Sferracavallo Welcomes the International Sailing Elite for the Nacra 17 Europeans
by Alexia Lahoud, 49er and Nacra 17 Sailing 4 Nov 09:05 PST
5-10 November 2024
Nacra 17 European Championships © chris13@photography – Christian Souchet
The scenic Gulf of Sferracavallo is ready to host the Nacra 17 European Championships, welcoming 18 teams and 36 top-tier sailors from 13 countries for an exciting week of competition.
From November 5 to November 10, this event will feature intense racing among the best Nacra 17 sailors globally, showcasing their talents in the stunning Mediterranean backdrop.
Coordinated by Circolo Velico Sferracavallo in partnership with the Nacra 17 Class Association and the Palermo Sports and Tourism Department, the event showcases Olympic-level mixed-gender crews racing fast catamarans. Competitors from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States will converge, making Sferracavallo a worldwide sailing center for the week.
Several participants are returning from the Paris 2024 Olympics, such as Finnish couple Sinem Kurtbay and Akseli Keskinen, Australian pair Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown, and Belgian duo Lucas Claeyssens and Eline Verstraelen. Additionally, Belgian siblings Kwinten and Lieselotte Borghijs, who hold the Junior World Championship title from Galicia, will compete. Canadian athletes Galen Richardson and Madeline Gillis, who narrowly missed Olympic qualification, aim for a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics; they will be joined by fellow Canadians Caspar Lenz Anderson and Coralie Vittecoq.
A prominent French team includes Kevin Fischer and Mathilde Lovadina, who normally sail in the 49er class — Kevin recently clinched the 2024 49er World Championship with Clement Pequin, while Mathilde races with Aude Compan in the 49erFX. They are making their debut together in the Nacra 17 at this event. Other French teams include Thomas Proust with Eloise Clabon and Margaux Billy paired with Noah Chauvin.
The competition will feature the Greek team Iordanis Paschalidis and Maria Tsaousidou, a Dutch team of Willemijn Offerman — fresh from the Women’s America’s Cup — and Scipio Houtman, along with a Polish duo of Aleksander Michalski and Karolina Zurek. Switzerland will field two teams: Marie Mazuay with Clément Guignard, and Andrea Aschieri paired with Tine Rossel, with Andrea also bringing America’s Cup experience to the event.
Italy’s representative team includes Gianluigi Ugolini and Maria Giubilei, a distinguished pair from the Italian Air Force Sports Group. They possess an impressive resume with multiple Under-24 World Championships and European medals. Both participated in the 37th America’s Cup, with Ugolini achieving success in the Youth America’s Cup and Giubilei as a trimmer for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, aiding in the Puig Women’s America’s Cup victory.
Making their debut in Sferracavallo, the United States will be represented by Nicolas Martin and Carolina Zager in this new partnership. Other notable teams include Australian duo Ruben and Rita Booth, Austrian pair Laura Farese and Matthäus Zöchling, and Spanish team Daniel De La Casa and Nora García.
“This 2024 European Championship at Circolo Velico Sferracavallo is an exhilarating milestone on the path to the Los Angeles Olympics,” stated Santiago Lange, President of the Nacra 17 Class Association. “We eagerly anticipate watching our young sailors compete here and experimenting with new formats that will pave the way for the future of sailing.”
Giuseppe Giunchiglia, President of Circolo Velico Sferracavallo, expressed his pride in hosting such a prestigious regatta: “It is a privilege to host an event of this significance. We thank the Nacra 17 Class Association for their confidence in us and recognize the influence of Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti’s recent Olympic triumph in Paris under Coach Gabriele Bruni. Their achievement highlights Italian sailing, and we are grateful for Coach Bruni’s assistance in organizing this international event. The considerable presence of foreign athletes reinforces our reputation both regionally and abroad, and we are dedicated to promoting Sferracavallo and Palermo as leading destinations. Our gratitude goes to the City of Palermo, especially Councilor Alessandro Anello for his unwavering support in enhancing our region’s visibility through sports.”
The Nacra 17 European Championships kick off tomorrow with registration and the competitors’ meeting, followed by the Opening Ceremony at 5:00 PM. Racing is scheduled to begin on Wednesday at 11:00 AM, weather permitting, with five days of high-stakes competition culminating in the final standings on Sunday, when both overall and Junior champions will be crowned.
For more information, visit nacra17.org/event/2024-european-championship
