Balatonfüred in fever: Kékszalag fleet sets off ⛵

The fleet of the 58th Kékszalag Raiffeisen Grand Prix started from Balatonfüred on Thursday morning at 9 o’clock, once again generating huge interest in the lakeside settlements. 458 boats with 2217 participants entered the lake-circling race, filling the waters of Balaton with colorful sails that offer a special spectacle for locals and holidaymakers alike. The two youngest competitors are only nine years old, while the oldest participants lined up at the start at the age of 84. Four foreign boats – two Swiss and two Polish – also joined the field, and three teams, Prosecco, Lilly Eliott and MóPoGÓ, consist entirely of women. Among the entrants in 31 boat classes there are also 12 catamarans, ensuring the diversity of the race attracts spectators to the shores around Balaton’s harbors. This year, however, the biggest challenge is not strong winds but the heat and weak, variable breezes. According to the HungaroMet forecast, the northeasterly wind will increasingly come under local influences in the afternoon and may die down completely in many places by evening. This situation may mean longer waiting times for spectators in lakeside towns such as Füred and on the southern shore, while offering an excellent opportunity for beaches and hospitality venues to increase traffic. Every year the Kékszalag gives a major boost to tourism in the Balaton region: the start and finish areas fill with families who enjoy not only the race but also the lakeside programs. Due to the light winds the boats move more slowly, giving those on shore more time to follow the event, further boosting local hospitality and retail sales. ⛵🌊

Source: hvg.hu