At the beginning of July St. Petersburg yacht festival will take place in the Russian northern capital. We have decided to interview Massimo Kiodo, the president of ASTRA MARINAS GROUP, the organizer and the main ideological inspirer of the festival and to ask him what is expected to see the residents and guests of Saint Petersburg 3 - 6 of July.

- Massimo, please tell us what the St. Petersburg yacht festival is and how the idea of the festival has come to your mind?

- The St. Petersburg yacht festival is first of all the festive event for the residents and guests of Saint Petersburg. Honestly to say, the idea of organization such a festival in Saint Petersburg has matured long ago. The city world-famous for its glorious marine traditions not may but must become a capital of Russian yachting. There are certainly all necessary prerequisites for that. In 2007 the decision about annual celebration of the Day of workers in marine and inland water transport RF was made federally and by agreement with the Ministry of transport RF. No wonder that Saint Petersburg was chosen as the main place for carrying out the festive celebrations. So the idea to organize the yacht festival was born.

- As I know, the St. Petersburg yacht festival was announced already in 2007.

- Exactly, last year the organizer of the festival ASTRA MARINAS GROUP with the assistance of the Marine Council organized the first St. Petersburg yacht festival. In cooperation with the yacht-club "Francardi", the shipyard Laky Verf and many others we collected about 30 motor yachts for participation in the Grand parade down the Neva river. The parade of motor yachts became a culmination of this unforgettable water festival which took place on July 1st, 2007. This day can be called a birthday of the new city holiday – the St. Petersburg yacht festival.

- And when the parade takes place this year?

- The festival will be carried out 3 - 6 of July, but the parade down the Neva river will take place on July 6th and I am sure that a lot more yachts will participate this year.

- Massimo, what actions are going to pleasure the residents and guests of the city during the festival days?

- A good question. This year the festival will connect a whole number of the major entertainments. Among them will be exhibitions, sailing regattas, water-motor competitions and, of course, the parade along the Neva river. In addition the day before the opening of the festival a ship with racing catamarans CLASS 1 will arrive to Saint Petersburg. The ship will go as transit to Moscow for Grand-Prix of Russia, where a stage of World Championship takes place on July 6th. In connection with this, ASTRA MARINAS GROUP as the official promoter of CLASS 1 is going to organize an unusual parade in the center of the city in cooperation with the city authorities. It is planned that 35 large tracks transporting the ocean racing catamarans CLASS 1 will follow as a bright convoy through the streets of Saint Petersburg.

- I have heard that the territory of carrying out the actions of the St. Petersburg yacht festival is quite large.

- It’s true. I could say that the events will be carried out all over the city. On July 4th the yachts-participants of the "Palatial cruise" (navigation of the yachts on the route Moscow – Saint Petersburg - Moscow) will arrive to Strelna especially for the festival. The yachtsmen from Finland have already announced their intention to course the new route. On July 6th these yachts will participate in the Grand parade along Neva. The participants of the 5th International rally of classical cars “Golden Domes” will visit Saint Petersburg as well. The organizers of the days-long rally through the ancient cities of Russia have changed their route on purpose to carry out a retro-contest within the festival on July 5th on the territory of the exhibition complex Lenexpo. This contest will be not only an adventure for its participants but also an unforgettable occasion for the residents and guests of the city. Then a cavalcade of the retro-cars will follow through the central streets of the northern capital, through its squares and river embankments.

In addition, during the days of the festival the exhibition closely connected with yachting and yacht style of life will be carried out in the exhibition complex Lenexpo. At these exhibitions will be launched such important events of the world yachting as the round-the-world regatta "VOLVO OCEAN RACE", the sailing regatta "THE TALL SHIPS’ RACES BALTIC - 2009", as well as the Water-motor sport World Championship CLASS 1.

- As I understand the beginning of July promises to be full of racings and regattas.

- More than full. The World Championship "24 hours of Petersburg" will be a bright entertainment during the festival days. These are the first contests in the technical sports in Russia carrying out non-stop during 24 hours. According to the tradition, the race starting on July 5th will take place in the historical center of Saint Petersburg in Neva’s water area around the Petropavlovsk Castle. During the contests Zayachy Island and the river embankments adjoined the route will be turned out to a place of the big 2-days celebration.

The International regatta "Baltic sea Cup", a legendary competition revived in 2007 after 19-year-break, will start also on July 5th. The first stage of this competition will become the sailing regatta "Baltic Boat Show".

A day before on July 4th the racing by inflatable motor boats for prizes of the magazine "Boats and yachts", which loved by the residents and guests of our city long ago, will take place during the exhibition "Baltic Boat Show. Petersburg". The racing is not only an exciting and captivating competition full of passion and intensity but an opportunity for the participants of the exhibition to demonstrate and to compare the skills on the water.

The traditional culmination of the festival will become the Grand parade of motor and sailing yachts tacking place in the central part of Neva’s water area on July 6th. The guests and participants of the festival are expected to have an unforgettable celebration on Neva with fireworks and draw the Dvortsovy and Birgevoy bridges.

- Please tell, can I as the owner of a yacht participate in the parade as well?

- Of course!

- And how much does it cost to participate?

- The participation is free of charge. You need only to make application. You can register on our web-site www.spfy.ru. Taking advantage of the opportunity I invite personally all the masters and owners of the motor and sailing yachts to take part in the parade on July 6th 2008!

- Massimo, thank you very much for the interesting interview.

- Thank you and see you in Saint Petersburg 3 – 6 of July.

Andrey Radzievsky

The registration of participants and more detailed information about the festival entertainments is on the web-site www.spfy.ru.

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