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Wild Spirit wins 41st Three Peaks Yacht Race in a wild finish

The annual Barmouth to Fort William 3 Peaks Yacht Race is always a great test of endurance, in both sailing and running, and this year the weather conditions for the race pushed teams to the limits to cope with the extremes of British offshore and mountain weather.

The first three days of the race were slow racing in what were often flat calm conditions. Teams had to row their yachts to achieve marginal gains and have the patience and determination to keep working hard day and night while seeing only slow progress.

Runners on the first peak, a 26 mile run to the summit of Snowdon, suffered from sunburn and dehydration, and for the first time in the history of the race none of the race yachts chose the direct route through the Menai Strait, preferring to go around Anglesey and look for some wind in the Irish Sea.

After the second stage of the race (involving 38 miles of cycling and the ascent of Scafell Pike) it was a close race with Irish boat ‘Digital Built Consultants’ (Beneteau First 34.7) leading just ahead of the Jeanneau 40 ‘Wild Spirit’, though on handicap it was the 33 foot Sigma ‘Baloo’ ahead.

The third stage from Whitehaven to Fort William is the longest sail of the race, rounding the Mulls of Galloway and Kintyre and passing through the tidal gates and variable winds of the Inner Hebrides. After days of calm those winds were about to gust to nearly 40 knots as Storm Hector shattered the stable weather pattern apart, and condition turned from no wind at all to storms.

Wild Spirit and Digital Built Consultants broke away, racing to get into Fort William before the worst weather hit, and the storm conditions lost Baloo their chance of an overall win on handicap. They did however win one of the most prestigious cups, the Tilman Cup for all round performance, by putting 4 of the team of 5 onto a summit.

The two lead boats raced neck and neck, day and night to get an advantage for their runners on the final peak, Ben Nevis. Passing the Corran Narrows into the steep sided northern Loch Linnhe on the final approach to the finish they were still only a couple of metres apart after 4 days of racing, with Digital Built Consultants flying their spinnaker in 30 knot winds.

Wild Spirit crossed the line first by a few minutes with their runners primed to leap ashore and run up to the snow covered summit of Ben Nevis, only to be told the race had to be put on hold for safety reasons until the storm eased. There were 100km/hour winds on the summit and in the coming hours snowfall and subzero temperatures.

In the 40 year history of the race it is only the second time Ben Nevis has been closed to runners – the last time was in 1978 due to heavy snow.

The deflated runners had to wait until the next day to complete a shortened run part way up Ben Nevis to complete the race and Wild Spirit, skippered by Paul Jackson, scooped most of the trophies as first over the line and winners on handicap in a corrected race time of 4 days 2 hours and 13 minutes, just 21 minutes ahead of Digital Built Consultants.

The runners from Wild Spirit, Stuart Walker and Jon Morgan, also won all 3 mountain runs and took the ‘King of the Mountains’ title with a combined run time of 13 hours 27 minutes.

In another first this year the race trialled a new ‘Challenge’ class which allowed non-competitive entries some engine use to complete the iconic race route.

The first ever Challenge finishers were company team ‘Smithers Purslow’ who are raising money for several charities. They walked to all of the summits and used their engine when needed.

Skipper Steve Fraser said, “We know we can’t ever compete with the race teams, but to be able to come and complete the course as a challenge was fantastic for us. “It took some determined team work and we’re delighted to be first ever Challenge finishers.”

After this year’s successful trial the Challenge Class will be incorporated into the event from now on and open to schools, universities, companies and clubs.

The race this year was sponsored by Exposure Lights and Bruichladdich Whisky and supported by Gwynedd Events and Barmouth Town Council.

Next year’s race will start on June 15th from Barmouth. You can find out more at: www.threepeaksyachtrace.co.uk

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Wild Spirit wins 41st Three Peaks Yacht Race in a Wild Finish

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The Three Peaks       Yacht Race

Sail up the wild West Coast and run to the summits of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, the highest peaks of Wales, England & Scotland.    A classic adventure race for teams of runners and sailors, since 1977. 

