Royal History for Stena Match Cup Sweden’s Special Island

Marstrand, Sweden – 7 July, 2010 – Stena Match Cup Sweden is a modernized event with an intense boating culture and historical Royal connections.  Marstrand was originally known as a playground for Royals, ‘the island of King Oscar II’ has been a summertime gathering place for sailors and party lovers since the 19th century.

Its great charm is in the beautiful wooden architecture of the town, with the remains of the medieval street layout, cobbled lanes, church, fortress and sheltered harbor contributing to the island’s special character.

The town first attracted attention as a centre for the herring fishing industry during the 1200s and then again in the 16th century.  By the late 1800s this profitable industry dwindled and King Oscar II was then responsible for the initial development of Marstrand into the leading bathing resort on Sweden’s West coast.  The area became a mecca for curative bathing, fashionable in the 19th century.  The ozone-rich sea air and salt baths were considered a cure for many diseases of the time. 

The Royal glamour with the King’s yacht ‘Drott’ sailing into Marstrand appealed to the upper classes of the day and attracted the cream of Sweden’s high society to the ‘spa town’ which transformed this magical location into what is now widely referred to as a tourist destination.

Today the island is alive all summer with an eclectic mix of artists, top society goers and yachties who visit every year to enjoy the almost constant sunlight, the friendly and beautiful locals as well as social events every evening.  The younger generation also come to have fun in the water and swim freely in the clean cool waters during the warmer days.Last year Stage 5 of the World Match Racing Tour attracted 115,000 spectators throughout the week of match racing and the pull of this America’s Cup style racing continues this year with new fans flooding in daily to the Rooftop VIP area and viewing promontory looking straight out onto the mini amphitheatre that the sailors all love to race on.