FAIR WINDS AND A BIT OF LUCK – THE XVI. ARCHITECT REGATTA
First-hand account of the competition by Orsolya Birtalan, Operations Manager of ABUD
Being invited to the deck of Capella, one of the legendary cruisers of Lake Balaton, at the XVI. Architect Regatta, we were especially lucky in many ways. Thanks to our host, Attila Borsay, we bet on the winning horse: the brilliant team of Capella’s 70-foot cruiser crossed the finish line first, giving us the feeling of victory, too!
Reading Friday’s stormy weather report, we couldn’t know for sure whether we would be holding on for our dear lives on the speeding sailboat, so we prepared both mentally and in terms of equipment. Thanks to the foresight of the organizers, the race was finally postponed from stormy Saturday to more peaceful circumstances on Sunday. We had the chance to experience a real fun ride in the most perfect sailing weather possible: a thick layer of clouds covered the sky, protecting us from the blazing sun, and the boats lined up to set off in a pleasant wind of around 12 knots. It took approximately 1.5 hours for the Capella’s captain and crew (special thanks to Péter, Saci, Ákos, Máté and Attila) to reach the finish line. We reached the finish line in concentrated teamwork, the cruiser taking sharp turns and the team raising different types of sails until the horn sounded for the overall winner.
As a bronze sponsor of the event, we are proud and happy that the architectural society could meet again at such a high-quality and friendly event. We very much share the same beliefs of community building, fellowship and sharing experiences and insight.
Sipping the welcome drink at the beginning of the Regatta soiree, we were especially excited about an event mentioned by the Ambassador of Denmark, H. E. Mr. Erik Vilstrup Lorenzen. It is the UIA World Congress of Architects titled Sustainable Futures: Leave No One Behind to be held in Copenhagen between 2-6 July 2023. We can not only identify with its goals, but are also eager to support the architects in this mission.
We are looking forward to next year’s event and wish fair winds for the sailors for the summer season!
Photos courtesy of: Viktor Weber