 4.  Wild Spirit

Yacht Name :         Wild Spirit

Length:                  11.95m

Yacht Type:            Jeanneau 40

IRC Rating:             0.979

Hull Colour:            White

Draught:                1.85m

Sail No.:                 GBR8799T

Country of Origin:  Scotland

Tilman Trophy:      Possibly

Family Team:         No     

Paul Jackson   (Skipper)

Occupation: Company Director

Gender: Male 

Nationality: British

With over 100,000 miles and 3 previous 3 Peaks Yacht races Paul is now in his dotage so has forgotten the joy of being stuck on a Sandbank for over 4 hours last year. 

He has sailed in various parts of the World but keeps ending up at Barmouth, partly due to his inability to reset the cars Satnav but also because he considers the 3 Peaks to be the best yacht race in the World.

Claims to fame are to have been rendered unconscious by a wooden leg, been detained under the prevention of terrorism act and looked a killer whale in the eye from less than 6 foot.

Peter Thorn   (Crew)

Occupation: Hydrogeologist

Grew up in Lymington, started on British Moths, moved to Lymington River Scows and then to 470s.  Found keel boats in my teens and never looked back.  Plenty of racing round the cans in various yachts including one designs such as Dragons, J24s, XODs and sports boats.  Many channel races in Sigma38s and others.  Ocean racing includes 1990 Melbourne Hobart and inaugural Sydney Whitsunday race.  Mainly work the pointy end and sail trimmer but can navigate pretty well too. 

Then became sensible with a career and family and effectively retired from sailing about 15 years ago after the best part of 30 years being landlocked in the midlands (I don’t do ponds!).

Diagnosed as T1 diabetic in August 2016, realized that life is too short to miss out on anything so signed up for the one great yacht race still on my bucket list!   Back out of retirement and like I’d never stopped.

Stuart Walker  (aka 'Shelf' )   (Runner)

Occupation: Research Engineer Sheffield University

Gender:  Male

Nationality: British (European)

Running - Former 3 Peaks Yacht Race King of Mountains, lots of long distance races in UK and Europe including a few wins and a continuous crossing of the Alps. Adventure races including 2013 World Championships. Also known as Doctor Stuart Walker he adds a great deal to the last of the teams 3 unique qualities. ​Sailing - Fastnet, Caribbean 600, Solent / channel races, 3 x 3PYR. Nowhere near as good at it as this would suggest (once defeated by a fridge).

Jon Morgan   (Runner)

Occupation: Doctor; Mountain Guide Age: 50 Gender: Male Nationality: British ​ Scottish Islands Peaks Race 2011, 10+ years fell running, including wins at Sedbergh Hill, Long Tour of Bradwell (twice), Totley Exterminator (3 times). 12th in English Fell Running Championships 2012, 11th in British Championships 2007. Multiple Mountain Marathons (OMM, RAB, LAMM). International Mountain Guide

Nick Ridgway   (Crew/Runner)

Occupation: Softwear Engineering Manager

Gender: Male

Married with 3 children, I have been sailing on and off for around 20 years and have approx 5000 miles on own boats and others including 4 x 3PYR.  In the past I have also been a runner and triathlete and to date have completed 2 x OMM, 3 road marathons, numerous half marathons, and 2 Ironmans.  This year marks a return to all of these activities and there is no better motivation then the 3 peaks.

"Team Wild Spirit, the name says it all. A unique blend of age, experience and immaturity."

Website; www.wildspirit.co.uk  

The Essence of Small Ship Sailing

Wind Spirit is a sleek, 4-masted sailing yacht accommodating 148 guests. With four decks and a gross tonnage of 5,736, Wind Spirit feels like your own private yacht.

Wind Spirit features wide open, teak decks—quite unusual for small ships. Guests will find hidden nooks for private moments giving them a feeling of being on their own private veranda.

All staterooms have ocean views, queen beds, and flat-screen TV with DVD player. The Owner’s Suite includes a sitting area.

