Bergen Shetland Race - Leg 1

Serenity in full sail reaching the line at Lerwick at the end of leg 1 of the Bergen Shetland Race © John Anderson

The yacht Serenity, skippered by Fridtjov Bergmann, proudly flies the Bergen Shetland Blue Ribbon as first to finish this year's race across the North Sea from Norway.

He later received Lerwick Port Authority's trophy for first yacht over the line, at 20:56 hours on Thursday, 26 June, from the Authority's Chief Executive, Sandra Laurenson. Serenity finished in under 33 hours, four minutes ahead of Scirocco III.

The 30 yachts and 167 crew leave Lerwick on the second, return leg on Sunday. Totalling 388 nautical miles, the annual race was first held in 1986 and is organised by Hordaland Sailing Association in Norway, in association with Lerwick Boating Club.

Serenity flying the Blue Ribbon after she crossed the line first at Lerwick at the end of leg 1 of the Bergen Shetland Race - photo © Espen Sandøy