Gotland Runt start delayed by thunderstorms, then becalmed

The annual Gotland Runt sailing race faced significant delays on Sunday, with its start time repeatedly pushed back due to adverse weather conditions. Initially set to begin at 2 PM from Sandhamn, the race was first postponed to 4 PM and then to 5 PM as a powerful thunderstorm with strong gusts moved over the area.

However, as sailors gathered near Sandön shortly before the revised 5 PM start, a new challenge emerged: a complete lack of wind. Stefan Rahm, club director for the organizing KSSS, expressed stress as he told SvD just before 5 PM, "There is absolutely nothing blowing now." The possibility of the start proceeding as planned remained uncertain.

The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) wind forecast for the evening predicted only mild 3-4 meters per second winds in the area. This calm condition contrasted sharply with the earlier tempestuous weather, leaving participants and organizers in a state of anticipation.

In other news, the day saw a record high temperature for the year in Osby, reaching 36.8 degrees Celsius, a new heat record for the region of Skåne. Meanwhile, a brief search operation for two missing boys, aged three and six, north of Arvika concluded swiftly as the children were found safe and returned home. Additionally, a helicopter crash in Saudi Arabia near the country's largest oil port resulted in 14 fatalities.