Wind Spirit offers two primary dining venues. Amphora restaurant offers gourmet, course-by-course cuisine in the evenings and Veranda restaurant offers casual buffet and full-service dining for breakfast and lunch. All dining is open seating. And, for dining under the stars, make a reservation for Candles which features steaks and skewers.

Wind Spirit amenities include: World Spa by Windstar, Watersports Platform, Lounge, Library, Pool, and Hot Tub.

Windstar has always been known for our iconic sailing ships, and now we are embarking on a multi-year refresh of the Wind Class ships. The initiative, Setting Sails: A Wind Class Refresh , brings the tight-knit connection of the Windstar community to the forefront through the redesign of public spaces and staterooms. From a revamped lobby to a new pool and larger pool bar, new World Spa by Windstar to a redesigned lounge, this initiative also includes intricate details like new teak decks and décor for a timeless and welcoming experience. Wind Spirit will complete her redesign in 2025.

Queen Size Bed with Luxurious Linens Waffle Weave Robe and Slippers TV with DVD Player Fully Stocked Mini Bar/Refrigerator Safe L'Occitane Bath Amenities Fresh Fruit Hair Dryers and 110/220 outlets Wi-Fi (internet cards can be purchased at reception) Bathroom with granite countertop and shower Granite vanity with magnifying mirror

• CAPACITY: 148 Guests
• STATEROOMS: 73 deluxe ocean view staterooms
• OWNERS SUITE: 1 ocean view owner’s suite
• DECKS: 4 decks
• CREW:  101 international staff
• SHIP'S REGISTRY: Bahamas
• LENGTH: 360 feet (110 meters) at waterline; 440 feet (134 meters) including bowsprit
• DRAFT: 14 feet (4.1 meters)
• TONNAGE: 5,703 gross registered tons (grt)
• BEAM: 52.1 feet (15.8 meters)
• SAILS: 6 triangular, self-furling, computer-operated sails with 21,500 square feet (or 2,200 square meters) of Dacron surface area
• MASTS: 4 at 204 feet (62 meters)
• ENGINES: 3 diesel electric generating sets, 1 electrical propulsion motor
• SPEED: 10 knots with engines only; up to 15.8 knots with prevailing wind

• Wild Spirit

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Sporting four masts and brilliant white sails, Wind Spirit cuts an iconic silhouette and offers a touch of old-world romance to its unconventional and port-heavy itineraries. A ship on the smaller side, Wind Spirit nonetheless packs in island-inspired activities on its sailings of French Polynesia.

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Wild Water: Test driving the custom Spirit BARTech electric foiler

A 21st-century take on a wooden speedster, this custom electric foiler from Spirit Yachts is more than meets the eye, says Holly Overton.

I wish I could say that the sun is shining as I step off the ferry in Cowes, Isle of Wight. But this is England, after all, and in the height of summer I am presented with an overcast morning and choppy seas whipped up by wind funnelling its way through the Solent. The perfect weather for sea trials? Perhaps not. But where’s the fun in flat water?

The Spirit BARTech 35EF cuts a slender figure as she just peers above the pontoon. A 10.2-metre wooden launch with an elongated prow, aft-set cockpit, gorgeous rolled sheer and a sloping stern, she is supermodel material and the product of British boatbuilder Spirit Yachts in collaboration with BAR Technologies. With her toggle switches and analogue dials, it would be easy to mistake her for a restoration, but it’s what you can’t see that sets her apart: beneath the waterline is a trio of retractable titanium foils that let her fly.

She was commissioned by a repeat client of Spirit Yachts whose last build was the Spirit 111 Geist . He returned to the Suffolk shipyard to build a chase boat that could match Geist ’s classic good looks. “He was looking for a ship-to-shore launch for his 111ft [34-metre] Spirit, but something quite radically different,” explains Spirit Yachts founder and lead designer Sean McMillan . What appeared on the drawing board was a combination of a 1920s speedboat and a 21st-century foiler.

