tomorrow. In the autumn we are starting up Stockholm Art-& Architecture Center, SAAC, with guest studios and international collaboration.

Have you verified record?
Yes, The whole sail was performed according to the rules of Guinness World Records and thus registered by the Croatian Customs and the Italian Harbors Master. During the sail we contacted all passing fishing - and cargo vessels over the VHF-radio and they added their observation in their logg-book.

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The text material can be published if Mikael Richter or Rasmus Richter is informed and have approved and the source and writher is published.