A Class Catamaran European Championships 2026 at Club Náutico Mar Menor - Day 1
by Gordon Upton 2 Jun 11:18 BST
31 May - 5 June 2026
On the warm waters of Spain's Mar Menor, the International A-Class Catamaran Association is holding the European Championships this week, the excellent and accommodating hosts are the FVRM organisation and their base at Los Alcázeras. From the boat pits to the launching area is a mere 100m with plenty of rigging room on the beach. Two courses set with 3 races on the first day.
The opening day of a Championships can be slower starting affairs, as sailors are reluctant to push their boats too much for fear of snapping something early. No so in this fleet, as they have totally hit the water running. Race mode engaged from the gun.
The wind was 9-12 Kts and got up a little higher as the day progressed, perfect for the sailors. 2pm was the gun time, allowing the sea breeze to build and steady.
The Classics were allocated the Southern course, straight out from the launch area and they assembled in the usual manner. The first race started cleanly, Andrew Landenberger, AUS 308 Scheurer G8, nailed the pin end, shadowed by Gustavo Doreste, EST 72 Exploder Ad3, with Jacek Noetzel, POL 1 Exploder Ad3, and Marco Radman ITA 55 Exploder Ad3, a little further up the line. They all went to the left, as is usual in the start. But the better pressure was to the right, particularly at the top, so at the suitable opportunity, the fleet started to split away for the other side.
At the top gate, it was the Big Swede, Alberto Farnesi SWE 59 on his trusty Marstrom M5, rounding in pole. But he was hauled in by the French ace, Emmanuel Le Chapalier, FRA 1 Exploder Ad3, Landy and the others. The rest of the fleet zoomed around in good order as their hard wired course brains went into familiar pattern rounding mode, with only a few choosing the right mark of the new format top gate to get to the better wind in that area. Gybing onto the lay line for the bottom gate, if they had it right, they could then go to the right side on the next uphill leg.
Back at the top, Jacek was now leading by a decent margin. The reigning Classic World Champ had lost none of his skimming technique as he rounded for the second time, chased by Gustavo and Landy. The latest boards, with their subtle twist, whilst still maintaining class legality allow the latest boats to really skim well on downwind legs in the hands of these masters. Gustavo was the first to gybe off this time, searching for more pressure, Jacek carried on. But Gustavo found something. He gybed onto Stbd for the finish, and Jacek, sailing and gybing later arrived in the same area and gybed at the last second seeing Gustavo having more pace. This bled his speed potentially catastrophically, as his short lead advantage fell away. But at the tape, Jacek won by a 'Short Nose' the horse racing folk would say. 400mm was the winning margin. Marco watched on from his safe 3rd spot before he crossed. Landy 5th, Emmanual 5th.
The next race saw similar action, only in this one a few sailors suffered rather more than most. The wind was very similar, head to the top right was the thing. All was going swimmingly until one sailor, Mike Kranz, USA 007 Exploder Ad3, blew his knee out going into the trapeze. This alarming injury can happen to anyone, but he managed to get back in safely and was stretchered into an awaiting ambulance to the local A&E department. He has an MRI on later this week, so fingers crossed. He was smiling as he went into it after the paramedic stabilised the joint, and was no doubt pumped with Entonox, but his event is over for this time. We wish him well. Fortunately he had purchased the Spanish event insurance, and it covers racing injuries, so he's OK on that score at least.
The other one was Chris Batchelor, ISV 15 Paradox. During a tack, his right shoulder popped out of where is was designed to go. He managed to manoeuvre it back in again, it true rugby hero style, and carried on sailing that race. But retired from the last one for fear of doing more damage. He seemed fine in the boatpark, but best to be careful as strap it up for the next day.
Medial emergencies aside, the fleet carried on regardless. Jacek managed to keep Gustavo at bay, just a little further back that the first race to get the bullet, Gustavo next, and José Lopez Becerra, ESP 52 Exploder, jumped into third ahead of Landy. Marco was 5th. But during that race, Landy's traveller line had let go, so he struggled about losing power as his hand seemed to turn blue with the effort of holding a piece of Dyneema he'd jury rigged as the fix. He then sailed back to the beach for a proper repair.
The final race of the day got off, and this time The reigning European champ, Gustavo, got the better of Jacek to get the bullet and Marco back onto 3rd again. But it was Landy's recovery that was remarkable. Setting off from the beach, he arrived at the start line 2 mins after they had all gone, so decided to go to the right from the line. It worked well, and it takes much to keep a multiple Class World champion and Olympic medallist down, and he finished 6th, showing you should never give up kids!
Over on the Open course, similar winds prevailed. The first race was battled out and the bullet for that was grabbed by Lamberto Cesari, ESP 13 Exploder. His dropped daggerboard issue from the practice race clearly fixed. Kuba Suroweic, POL 41 Exploder, followed and class 'Newbie' and Olympic Nacra 17 sailor Emil Jarudd, SWE 14 Exploder, came in third in his first championship event.
By now, the fleet had realised the pressure was more right and adjusted accordingly. However, from a foiling start where French Champion Emmanuel Dóde FRA 2 Exploder Ad3, took the pin in fine style, chased by Former Euro Champ Manuel Calavia, ESP 11 Exploder Ad3, and Tripple World Champ Mischa Heemskerk, NED 7 DNA F1x and his experimental 'DN' style bendy rig - more of which in a future article. Many seem rather reluctant to tack right early when they have a great mode set and are going nicely, so tended to tack for the first time at a position they would do usually. However, those who did go earlier, gained nicely.
At the top mark, nearly all came in from the right, but we had a split. The very thing this new gate was designed to allow. Kuba arriving first, tacked to go right, Lamberto carried on around to the left side downwind. Maybe 25% were now going the Kuba way. And now Former ITA Champion, Marco Anessi, ITA 71 Exploder Ad3 was in the mix after a DNC in the first race. He went right too.
At the top of the next lap, Marco led Kuba with Lamberto following and at the finish Marco got his first bullet, with Lamberto trailing Kuba in third, and looked in a reflective mood. This is not really a good mood for the others. He had the same look before the final race at the Worlds in Auckland. He was planning something.
Third race time and the fleet assembled as usual, coalescing from a random jumble into an organised mass with one purpose. 5, 4, 1... Then kuba was spotted foiling away from the pin, in the opposite direction, but not spotted by many. It became obvious to an informed observer whet was about to happen. He tacked onto port, got into his fast uphill mode and hit the pin end 1 sec after the gun, in true SailGP style, travelling flat out. Only Mischa and Manolo were near but reacted to slowly to cut him off and force him to duck them. He shot past their bows and across the whole fleet, heading towards that favoured right side in a port flyer start, executed to perfection. At the top he rounded reached the gate 75m+ in the lead to tack and go back down the right side. This time probably half of the fleet went right.
Throughout the fleet the usual battles were contested, but the bullet position had Kuba's name on it. Marco fought off a strong fight from Emil for second. Manolo was happy with his fourth and Lamberto was fifth despite collecting a fishing line complete with hook around his rudder, slowing him enough to prevent a higher placing.
So ended the first day. Much drama and excitement was had by many, but most had silly grins, happy to have raced here. Tuesday, we rinse and repeat.