2025 EurILCA Team Racing
Sailors arrived dockside to a stubborn standstill. Heavy rain swept across the venue and the race area lay glassy and lifeless, forcing a prolonged postponement ashore. For team racing sailors, used to split-second decisions and aggressive manoeuvres, the wait was as much a mental test as the racing itself.
Eventually, persistence paid off. At 11:23 local time, the first group was released onto the water as a fragile breeze filled from the shore. Despite continued drizzle, the wind stabilised just enough to allow racing to begin, hovering around 5 knots and gradually building throughout the afternoon.
By the close of play, 13 races had been successfully completed in 5–10 knots of breeze, with flat water turning every match into a chess game of positioning, mark traps and boat-on-boat pressure. Then, just as the final flights were underway, heavy rain returned — a reminder that nothing comes easily at this level.
Light Winds, Flat Water, High Stakes
Conditions across Day Two demanded a disciplined approach. With limited leverage across the course and little margin for recovery, starts were decisive and penalties brutally costly. Every cross, every slow tack, every compromised overlap mattered.
This was classic ILCA team racing: no hiding places, no room for heroics, just relentless execution and teamwork.
Perfect Records at the Top: Italy and Sweden 2
When the spray settled and the scores were tallied, two teams stood clear.
Italy delivered a flawless performance, closing the day with six wins from six starts, demonstrating superb coordination and race control. Calm under pressure and ruthless when opportunities appeared, the Italian squad looked completely at home in the conditions.
Alongside them, Sweden 2 matched the intensity, posting five wins from five races to remain unbeaten. Their ability to convert small gains into race-winning positions marked them out as a serious title contender as the regatta moves into its decisive phase.
Together, Italy and Sweden 2 have established themselves as the teams to beat.
Greece Impresses on Home Waters
Hot on their heels, the Greek team produced one of the strongest performances of the day. With five wins from six races, the hosts used their local knowledge well, showing sharp boat handling and smart tactical awareness in the light air.
Their consistency kept them firmly in the hunt and ensured strong home representation near the top of the leaderboard.
Tight Battles Through the Fleet
Behind the leaders, the competition remains finely balanced:
France and Sweden 1 are tied for fourth, each posting three wins from five races
Bulgaria sits sixth with three wins from six
Germany 1 holds seventh
Ireland and Lithuania are tied for eighth, each with two wins from six
Further down the order, Germany 2 and Serbia 2 each managed a single victory from five starts, while Serbia 1 endured a difficult day, finishing without a win after six races.
Championship Poised on a Knife Edge
With conditions expected to remain changeable, adaptability will be key as the EurILCA Team Racing European Championship heads toward its conclusion. In light winds like these, momentum can swing rapidly, and a single strong flight can reshape the leaderboard.
Italy and Sweden 2 may lead for now, but nothing is settled. Team racing has a habit of punishing complacency, and with margins this tight, the championship remains wide open.
One thing is certain: the sailors who thrive over the coming days will be those who stay patient, communicate clearly, and keep executing when the pressure is highest — exactly what European team racing is all about.