Xacobeo 6 Metre Europeans 2024 Preview
by Alejandro Varela 15 Sep 2024 08:59 PDT
27 September - 5 October 2024
Xacobeo 6mR Europeans 2021 © María Muiña / Xacobeo 6mR Europeans
One of the largest continental events of the year to be held in Galicia, the Xacobeo 6 Metre Europeans 2024, is just two weeks away. Sanxenxo will be hosting the competition and celebrating the new European champions of the 6-metre class.
In September 2022, in Cascais, Portugal the last European event was held for the class. Spanish team "Bribon" skippered by Jane Abascal, were champions in the Classics and Swiss team "Momo" in the Open division. It was the third title for the Spanish boat from the Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo, and a first-time victory for the team from the Segel-Club St. Moritz in Switzerland, following their win at the Worlds two months earlier in Sanxenxo.
"Bribon" and "Momo" back to defend their titles
In Sanxenxo, both teams will defend their titles alongside two powerful fleets, from five and six countries respectively.
In the Classics, José Cusí's "Bribon," this time with H.M King Juan Carlos as skipper, will be lining up on the racecourse in the Rias Baixas against the Spanish fleet regularly competing in the 6 Metre league, including Mauricio Sánchez-Bella's "Titia," Miguel Lago's "Alibaba II" and Francisco Botas and Juan Carlos Escotet's Aida."
However, they are also due to face the current runners-up as European champions, the Romanian boat from Constanta, Catalín Trandafir's "Essentia" and tthe winner of the world championship held in Sanxenxo in 2022, the French team Louis Heckly's "Dix Août" from the Yacht Club France.
In the Open division, the Swiss team "Momo" (the defenders of the European title), will be facing many of their habitual fellow competitors from the series held over the winter and spring in Palma. Such teams include Violeta Álvarez's "Stella," from the RCN de Sanxenxo and the Swiss team Jan Eckert's "Ginkgotoo" from the Société Nautique de Genève. Other teams from Switzerland include Rainer Muller's "Junior," who were fourth in the last Worlds held in Cowes, United Kingdom, and the British team, Jeremy Thorp's "Battlecry" from the Royal Yacht Squadron, as well as Nick and Fotis Lykiardopulo's "Area" from Greece.
Racing programme
The fleet will be able to get a first impression of the racecourse, on the Ria de Pontevedra, in the 9th Regata Rey Juan Carlos I / El Corte Ingles Master, to be held from 27th to 29th with the 6 metre class taking part in the prestigious Galician competition.
From Monday 30th September to Saturday 5th October, from 12:00h onwards in Sanxenxo, the fleet of around thirty boats, will be competing in their third international class event, on Galician waters, following the Xacobeo 6 Metres Europeans 2021 and Xacobeo 6 Metres Worlds 2022.
Pedro campos, president of the Real Club Náutico de Sanxenxo, the organising club, expressed his great satisfaction to once again be hosts,
"To once again host an international event for the class demonstrates two things principally; firstly, the excellent wind and sea conditions we have for these kinds of boats, and secondly, the great hospitality of the Galician people, where the fleet always feel comfortable and extremely grateful."
6meuropeans2024.com