Blue Ribbon Round the Lake Balaton Race
# Blue Ribbon Round the Lake Balaton Race

Kékszalag or the Blue Ribbon Round the Lake Balaton Race is an international sports event held in Hungary every year between more than 30 boat classes. The regatta starts and finishes in Balatonfüred, after the 155+km circumnavigation of the Lake Balaton. By today the regatta became Europe's most prestigious and oldest (the first was held in 1934) existing round a lake competition (Bol d’Or Mirabaud is since 1939, and Centomiglia is since 1951). The Blue Ribbon's course is the longest among the main European round the lake events and nowadays has also the largest fleet competing (612 sailboats in 2009). During the race, the Transportation Rules of Inland Waterways apply. From 2014 the Hungarian Yachting Association has lifted the restrictions regarding multi-hull sailboats and today the race is open to everybody in the spirit of the founders.

## Absolute winners

* 1934 Gábor Ugron – Rabonbán I (30 Square Metre Yacht)
* 1936 Béla Kovács – Kincsem III (22 jolle)
* 1938 Béla Kovács – Kincsem IV (22 jolle)
* 1940 Istvánné Kultsár (née Evelin Gordon) (First woman to win) – Tramontana
* 1942 Istvánné Kultsár (née Evelin Gordon) – Tramontana.
* 1947 Kálmán Tóth – Hungária
* 1949 János Mihálkovics – Vészmadár
* 1951 István Németh – Nemere II.
* 1953 István Németh – Nemere II.
* 1955 István Németh – Nemere II. (75-Square Metre Yacht)
* 1959 Boldizsár Horváth – Addió (40-Square Metre Yacht)
* 1961 László Farkas – Kékmadár
* 1963 Pál Vályi – Tramontana
* 1965 László Tolnai – Olimpia III.
* 1967 Tibor Debrőczy – Trinidad
* 1969 Lajos Berta – Rabonbán II. (30-Square Metre Yacht)
* 1971 Balázs Bucsy – Tramontana
* 1973 András Gosztonyi – Blott X.
* 1975 István Telegdy – Blott X. (star)
* 1977 József Lovas – Tramontana
* 1979 József Lovas – Tramontana
* 1981 Szabolcs Izsák – Hárpia
* 1983 Zdeňka Richter – Simi
* 1985 Steeg Eindl – Simsalabin
* 1987 Steeg Eindl – Simsalabin
* 1989 Pál Gömöry – Tramontana
* 1991 Helmuth Birkmayer – Gitzwerg & (tie) György Balogh – Nemere II.
* 1993 Miklós Tuss – Manual
* 1995 Miklós Tuss – Manual
* 1997 Christoph Wieser – Liberté
* 1999 Szabolcs Detre – Yuppie
* 2001 Farkas Litkey – Pleasure
* 2002 Farkas Litkey – Gardazzurra
* 2003 Farkas Litkey – Lisa
* 2004 Farkas Litkey – Gardazzurra
* 2005 Farkas Litkey – Liza
* 2006 Farkas Litkey – Clan Des Team
* 2007 Farkas Litkey – Lisa
* 2008 Farkas Litkey – Clan Des Team
* 2009 Farkas Litkey – Lisa
* 2010 Roland Gäbler – NaturAqua
* 2011 Farkas Litkey – Lisa
* 2012 Márton Józsa – Fifty-Fifty
* 2013 Farkas Litkey – Evopro-Lisa
* 2014 Márton Józsa – Fifty-Fitfty
* 2015 Christophe Peclard – Safram
* 2016 Farkas Litkey – Festipay (catamaran)
* 2017 Farkas Litkey – Festipay
* 2018 Christophe Peclard – Safram
* 2019 Zoltán Petrányi – Racing Django
* 2020 Róbert Vándor – RSM2
* 2021 Róbert Vándor – RSM2
* 2022 Márton Józsa – Fifty-Fitfty
* 2023 Márton Józsa – Fifty-Fitfty
