2025 ILCA Senior European Championships – Drama in Marstrand

Published: 29 Aug 2025
Author: Michael Hodges
The penultimate day of the ILCA Senior European Championships & Open European Trophy threw everything it had at the sailors – from fickle zephyrs in the morning to punishing breeze and swell by the afternoon.
2025 ILCA Senior European Championships
© ILCA European Championship
ILCA 6 Women Under 23 European Championship

Boats slipped out on time at 09:30, but the Bravo course became a waiting game. The ILCA 6 Women Gold fleet sat under AP flags as a shaky 4–5 knot breeze toyed with the race committee. A string of general recalls didn’t help, and the first start didn’t stick until after 12:15. That delay trickled through to the Women’s Silver and the ILCA 6 Men sharing the same patch of water.

Over on Alpha, things looked a little brighter. With 7–8 knots filling in, racing went ahead more or less on time. But as the afternoon built, so did the drama. By 14:00 the breeze had sharpened to 14–16 knots, with gusts hammering up to 20. Swell stacked to over two metres. It was big, physical sailing, and every tack, gybe, and mark rounding was hard-earned.

By day’s end, three bruising races were in the bag. Ashore, salt-crusted sailors tucked into pasta, swapping battle stories and eyeing the scoreboard. With the breeze reshuffling the pecking order, new leaders rose while others slipped. The fight for medals is now wide open heading into tomorrow’s showdown.

Day 5 leaders – Provisional

ILCA 7 European Championship

Michael Beckett (GBR) – 40 pts

Finley Dickinson (GBR) – 42 pts

Duko Bos (NED) – 48 pts

Attilio Borio (ITA) – 68 pts

William De Smet (BEL) – 71 pts

ILCA 7 U23 European Championship

Finley Dickinson (GBR) – 42 pts

Attilio Borio (ITA) – 68 pts

Pietro Giacomoni (ITA) – 87 pts

ILCA 6 Women European Championship

Anna Munch (DEN) – 37 pts

Chiara Benini (ITA) – 51 pts

Maxime Jonker (NED) – 58 pts

Emma Plasschaert (BEL) – 59 pts

Wiktoria Golebiowska (POL) – 63 pts

ILCA 6 Women U23 European Championship

Roos Wind (NED) – 91 pts

Anja Von Allmen (SUI) – 93 pts

Eve McMahon (IRL) – 99 pts

ILCA 6 Women Open European Trophy

Anna Munch (DEN) – 37 pts

Chiara Benini (ITA) – 51 pts

Erika Reineke (USA) – 51 pts

ILCA 6 Men European Championship

Josip Tafra (CRO) – 29 pts

Jiri Tomes (CZE) – 33 pts

Aksel Naeshagen (NOR) – 39 pts

Lovre Bakotic (CRO) – 40 pts

John Frederik Wolff (DEN) – 59 pts

ILCA 6 Men U21 European Championship

Josip Tafra (CRO) – 29 pts

Jiri Tomes (CZE) – 33 pts

Aksel Naeshagen (NOR) – 39 pts

Tomorrow’s finale will crown the 2025 European champions and settle the medals across the fleets. Expect fireworks.

The regatta is hosted by the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club (GKSS) and EurILCA, with support from PelleP, Marstrands Havshotell, Stena Line, and Ackert.