Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2021 SnuffAir 728x90 TOP

2025 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 European Championships at Thessaloniki, Greece - Day 1

by 49er & Nacra 17 Sailing 3 Jun 13:18 PDT 3- June 2025
2025 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 European Championships Day 1 © Nikos Pantis

Keanu Prettner with Jakob Flachberger (AUT) were locked in a light air duel with defending European Champions Hernan Umpiere with Fernando Diz (URU). The two teams were tipped by their fellow competitors as the ones to watch in light winds and delivered.

2028 is the first time we've been able to focus on Prettner/Flachbaker as they served as the understudies to Bildstein/Hussl for years in the Austrian apprenticeship system. It's their turn to shine now and they have a light air ace up their sleeve. The Austrian system is unique among the many styles of federation support. In each fleet there is team that is focused on primarily, but they must also be mentoring a younger pair at the same time to ensure strong continuity of national effort. Austria has fielded contending 49er teams since 2004 via the 'Nicos' and, more recently Bildstein and Hussl, with Prettner/Flachbaker now the lead pair.

In very challenging conditions with wind speeds varying and quite big shifts, they sailed consistently in their 27-boat split-fleet to score three top 5 finishes, setting themselves up wonderfully for what is expected to be a light air battle all week.

"It was really hard to see the pressure changes coming, as the brightness on the azure water sparkles everywhere," said Robert Dickson (IRL). Their coach and class president, Matt McGovern tipped both the Austrians and Uruguayans as pairs to watch for ahead of racing. "They both are class in light air and have been sailing well," said Matt.

"Lots of teams were going fast today, and it was easy to miss shifts or puffs." All together just great racing and lots of fun to be out with the fleet," said Diz (URU), who sit in second overall, and are seeking to defend their 2024 European title.

The 54-boat 49er field was split into two fleets and started off the regatta. Racing was delayed as the race committee waited for the sea breeze to fill, which it did around 2:30 in the afternoon. Following the 49er racing the FX and Nacra 17 headed to the water to race into the twilight.

Pressure Seeking

Gigi Ugolini with Maria Giubilei (ITA) bolted out of the gates in Thessaloniki claiming both race wins to start the regatta. "For sure we were fast, which makes racing easier, but it wasn't easy out there," said Maria. "We started well, but in the second race it was our ability to find the pressure that made the difference. The whole fleet was moving out to the left, but when they started moving back to the middle Gigi said there was tons more pressure farther out, and we went for it. We moved way into the lead and that secured the second race for us."

The 49erFX leaders were also focused on the pressure, but in another way. Alexendra Melzacka with Sandra Jankowiak (POL) won the first race and were sixth in the second race to be tied for the lead after the first day. "We got a lot of practice in light and choppy conditions while preparing for Marseilles, but it's not really our favorite," said Alex. "I felt like I did 3000 squats today! We were moving in and out of the boat to keep flat and keep the pressure in the sails all day long. It was especially difficult on port as the wind was higher earlier and it shifted when we were racing meaning we had to go straight into the waves in a dying breeze on port."

Both fleets attempted their third scheduled race but the Nacra 17 race was abandoned two minutes after the start while the FX race was abandoned in the pre-start as the wind died completely. Both fleets will be first up to race on day 2.

First Race Win

Always a milestone for any team and nation, Israel's 49er team of Tal Saed and Abu Maer won their first ever championship race, and the first championship race with for Israel. It was their teammates who scored the better day, however, as Illy Wureit with Yuval Barnoon are up in ninth place overall. Tough to celebrate a win fully when behind a teammate, the ultimate marker.

Down She Goes

Olympic champion and 49erFX bronze medalist from Paris 2024 survived shipwreck in the South Pacific. Charline Picon (FRA) was sailing with her partner and child off the coast of Tahiti when they collided with an underwater obstacle, likely a shipping container. As the post explains, they calmly prepared their survival gear as water continued to flow into the interior of the vessel. They decided to abandon ship as their large catamaran started listing heavily, prompting them to call for aid and enter their life raft. The emergency teams came to the rescue quickly, and all are thankfully unharmed.

Follow along via the website for results, photos, videos, and more.

Related Articles

49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 2
It can be easy to win! For everyone else, it was a day of tense battles Win the start, grab the first shift, consolidate and extend! The winning formula is easy, and those who got ahead took full advantage of an easy course once they got to the front. For everyone else, it was a day of tense battles. Posted today at 5:14 am
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans starts Tuesday
The fleet is ready for racing in Thessaloniki, Greece A new chapter begins for the fast doublehanded classes. The Champions from Paris 2024 have mostly either retired or are taking breaks for various reasons, leaving the start of the new quadrennial to a new group of sailors. Posted on 2 Jun
2026 Junior Worlds set for Medemblik, Netherlands
A famous and beautiful sailing venue with a deep-rooted legacy in Olympic-class racing The International 49er and Nacra 17 Class Association proudly announces that the 2026 Junior World Championships for the 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 classes will take place in Medemblik, Netherlands, from July 19 to 26th, 2026. Posted on 17 May
Trofeo Princesa Sofia wraps up in Palma
Sailors faced everything from strong winds and big waves to light airs and flat water The 54th edition of the Trofeo Princesa Sofia wrapped up on April 5th in Palma de Mallorca after a week of challenging and varied racing conditions. Posted on 5 Apr
Exciting battles await at Trofeo Princesa Sofia
Competition in the 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 classes is set to be intense The highly anticipated 54th Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels is set to begin, bringing together rising stars, fresh team formations, and seasoned veterans in one of the most awaited post-Olympic sailing competitions. Posted on 30 Mar
49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 sailors in SailGP
A look at the sailors from our classes competing this weekend The fifth season of SailGP launches this weekend in Dubai, bringing together 11 national teams and some of the world's best sailors. Posted on 22 Nov 2024
Call for Bids
49er and Nacra 17 Classes invite expressions of interest for 2026-2028 The 49er and Nacra 17 Classes invite expressions of interest from host cities, sailing clubs, and organizations to bid Posted on 21 Nov 2024
2025 49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17 Junior Worlds news
Copenhagen, Denmark to host the event The 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 classes are thrilled to announce that the 2025 Junior World Championships will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, and hosted by the Royal Danish Yacht Club. Posted on 15 Nov 2024
Tita and Banti named Team of the Year
Botín and Trittel win Rolex World Sailor of the Year The 2024 World Sailing Awards celebrated the elite of the sailing world, recognizing extraordinary achievements by athletes who have dominated their fields with unmatched dedication, skill, and resilience. Posted on 5 Nov 2024
The potential impact of light wind conditions
On the Skiff Sailing events at the Paris 2024 Olympics The Paris Olympic sailing regatta is being conducted in Marseilles. Forecasting models are accurate enough that we can use them to analyze who might be advantaged by the most likely wind conditions. Posted on 27 Jul 2024
Allen Dynamic 40 FooterVaikobi 2024 DecemberMaritimo 2023 M600 FOOTER