The 2026 Junior European Championships for the 49er and 49erFX classes were held at Vilamoura Sailing, concluding on Saturday with Japan’s Manase Ichihashi and Rinko Goto winning the 49erFX title, while Italy’s Lorenzo Pezzilli and Tobia Torroni secured the 49er title. A total of eight races were completed in each class, despite challenging weather conditions earlier in the championship.
The event faced unsettled weather and strong winds, disrupting the racing schedule in the initial days. However, as conditions improved, the race committees managed to complete the eight races required to determine the final standings in both classes.
In the 49erFX Junior European Championship, Japan’s Ichihashi and Goto finished with 23 net points, edging out Switzerland’s Malena Rüegge and Liv Wicki, who also accumulated 23 points but placed second on countback. Germany’s Jule Ernst and Lea Adolph completed the podium.
Italy’s Pezzilli and Torroni dominated the 49er class, finishing with 13 net points. They added this European title to their impressive season, having already won the Junior World Championship earlier in the year. Germany’s Simon Heindl and Conrad Jacobs took second place, followed by Ireland’s Ben O’Shaughnessy and Ethan Spain in third.
Alongside the junior championships, the event included Open classifications in both classes. In the 49erFX Open, Germany’s Hanno Rix and Maximilian Reuner claimed first place, with Portugal’s José Mendes and Francisco Pereira in second, and Ireland’s Erin McIlwaine and Ellen Barbour finishing third. In the 49er Open, Italy’s Zeno Valerio Marchesini and Leonardo Chistè took the top spot, while fellow Italians Jan Pernarcic and Bruno Festo secured second place, with Hungary’s Soma Kis-Szölgyémi and Arthur de Jonghe in third.
The conclusion of these championships marks another successful international sailing event hosted by Vilamoura Sailing, which continues to support international teams preparing for upcoming competitions such as the Youth Portugal Grand Prix and the 2026 Youth Sailing World Championships.
Final Podium Results
49erFX – Junior European Championship
1º Manase Ichihashi / Rinko Goto (JPN)
2º Malena Rüegge / Liv Wicki (SUI)
3ºJule Ernst / Lea Adolph (GER)
49er – Junior European Championship
1º Lorenzo Pezzilli / Tobia Torroni (ITA)
2º Simon Heindl / Conrad Jacobs (GER)
3º Ben O’Shaughnessy / Ethan Spain (IRL)
49erFX – Open
1º Hanno Rix / Maximilian Reuner (GER)
2º José Mendes / Francisco Pereira (POR)
3º Erin McIlwaine / Ellen Barbour (IRL)
49er – Open
1º Zeno Valerio Marchesini / Leonardo Chistè (ITA)
2º Jan Pernarcic / Bruno Festo (ITA)
3º Soma Kis-Szölgyémi / Arthur de Jonghe (HUN)
#JuniorEuropeanChampionships #49erSailing #Vilamoura2026 #Sailing
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