Momo & Bribon to defend Six Metre European Championship Titles in Sanxenxo
by Fiona Brown 29 Sep 21:50 BST
29 September 2024
6mR Europeans 2024 in Sanxenxo, Spain © SailingShots by Maria Muiña
The International Six Metre fleet has gathered in Sanxenxo on Spain's stunning Galician coast in preparation for the 2024 Six Metre European Championship.
The current reigning champions, Dieter Schoen's Momo of Switzerland in the Open Division and His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain's Bribon in the Classic Division, will both defend their titles against teams from France, Finland, Great Britain, Greece, Romania, Switzerland, Spain and the USA.
Sanxenxo is familiar territory for the Sixes as the Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo (RCNS) is home to a significant part of the Spanish fleet, and the club also hosted the 2021 European and 2022 World Championships.
International Six Metre Association President Louis Heckly reflected the feelings of the sailors saying, "We are delighted to be back in Sanxenxo again for this year's European Championship. The RCNS is a superb host club, and we can look forward to a first-class regatta. I'm delighted to see so many nations represented on the entry list and to welcome Basil Vasiliou and the Jane Ann team all the way from the New York Yacht Club. I was lucky enough to win the Classic World Championship last time we were here, so I just hope my luck holds again this year!".
Alongside great racing, the sailors will enjoy a warm social welcome from the RCNS. The regatta opened with a delightful Welcome Ceremony, where competitors enjoyed delicious local wines and foods in the RCNS race village as the sunset. There will also be daily après sailing gatherings and a spectacular Gala Prize Giving Dinner on Saturday evening.
In preparation for the Europeans many of the teams participated in the RCNS Regata Rey Juan Carlos I, Galicia's biggest annual sailing regatta featuring some 160 boats, which took place from 27 to 29 September. In the Classic Division His Majesty King Juan Carlos gave notice that Bribon is on excellent form for her defence of the Classic European Championship, winning by six points from Finland's Ossi Paija and his team aboard Astree III, with Spain's Javier de La Gandara Alonso's Aida third.
In the Open Division Momo put in a strong performance at the Regata Rey Juan Carlos I, but it was Sanxenxo's own Violeta Alvarez and her crew in Stella that took the victor's laurels by five points from Nick and Fotis Lykiardopulo's Aera. Third place was tied on points with Jan Eckert's Ginkgotoo just beating Momo to the final step on the podium on countback. Results from the warm up regatta are available here.
Racing for the Six Metre European Championship will get under way on Monday 30 September and runs until Saturday 5 October with a total of eight races scheduled over six days. You will be able to follow the racing on Facebook and Instagram and via the live tracking, which will go live shortly before the start of each race. Results will be posted at the event website.
Additional information about the 2024 International Six Metre European Championship, including a list of entries is available at 6meuropeans2024.com