“It’s the sort of visual joke that I’ve played with a lot of my boats. I love the concept of producing something that looks like it’s almost timeless. It’s the combination of classical style with totally unexpected performance,” says McMillan. “The same applies to our sailing boats. They are extremely fast for what they are, much faster than their early equivalents would be, because underneath the waterline they are a very modern yacht with light displacement, embracing contemporary thinking, but mixing it up with a very classical look.”

The 35EF harnesses Spirit’s three decades of timber boatbuilding and is made from lightweight Alaskan yellow cedar with carbon reinforcements that take the foil loads, wrapped in African sipo veneer and finished in a high-gloss lacquer. Its svelte lines pay tribute to Prohibition-era wooden lake boats, the most famous of which was named Baby Bootlegger, used for running alcohol across the Great Lakes from Canada into the US. It was America’s answer to a Riviera runabout, capable of 60 knots with a torpedo-shaped body and a pointed stern. McMillan opted instead for a sloped bottom, partly to carry the beam to the transom to aid lift and balance, but mostly because it was prettier that way.

Sitting at the helm with BAR Technologies chief technology officer Simon Schofield, we clear the breakwater, nudge the throttle and, in a matter of seconds, we are flying with unexpected ease. Displacing just 2.4 tonnes, she takes off at a mere 14 knots without a wobble or a lurch as the hull breaks from the surface of the water.

The acceleration is subtle and controlled. Even in the corners, she is extraordinarily balanced as we paint S-shapes in the Solent. Its what Schofield calls “the gin and tonic test”. As the boat banks into a turn, the centre of effort stays in line with the body, which means you don’t have that feeling of being flung to one side. Flying along at 30 knots is effortless and even when a strong gust dares to veer us off course, it never strays.

This steadiness is owed to a computer system working overtime to deliver the smoothest ride possible. Five sensors relay technical information to a flight controller, which is making constant adjustments, like avionics in a drone, or balancing a broom on your finger. Two aileron-style flaps, one to port and one to starboard, move independently of each other to control the roll and pitch. “You’ve got the ability to dial in different fly heights: you can fly either higher or lower and that’s a trade-off between efficiency and manoeuvrability,” explains Schofield. And if the conditions get rough, the driver can flick it into “skimming mode” where the boat skips from one crest of a wave to the next.

The ability to foil makes her inherently efficient, which is how the model delivers a 100-nautical-mile range at 22 knots once flying. Given that electric yachts of a similar size tap out at around half that distance, the 35EF easily outperforms most current offerings. Beneath the dashboard are three chargers on self-retracting reels that plug into shore power units, as well as a supercharger socket such as you would find on an electric car. And she will soon be fitted with a dual-directional charger to share power with the mothership.

The 35EF was shipped to Lake Maggiore in Switzerland for her official outing, where she was joined by the mothership and the owner’s family. What might come as a surprise, given her racy appearance, is that she is at heart a family boat: two aft panels invert to form an open cockpit with a U-shaped seating area for six; the sloping stern has been tried and tested as a slide and the ensign post replaced with water ski pole attachment.

The 35EF is both a nod to the past and a glimpse of the future. A celebration of traditional boatbuilding and of cutting-edge foiling technology. Some purists might say that classic should remain classic, modern should be modern and never the twain shall meet. But dare to cross boundaries and the results can be truly thrilling.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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The Comprehensive Guide to Moscow Nightlife

• Posted on April 14, 2018 July 26, 2018
• by Kings of Russia
• 8 minute read

Moscow’s nightlife scene is thriving, and arguably one of the best the world has to offer – top-notch Russian women, coupled with a never-ending list of venues, Moscow has a little bit of something for everyone’s taste. Moscow nightlife is not for the faint of heart – and if you’re coming, you better be ready to go Friday and Saturday night into the early morning.

This comprehensive guide to Moscow nightlife will run you through the nuts and bolts of all you need to know about Moscow’s nightclubs and give you a solid blueprint to operate with during your time in Moscow.

What you need to know before hitting Moscow nightclubs

Prices in moscow nightlife.

Before you head out and start gaming all the sexy Moscow girls , we have to talk money first. Bring plenty because in Moscow you can never bring a big enough bankroll. Remember, you’re the man so making a fuzz of not paying a drink here or there will not go down well.

