Europeans Championships Dominated by Poles
On Monday, the 29er European Championships held as part of the 25th Gdynia Sailing Days concluded. The event featured 138 teams from 25 countries, and Poles dominated, winning four out of six gold medals. The entire regatta was marked by unpredictable and surprising weather conditions.
From Wednesday, three races took place each day, but on Monday, the wind was too weak, so the sailors did not compete.
Polish teams stood on the top step of the podium in four out of six categories. Ewa Lewandowska and Krzysztof Królik became European champions in the mixed category. Bartosz Żmudziński and August Sobczak took first place in both the men's and U-17 categories, while Alicja Tutkowska and Alicja Dampc triumphed in the women's category. Additionally, Lewandowska and Królik topped the general classification, with Żmudziński and Sobczak in second place.
The Czech team of Karolina Lojkova and Petr Pelnar won the U-17 mixed category, while the German team of Adele Heubner and Katharina Fricke won the U-17 women's category.
British sailors Finian Morris and Charlie Gran earned the title of European vice-champions in the men's category and third place in the general classification. Their compatriots James Crossley and Sam Webb completed the top three.
"We are quite satisfied with our position, especially considering the changing and difficult conditions we faced here. The competition was really high-level, and we gave it our all. With this in mind, we leave Gdynia," said Finian Morris and Charlie Gran.
The Swedish team of Esther Lagerstrand and Melker Bondjers won the vice-championship in the mixed category, with their compatriots Selma Hard and Lukas Wolfgang placing third.
In the U-17 category, the French team of Alexandre Mostini and Raphael Allain took second place, while the German team of Lucas and Moritz Hamm finished third. British sailors Annabelle Vines and Amelie Hiscocks won the silver medal in the women's category, with Finnish sailors Una Heinila and Silja-Sophie Laukkanen taking third place. In the mixed category, the French team of Clemence Favrel and Ferdinand Guillemot took second place, ahead of the Polish team of Aniela Frąckowiak and Igor Piechota.
The 29er European Championships took place in a great atmosphere and conditions. The sailors managed to complete 15 out of the 18 scheduled races. The competition was fierce and the stakes were high, just as it should be!