The 2026 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships showcased a regatta divided into two distinct phases. The opening days involved survival conditions that tested competitors, while the latter half presented light and shifty breezes, creating new challenges.
Competing in Eckernförde, Germany, Australian Sailing Team, Australian Sailing Squad, and Australian Sailing Futures athletes delivered impressive performances across all classes. Notably, there were two top-10 finishes in the Nacra 17 fleet and a career-best result in the 49erFX.
Unfortunately, the Finals racing could not occur, preventing the Australian Nacra 17 teams from making a final push for podium positions. Despite this, the squad demonstrated its strength on the international stage, with Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown finishing fourth overall, and Archie Gargett and Sarah Hoffman securing eighth.
Liddell expressed satisfaction with their fourth-place finish, stating, “It’s our best result so far as a team, so it feels nice to have our work from the last year and a half come together. We had good speed at the start when conditions were windy, but a few bad races set us back from the podium. It’s disappointing not to race today, but that happens.”
In the 49erFX, Brooke Wilson and Evie Haseldine achieved a personal-best result, finishing 20th overall. Haseldine remarked, “This is our best result as a team, and it feels great to see our hard work pay off after teaming up post-Paris Olympic Games. We aimed to make Gold Fleet at this event, and we succeeded.”
Harry Price and Max Paul were the leading Australian team in the 49er fleet, finishing 18th. Though it was their first regatta of the season outside the top 10, it provided them with valuable experience in both high and light wind conditions against a highly competitive fleet.
Benedict and Spencer McKay, representing the NSW Institute of Sport, produced several standout performances to finish 32nd overall, while fellow Australian Sailing Squad athletes Jack Ferguson and Jack Hildebrand followed closely behind in 36th.
Looking ahead, attention shifts to the Los Angeles Olympic sailing venue, where National Squad athletes will compete at the San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta from 3–7 August. This event marks the first racing opportunity within the LA 2028 cycle on the future Olympic waters.
Australian Sailing Team (AST), Australian Sailing Squad (AS Squad), Australian Sailing Futures (ASF), State Sailing Performance Program (SSPP) and other Australian (AUS) results at the 49er,49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships
Nacra 17 (42 entries)
4th – Brin Liddell / Rhiannan Brown (AST)
8th – Archie Gargett / Sarah Hoffman (AST)
14th – Ruben Booth / Rita Booth (AS Squad)
19th – Jake Liddell / Niamh Meehan (AS Squad)
49er (97 entries)
18th – Harry Price / Max Paul (AST)
32nd – Spencer McKay / Benedict McKay (SSPP)
36th – Jack Ferguson / Jack Hilderbrand (AS Squad)
44th – Daniel Links / Keizo Tomishima (ASF)
46th – Kurt Hansen / Charlie Zeeman (ASF)
65th – Luke Rogers / Kristian Bilston (SSPP)
49erFX (55 entries)
20th – Brooke Wilson (ASF) / Evie Haseldine (AS Squad)
51st – Darcy Robbins / Eva Atwood (ASF)
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