2025 Junior European Championships Kick Off in Sicily

The 2025 Junior European Championships for the 49er, 49erFX, FX Open and Nacra 17 classes are set to begin today in Sferracavallo, Sicily, Italy, bringing together the next generation of Olympic sailors for four days of high-intensity racing at Circolo Velico Sferracavallo.

Racing begins with the Practice Race and Competitors’ Briefing on November 5, followed by four official race days from November 6–9. The Opening Ceremony takes place on the evening of November 5 at 18:30, and the first warning signal for racing is scheduled for 11:00 on November 6. The Race Committee intends to run three races per day, with a fourth possible if conditions require.

Fleets and Entries

It’s been a long and busy season, so the fleets are compact but full of quality. In total, 43 teams from 16 countries are competing across all fleets — that’s 86 sailors taking to the water this week.

49er: 16 teams from 12 countries
49erFX: 12 teams from 8 countries
49erFX Open: 7 teams from 4 countries
Nacra 17: 8 teams from 3 countries

Ones to Watch

In the 49er fleet, expect a strong challenge from Lucas and Moritz Hamm (GER) — the reigning 29er European Champions — now making their mark in the full 49er rig after a short transition period in the 49erX. At just 19, they represent the next wave of German Olympic hopefuls.

Also among the front-runners are Ben O’Shaughnessy and Ethan Spain (IRL), who have been turning heads with top-three finishes in senior-level events this season. Their consistency and pace make them serious contenders for the Junior European title.

Meanwhile, local favorites Lorenzo Pezzilli and Tobia Torroni (ITA) will be looking to use home waters to their advantage. With several seasons of 49er experience, they’ll be a major threat in what promises to be a tight Italian showdown.

In the 49erFX fleet, the clear favorites are Katharina Schwachhofer and Elena Stoltze (AUT) — crowned Junior World Champions in Denmark this July. The Austrian pair have been dominant all season and will be aiming to add a European title to their impressive 2025 campaign.

Over in the Nacra 17, it’s shaping up to be an exciting contest among several promising young mixed teams, including:

Federico Figlia di Granara & Caterina Sedmak (ITA)
Arto Hirsch & Sofia Borgia (FIN)
Daniel de la Casa & Nora de la Casa (ESP)
All three pairings have shown strong development through the season and will be pushing hard for top honors in Sicily.