This is Pehr, our Head of Safety. During the race he will lead the safety organization from the race headquarters, Briggen Tre kronor, where he will monitor the progress of the participating teams and the approx. 80 pax strong organization to make sure they all feel safe during the event. As a senior project manager and with many years of experience in organizing and participating in various races, he knows that the biggest part of his work, is to be able to solve situations that arise in the moment. Weather and wind and other external factors that quickly change the situation are the biggest challenges. The passion for the competition, the people, the collaboration, and the beautiful unforgettable moments is the reason why he returns year after year. We are very happy that he does and look forward to a new – safe – adventure together with Pehr in August!
What were your duties during the One Water Race?
I was Head of Safety and part of the Race Management on the race HQ, the ship Briggen Tre Kronor.
What was the biggest challenge during the race?
With a few previous attempts on the OWR route in my back and with a great trust within the OWR Team, I felt pretty calm about what we were facing. In contrast, external factors such as weather and wind were major factors of uncertainty. Also, how the competitors would develop physically and mentally over the course of the race, what could happen? What kind of situations could we encounter? My concern and challenge were clearly thinking about risks and scenarios. To be prepared. What can be planned is easy, everything else needs to be solved along the way. It’s something I’ve learned over the years that the most important thing to bring to the Race is the ability to solve things along the way. As expected, sleep was hard to come by as the race continues nonstop.
What was the greatest experience/memory you take with you?
There were several things that will never leave me. One thing was the last morning at 03:40 when some of us from the crew was heading out towards the island of Öja and Landsort’s lighthouse, and the horizon is streaked by the first rays of the sun. We steer towards the blue lighthouse and the day dawns while the winning team is awaited. It was so emotional and beautiful.
The second is when I get to emerge after being hidden behind the lighthouse for the media’s photos. Getting to meet the winning team, my friends, who have done something I never thought was possible. Then my eyes weren’t dry. So incredible worthy winners. Such pioneers in something impossible that suddenly became possible.
Then, of course, there is the prize ceremony after the race, where the love and appreciation between the Teams and their skippers leaves me speechless. Skippers I saw as functions of the organization over the hours became the most important assets of the team. That is big.
What do you do when not being part of the OWR-organization?
There are two titles in my contact card: project manager and boat driver. It should also say race organizer and “doer”. Being a project manager is really more of a personality than a title, where you simply want to know answers to the questions what, how, who, when, in what way, etc. and never give up.
In recent years I also have been part of the organization within NIAR, EX Swimrun, SRC. Operated as the leader boat on ÖtillÖ since 2015 in addition to having secured people with SWIMRUNRIB in the archipelago for several years. So, in addition to having competed myself in Swimrun since 2013 and being an active runner, there is constantly ongoing planning of different races.
