From 3–8 June 2025, the finest Olympic-class sailors gathered in Thessaloniki, Greece, to compete for continental honours at the Nacra 17, 49er, and 49erFX European Championships. Hosted at the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki, the regatta marked the first major championship in the lead-up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, setting the stage for the sport’s next generation.

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With many of the reigning medallists from Paris 2024 now retired or pausing their campaigns, fresh contenders seized the opportunity to ascend the rankings and establish their presence on the international stage. Over six days of competition, 15 fleet races determined the finalists across the three classes, culminating in dramatic Medal Races that crowned the new European champions.

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June’s warm sunshine, water temperatures approaching 24°C, and reliable afternoon Etesian winds provided near-perfect conditions for racing — a reminder of Thessaloniki’s enduring appeal as a premier sailing destination in the eastern Mediterranean.

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Champions crowned in every fleet

In the Nacra 17 class, Britain’s John Gimson and Anna Burnet delivered a commanding performance, securing the gold medal with two races to spare. Their consistent dominance throughout the week left rivals Gianluigi Ugolini and Maria Giubilei of Italy to settle for silver, while the bronze was hotly contested. France’s Tim Mourniac and Aloïse Retornaz ultimately claimed third after a tactical Medal Race, edging out Argentina’s Mateo Majdalani and Eugenia Bosco, who closed in on the fleet as the breeze freshened but could not overtake.

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The 49er fleet saw New Zealand’s Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush take the title, despite finishing fourth in the Medal Race — their overall points lead proving unassailable. Nevin Snow and Ian MacDiarmid of the USA secured silver after a strong final day, while Uruguay’s Hernán Umpierre and Fernando Diz earned bronze. Although no European nation reached the podium, Spain’s Martín and Jaime Wizner finished fourth overall and first among Europeans, followed by Britain’s William Pank and Thommie Grit and Israel’s Tal Sade and Maor Abu.

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In the 49erFX women’s fleet, Canadians Georgia and Antonia Lewin-Lafrance delivered a flawless performance, winning both the final fleet race and the decisive Medal Race to secure gold. Germany’s Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille took silver, with Poland’s Aleksandra Melzacka and Sandra Jankowiak completing the podium.

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For the Canadian sisters, this victory in Thessaloniki carried special significance — it was the same location where they captured their first European Championship medal in 2021.

A new generation on course for olympic glory

The 2025 European Championships in Thessaloniki signalled a generational shift in Olympic-class sailing, as young crews from across the globe demonstrated their potential in the build-up to Los Angeles 2028. With superb conditions, a world-class venue, and a renewed competitive spirit, the regatta provided a fitting platform for emerging talent to stake their claim on the sport’s highest stage.