The 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships commence this week in Eckernförde, Germany, featuring 382 athletes from 37 nations competing across six days of racing.
The Australian team enters the regatta with high expectations, having achieved notable results during the European season, including a podium finish by Ruben and Rita Booth at Kiel Week, held just 30 kilometres from Eckernförde.
Ruben Booth expressed confidence after their success in Kiel, stating, “We found our groove in Kiel and managed to stay consistent throughout the week. The different wind conditions suited us better, so we were really happy to come away with a podium finish.”
This week is crucial for their campaign, as Booth noted, “The Europeans are a more important event, and our goal is to carry that momentum from Kiel into this week and put together another consistent regatta. We’d love to be fighting for a top five finish and ultimately, we’d love to be back on the podium.”
He acknowledged the challenges posed by Eckernförde’s unpredictable wind patterns, adding, “At the moment, the forecast looks like we’ll have good breeze for at least the first few days.”
Joining the Booth siblings is a strong Australian contingent in the Nacra 17 class, with Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown aiming to convert several top ten finishes into a podium result. Archie Gargett and Sarah Hoffman seek to build on their impressive fourth-place finish at the recent World Championships, while Jake Liddell and Niamh Meehan complete the team.
In the 49er fleet, Harry Price and Max Paul are strong contenders for a medal following a commendable World Championships campaign, where they narrowly missed the podium on a challenging final day. Price shared, “We’ve had an awesome season so far with some good results. We haven’t really stopped since the Worlds; we had a small break but have continued our training leading into this last part of the European season. We are hoping to put together another consistent series and improve our race playbook. It’s going to be a great week.”
Five other Australian crews will compete in what is expected to be one of the most competitive fleets of the regatta. In the 49erFX class, Olympian Evie Haseldine is developing her partnership with helm Brooke Wilson, while Australian Sailing Futures athletes Darcy Robbins and Eva Atwood will also represent Australia in the class.
Australian Sailing Team High Performance Director Iain Brambell views the European Championships as an important opportunity for growth. He pointed out, “It’s been encouraging to see a number of National Squad athletes consistently finishing inside the top ten this season. That consistency provides a strong foundation, and the next step is converting those performances into regular podium finishes.”
Brambell further noted the significance of pinnacle events such as the Europeans for building confidence and tactical execution. He stated, “These events provide valuable opportunities for athletes to continue building confidence, refining their racing, and putting themselves in contention when it matters most.”
The championships begin on Tuesday, 7 July, with medal races scheduled for Sunday, 12 July.
Full list of entries can be found here
Australian Sailing Team (AST), Australian Sailing Squad (AS Squad), Australian Sailing Futures (ASF), State Sailing Performance Program (SSPP) and other Australian (AUS) entries at the 49er,49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships
Nacra 17 (42 entries)
Brin Liddell / Rhiannan Brown (AST)
Archie Gargett / Sarah Hoffman (AST)
Ruben Booth / Rita Booth (AS Squad)
Jake Liddell / Niamh Meehan (AS Squad)
49er (97 entries)
Harry Price / Max Paul (AST)
Jack Ferguson / Jack Hilderbrand (AS Squad)
Kurt Hansen / Charlie Zeeman (ASF)
Daniel Links / Keizo Tomishima (ASF)
Spencer McKay / Benedict McKay (SSPP)
Luke Rogers / Kristian Bilston (SSPP)
49erFX (55 entries)
Brooke Wilson (ASF) / Evie Haseldine (AS Squad)
Darcy Robbins / Eva Atwood (ASF)
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About Australian Sailing
Australian Sailing is the governing body for the sport of Sailing in Australia. We are responsible for the administration, promotion and development of sailing. We are a member-based organisation that represent the interests and provides services and support to over 360 clubs across Australia as well as more than 160 accredited Discover Sailing Centres.
The Australian Sailing Team is the national representative team for Olympic-class sailing, bringing together Australia’s elite athletes and rising stars through a unified high-performance pathway within Australian Sailing.
Media Contact – Lisa Darmanin – Australian Sailing Team Communications & Brand Lead
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