Ingrid Puusta. Author: Matthew Rickard
Puusta started from Swedish island Farö near Gotland on Sunday morning at 07:37 UTC+3 and finished at 21:25 UTC+3 at Türju in Saaremaa, Estonia. Weak wind extended her crossing time to nearly 14 hours. The Yellow Brick global Iridium satellite tracking system allowed viewers to follow the Baltic Sea crossing via the web link http://yb.tl/bsc-rsx
“The last surfing hours were extremely hard,” Puusta’s coach Jaak Lukk told Baltic News Service. “Due to overstrain, Ingrid wanted to break off the crossing. However, we managed to keep her motivated and she surpassed the deadlock. We are thrice happy.”
Due to weak wind, during the crossing Puusta decided to exchange her Formula sailboard to RS:X which belongs to her Olympic equipment.
To ensure the long journey is safe, the windsurfer was escorted by a safety boat with coaches from the Noblessner Yacht Club Sailing School, Ainar Annus, her personal coach Matthew Rickard and Jaak Lukk who is behind the idea of crossing.
“Having to stand in one position for a long time and big waves are the main factors to make my trip really hard. I will take this cool challenge to help people with disabilities and benefit society,” Puusta commented on the oncoming crossing a few days before the start.
With this act, Ingrid attempted to bring attention to handicapped athletes and raise money, so that disabled sailors would be able to start regular sail trainings for the first time in Estonia.
The Baltic Sea crossing was supported by Rand & Tuulberg Grupp, Alexela, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Paralympic Committee, Rae district, YellowBrick Tracking, Sportland, Haljastuskeskus and Telia Eesti.
Source: Baltic News Service
