Dear Sailor and Sailing Fan!

On behalf of Estonian Yachting Union, I am pleased to welcome you to the Laser Standard and Laser Radial European Championships 2010 in Tallinn Olympic Yachting Centre on the shores of the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe.

Despite being one of the smallest European countries in terms of size, Estonia has always considered itself a great maritime nation. Estonia’s 4000 km-s of coastline, 1,500 lakes and 7,500 rivers convey the inseparable role that water plays in day-to-day life as well as sports, leaving a deep imprint on our history and culture. Since the 13th century, Estonian ports, including Tallinn, have welcomed sailors under the Hanseatic League, and no wonder sailors, vikings and pirates star in our children’s bedtime stories.

Hence it should come of no surprise that local organized sailing has roots deep in history. Already 190 years ago in 1820, Estonia’s first sailing organization – the Order of the Brave Sailors (Uljaste Purjetajate Ordu) was founded. Estonian Yachting Union, as we know it, was born in 1928. Estonia has also had the honour to host the Olympic Games – exactly 30 years ago the 1980 Olympic Regatta was held right here in Tallinn, where the 2010 Laser European Championships will be taking place.

I hope you will enjoy the competition for the title in these historic waters.

See you in Tallinn!

Jüri Käo
President
Estonian Yachting Union