2026 Melges 24 European Championship in Tønsberg - Day 2
by International Melges 24 Class Association 2 Sep 04:04 AEST
29 August - 4 September 2026
September began with sunshine and summery conditions in Norway's summer capital, but insufficient wind prevented racing on Day 2 of the 2026 Melges 24 European Championship.
At the 12:00 Competitors' Briefing, Principal Race Officer David Bartol, Eirik Brekke and the International Jury reviewed the opening day with the sailors and discussed the forecast for the afternoon. Lighter winds and less swell were expected, and Bartol said he would be pleased if the fleet could complete one race.
As scheduled, the fleet remained ashore during the morning before leaving the harbour shortly after 13:00 to wait afloat for a possible first warning signal at 14:30. On the racecourse, however, the sea remained flat and glassy beneath sunny skies.
The Race Committee waited for the breeze to strengthen, but racing conditions never developed. At 16:15, AP over A was displayed, signalling that there would be no racing for the remainder of the day.
"Unfortunately, the wind disappeared on us today," said Eirik Brekke. "We waited for almost two hours, but eventually had to give up and head back. Save your energy, be ready and come back strong tomorrow."
With no races completed today, the results and overall standings remain unchanged from Day 1.
The outlook for tomorrow is much more promising. "The forecast is for southwesterly winds of around 15 knots, possibly increasing to 25 knots," said Eirik Brekke. "We expect very good conditions for these boats. The day may begin calmly, but the wind should build during the afternoon, and we hope to see around 20 knots by the end of the day."
The Competitors' Briefing is scheduled for 09:00, followed by the first warning signal at 11:00. The Race Committee intends to start four races.
Melges 24 European Championship is hosted from 29 August to 4 September by Tønsberg Seilforening, in cooperation with the Norwegian Melges 24 Class Association and the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA).