Exciting young talent emerged during the 2026 European and Mark Foy International Championships held on Lake Garda, Italy. The Yandoo team, comprising John ‘Herman’ Winning, Fang Warren, and Lewis Brake, dominated the event, finishing with a total of 15 points, six points ahead of Germany’s Black Knight, which earned 21 points. The Rag team followed behind with 28 points.
Black Knight started strong by winning the first race, followed closely by Rag, sailing the ex-Yandoo skiff. However, racing was halted that day due to lack of wind.
The second day saw a change in schedule, with races moved to the morning to avoid the extreme heat. The Rag team flipped the Day 1 results by winning the first race, closely followed by Yandoo in third. Yandoo won the next race, with Fisher & Paykel in third. The third race of the day saw the young SIXT team take victory, after which they rigged their Australian skiff.
Day 2 concluded with Black Knight winning its second race of the regatta, showing the competitive nature of the event. On Day 3, Yandoo continued their strong performance, winning two races and ensuring they were in contention for the championship. The final day saw Yandoo further establishing their lead in the championship and secure their victory.
Victories by teenagers Ben Crafoord and Jacob Marks highlighted the success of the Australian 18 Footers League’s youth policy, introducing new talent into the sailing world. Both sailors, who previously competed together in the 29er class, have shown promise in the 18ft skiff category. Warren Sare, CEO of the League, praised their performance, noting how competitive they were despite limited experience.
The regatta conditions varied, with competitors facing both the morning Pele breeze and the afternoon Ora wind. The League has established a fleet of boats in Europe to facilitate youth participation in such international events, exemplifying their commitment to fostering young sailors.
| Rank | Country | Sail Number | Boat Name | Helm | Net Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | Red/Blue | Yandoo | Fang Warren | 15 |
| 2 | Germany | GER 1 | Black Knight | Heinrich Von Bayern | 21 |
| 3 | Australia | Rag | Rag & Famish Hotel | Ben Crafoord | 28 |
| 4 | Australia | Sixt | Sixt / Marine Pool | Jacob Marks | 32 |
| 5 | Australia | Fisher & Paykel | Hole House Blue | Tom Cunich | 58 |
| 6 | Hungary | HUN 18 | be light! | Miklos Ujhelyi-Gáspár | 67 |
| 7 | Germany | GER 46 | Peroni | Philipp Nocke | 69 |
| 8 | Germany | Noakes Group/Harken | Big Pete | Mickey Martin | 80 |
| 9 | Great Britain | ALLEN | ALLEN | Luke Goble | 89 |
| 10 | Germany | GER 6 | hoefle-haus Red | Holger Hoefle | 93 |
| 11 | Great Britain | GBR 47 | Selden OneSails/weird sail | Mark Watts | 108 |
| 12 | Denmark | marvik | marvik | Jesper Bründum | 111 |
| 13 | Australia | Killer coffee | Killer Coffee | Yvette Heritage | 116 |
| 14 | Australia | 1019303 | Charter ex / RedSailGrey | Luca Gambarcorti | 117 |
| 15 | Australia | 4 Pines | The Royal Oak | Emma Rankin | 120 |
| 16 | Australia | PAC Partners | Lazarus | Warren Sare | 131 |
| 17 | Great Britain | GBR 118 | GBR 118 | Edward Skeff | 148 |
| 18 | Hungary | HUN 115 | Heavy Tools | Péter Oroszlán | 158 |
| 19 | Germany | GER 2 | Euro Link/vintec | Friedrich Renner | 160 |
| 20 | Great Britain | English Braids | English Braids | Adrian Howe | 198 |
Frank Quealey – Australian 18 Footers League Ltd.
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