Sochi, Russia's future Winter Olympic host city, has been making waves this week. Yachting crews from Moscow, Saint Petersburg and several other cities across the country have been taking part in an annual regatta there.
For over thirty years this training facility on the Black Sea coast has been known as the only winter base for the country's pros. Most yachtsmen compete in Sochi on a very tight schedule. Just a few weeks ago another regatta called the Winter Riviera was held in the same waters.This time around, a total of 86 young sportsmen from 15 Russian regions competed to represent the country at the upcoming European championships. Currently the city cannot boast the status of a frequent destination for the world’s best sportsmen, but the organizers plan to create a brand new sailing center there. And as new yachting facilities become available in the area, new opportunities arise for Russian and foreign crews. After the 2014 Winter Games, a new marina will be built in the Imereti lowland, right next to the coastal part of the Olympic village. So perhaps that's where these and many other young seafarers will be setting sail from in the near future.