Luckily most Moscow clubs don’t do cover fees. Some electro clubs will charge 15-20$, depending on their lineup. There’s the odd club with a minimum spend of 20-30$, which you’ll drop on drinks easily. By and large, you can scope out the venues for free, which is a big plus.

Bottle service is a great deal in Moscow. At top-tier clubs, it starts at 1,000$. That’ll go a long way with premium vodka at 250$, especially if you have three or four guys chipping in. Not to mention that it’s a massive status boost for getting girls, especially at high-end clubs.

Without bottle service, you should estimate a budget of 100-150$ per night. That is if you drink a lot and hit the top clubs with the hottest girls. Scale down for less alcohol and more basic places.

Dress code & Face control

Door policy in Moscow is called “face control” and it’s always the guy behind the two gorillas that gives the green light if you’re in or out.

In Moscow nightlife there’s only one rule when it comes to dress codes:

You can never be underdressed.

People dress A LOT sharper than, say, in the US and that goes for both sexes. For high-end clubs, you definitely want to roll with a sharp blazer and a pocket square, not to mention dress shoes in tip-top condition. Those are the minimum requirements to level the playing field vis a vis with other sharply dressed guys that have a lot more money than you do. Unless you plan to hit explicit electro or underground clubs, which have their own dress code, you are always on the money with that style.

Getting in a Moscow club isn’t as hard as it seems: dress sharp, speak English at the door and look like you’re in the mood to spend all that money that you supposedly have (even if you don’t). That will open almost any door in Moscow’s nightlife for you.

Types of Moscow Nightclubs

In Moscow there are four types of clubs with the accompanying female clientele:

High-end clubs:

These are often crossovers between restaurants and clubs with lots of tables and very little space to dance. Heavy accent on bottle service most of the time but you can work the room from the bar as well. The hottest and most expensive girls in Moscow go there. Bring deep pockets and lots of self-confidence and you have a shot at swooping them.

Regular Mid-level clubs:

They probably resemble more what you’re used to in a nightclub: big dancefloors, stages and more space to roam around. Bottle service will make you stand out more but you can also do well without. You can find all types of girls but most will be in the 6-8 range. Your targets should always be the girls drinking and ideally in pairs. It’s impossible not to swoop if your game is at least half-decent.

Basic clubs/dive bars:

Usually spots with very cheap booze and lax face control. If you’re dressed too sharp and speak no Russian, you might attract the wrong type of attention so be vigilant. If you know the local scene you can swoop 6s and 7s almost at will. Usually students and girls from the suburbs.

Electro/underground clubs:

Home of the hipsters and creatives. Parties there don’t mean meeting girls and getting drunk but doing pills and spacing out to the music. Lots of attractive hipster girls if that is your niche. That is its own scene with a different dress code as well.

What time to go out in Moscow

Moscow nightlife starts late. Don’t show up at bars and preparty spots before 11pm because you’ll feel fairly alone. Peak time is between 1am and 3am. That is also the time of Moscow nightlife’s biggest nuisance: concerts by artists you won’t know and who only distract your girls from drinking and being gamed. From 4am to 6am the regular clubs are emptying out but plenty of people, women included, still hit up one of the many afterparty clubs. Those last till well past 10am.

As far as days go: Fridays and Saturdays are peak days. Thursday is an OK day, all other days are fairly weak and you have to know the right venues.

The Ultimate Moscow Nightclub List

Short disclaimer: I didn’t add basic and electro clubs since you’re coming for the girls, not for the music. This list will give you more options than you’ll be able to handle on a weekend.

Preparty – start here at 11PM

Classic restaurant club with lots of tables and a smallish bar and dancefloor. Come here between 11pm and 12am when the concert is over and they start with the actual party. Even early in the night tons of sexy women here, who lean slightly older (25 and up).

The second floor of the Ugolek restaurant is an extra bar with dim lights and house music tunes. Very small and cozy with a slight hipster vibe but generally draws plenty of attractive women too. A bit slower vibe than Valenok.

