Old Hands and Young Guns star at EurILCA Europeans

After a tricky week in Hyeres, France, the 2022 EurILCA Senior European Championships & Open European Trophy concluded on Monday, with champions crowned in the Women’s ILCA 6 class, Men’s ILCA 6 and 7 classes, as well as the Men’s Under 21 class.

The two main events were the Men’s ILCA 7, and the Women’s ILCA 6, the two Olympic disciplines at the event, with the top sailors travelling to France, including many from outside Europe.

In the Women’s ILCA 6 fleet Poland’s Agata Barwinska won by four points from Switzerland’s Maud Jayet, with The Netherlands’ Marit Bouwmeester third. For all three sailors it has resulted in a move up the SSL Women’s Rankings, with Barwinska breaking into the top ten, Jayet jumping up 8 places to 19, and Bouwmeester rising two places to 7^th.

It was a breakthrough event for Great Britain’s Matilda Nicholls, who has excelled at youth level, and now at a senior championship, finishing fourth overall, just two points off the podium. This result has moved her up a giant 25 places, to 74^th in the SSL Women’s Rankings – a rise that is sure to continue for the young sailing star.

In the Men’s ILCA 7 fleet Cypriot Pavlos Kontides just held on to win from the defending champion, Great Britain’s Michael Beckett, who is continuing to excel in 2022, including winning gold at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia. For both sailors it means a move up the SSL Men’s Skipper Rankings: Kontides up one place to 9^th, and Beckett up 6 places to 43^rd. Third spot on the podium went to Finland’s Kaarle Tapper.