Flyin' Finns win J/70 SAILING Champions League Qualifier
by J/Boats 22 Mar 12:45 UTC
15-17 March 2024
J/70 SAILING Champions League Qualifier 2024 © Prow Media
The first qualifying event for the 2024 SAILING Champions League was held from March 15th to 17th in Vilamoura, Portugal.
Fifteen teams from twelve nations across Europe (Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Lithuania) were hosted in this picturesque seaside resort by the CNC Vilamoura. The teams were sailing a matched fleet of J/70 one-design sailboats.
Under the radiant sun and ideal sailing conditions, the various sailing club teams competed for the coveted qualification for the grand finale of the SAILING Champions League in September 2024. With impressive skill and tactical prowess, participants navigated through challenging races just off the pretty beachfront, providing spectators with thrilling competitions, and breathtaking sailing action.
After three exciting days of racing and a total of ten races, Åländska Segelsällskapet from Finland secured the title of Vilamoura Qualifier Champions. Their experienced team was comprised of Markus Ronnberg as skipper, with a crew of Staffan Lindberg, Emil Nordlun, and Jasper Karlsson.
The flying Finns were closely followed in second place by Regattaclub Oberhofen from Switzerland (team of Nick Zeltner, Florian Geissbuhler, Cedric Schenk, and Bruno Zeltner), and in third was Kongelig Dansk Yachtklub from Denmark (team of Henrill Jensen, Hemmings Lambertsen, Tom Hatvic, and Niels Gramkov).
The qualifying regatta was a triumph for the sport of sailing, underscoring the international significance of the SAILING Champions League as the premier sailing competition series. Through a multitude of exciting races and enthusiastic spectators on-site, the passion and dedication of the participants for this fascinating sport were evident.
With the conclusion of the Vilamoura Qualifier, a total of nine teams have secured their spots for the grand finale in September. These teams will compete against the best sailing clubs from around the world to claim the title of SAILING Champions League Champions 2024.
The SAILING Champions League extends heartfelt thanks to the participating sailing clubs, sponsors, spectators, and all involved for their support and enthusiasm during the qualification tournament in Vilamoura.
For more SAILING Champions League sailing information: sailing-championsleague.com