Very cool, spread-out venue that has a modern library theme. Not always full with people but when it is, it’s brimming with top-tier women. Slow vibe here and better for grabbing contacts and moving on.

High-end: err on the side of being too early rather than too late because of face control.

Secret Room

Probably the top venue at the moment in Moscow . Very small but wildly popular club, which is crammed with tables but always packed. They do parties on Thursdays and Sundays as well. This club has a hip-hop/high-end theme, meaning most girls are gold diggers, IG models, and tattooed hip hop chicks. Very unfavorable logistics because there is almost no room no move inside the club but the party vibe makes it worth it. Strict face control.

Close to Secret Room and with a much more favorable and spacious three-part layout. This place attracts very hot women but also lots of ball busters and fakes that will leave you blue-balled. Come early because after 4am it starts getting empty fast. Electronic music.

A slightly kitsch restaurant club that plays Russian pop and is full of gold diggers, semi-pros, and men from the Caucasus republics. Thursday is the strongest night but that dynamic might be changing since Secret Room opened its doors. You can swoop here but it will be a struggle.

Mid-level: your sweet spot in terms of ease and attractiveness of girls for an average budget.

Started going downwards in 2018 due to lax face control and this might get even worse with the World Cup. In terms of layout one of the best Moscow nightclubs because it’s very big and bottle service gives you a good edge here. Still attracts lots of cute girls with loose morals but plenty of provincial girls (and guys) as well. Swooping is fairly easy here.

I haven’t been at this place in over a year, ever since it started becoming ground zero for drunken teenagers. Similar clientele to Icon but less chic, younger and drunker. Decent mainstream music that attracts plenty of tourists. Girls are easy here as well.

Sort of a Coyote Ugly (the real one in Moscow sucks) with party music and lots of drunken people licking each others’ faces. Very entertaining with the right amount of alcohol and very easy to pull in there. Don’t think about staying sober in here, you’ll hate it.

Artel Bessonitsa/Shakti Terrace

Electronic music club that is sort of a high-end place with an underground clientele and located between the teenager clubs Icon and Gipsy. Very good music but a bit all over the place with their vibe and their branding. You can swoop almost any type of girl here from high-heeled beauty to coked-up hipsters, provided they’re not too sober.

Afterparty: if by 5AM  you haven’t pulled, it’s time to move here.

Best afterparty spot in terms of trying to get girls. Pretty much no one is sober in there and savage gorilla game goes a long way. Lots of very hot and slutty-looking girls but it can be hard to tell apart who is looking for dick and who is just on drugs but not interested. If by 9-10am you haven’t pulled, it is probably better to surrender.

The hipster alternative for afterparties, where even more drugs are in play. Plenty of attractive girls there but you have to know how to work this type of club. A nicer atmosphere and better music but if you’re desperate to pull, you’ll probably go to Miks.

Weekday jokers: if you’re on the hunt for some sexy Russian girls during the week, here are two tips to make your life easier.

Chesterfield

Ladies night on Wednesdays means this place gets pretty packed with smashed teenagers and 6s and 7s. Don’t pull out the three-piece suit in here because it’s a “simpler” crowd. Definitely your best shot on Wednesdays.

If you haven’t pulled at Chesterfield, you can throw a Hail Mary and hit up Garage’s Black Music Wednesdays. Fills up really late but there are some cute Black Music groupies in here. Very small club. Thursday through Saturday they do afterparties and you have an excellent shot and swooping girls that are probably high.

Shishas Sferum

This is pretty much your only shot on Mondays and Tuesdays because they offer free or almost free drinks for women. A fairly low-class club where you should watch your drinks. As always the case in Moscow, there will be cute girls here on any day of the week but it’s nowhere near as good as on the weekend.

In a nutshell, that is all you need to know about where to meet Moscow girls in nightlife. There are tons of options, and it all depends on what best fits your style, based on the type of girls that you’re looking for.

Related Topics

• moscow girls
• moscow nightlife

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