2026 Tornado European Championship at Campione del Garda, Italy - Overall
by International Tornado Class Association 5 Sep 18:52 BST
1-5 September 2026
A decisive overtake on the final day decided the title of the 2026 Tornado European Championship. The Greek crew of Nikolaos Mavros and Polydoros Parianos on catamaran GRE 86 took overall victory after a thrilling battle with their fellow countrymen Konstantinos Trigonis and Konstantinos Kazantzis.
Mavros and Parianos finished with 30 net points, just one point ahead of Trigonis-Kazantzis in second with 31 points. After the first three days, GRE 11 led the standings: on the final day, consistency and a win in the last race allowed GRE 86 to complete the overtake and climb to the top step of the podium.
Third overall went to the Swiss-German crew with sail number 110, Marcel Steiner and Jörg Steiner, on 38 net points. A very tight final leaderboard, with three top teams separated by just eight points after eleven races.
Eleven nations on the water
The 2026 Tornado European Championship brought together 22 crews from 11 nations in Campione del Garda, confirming the strong international character of the class and the appeal of Lake Garda for high-performance sailing.
Crews participated from:
- Australia: 1 crew
- Austria: 3 crews
- Belgium: 1 crew
- Czech Republic: 4 crews
- Spain: 1 crew
- Great Britain: 1 crew
- Germany: 1 crew
- Greece: 4 crews
- Italy: 3 crews
- San Marino: 1 crew
- Switzerland: 2 crews
Greece was the star of the event, with four crews and the top two positions in the overall standings. The Czech Republic, Italy, Austria and Switzerland also delivered competitive performances across the races.
Youth and Mixed titles
The Youth title was awarded to the Spanish crew ESP 12, Roque García Agudo and Vicent Jaume Serra García. The two young sailors finished tenth overall, standing out in an international and highly experienced fleet.
The Mixed title went to the Czech crew CZE 72, Michaela Pavlisova and Marek Pavlis, who placed sixth overall. A solid and consistent performance, rewarded with victory in the special Mixed category.
Tribute to Angelo Glisoni
The prize-giving ceremony featured a special guest: Angelo Glisoni, Tornado World Champion in 1991 together with the unforgettable Giorgio Zuccoli and competitor at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
His presence was a significant moment for all crews and spectators: a direct link between the great Olympic history of the Tornado and a class that continues to express speed, technique, spectacle and international passion.
"It is a pleasure to be here, among so many crews and Tornado enthusiasts. This boat marked a fundamental part of my sporting life, first with Giorgio Zuccoli and then with the Olympic experience in Barcelona 1992. Seeing the class still so international and competitive today is a very positive sign for its future." — Angelo Glisoni, Tornado World Champion 1991
Acknowledgements
A big thank you goes to Univela, which made the organization of the 2026 Tornado European Championship possible and welcomed athletes, supporters and class representatives in Campione del Garda.
Thanks also to:
- The event sponsors
- The International Jury
- The Race Committee
- All the Help Staff on shore
- The Safety Staff on the water
- The photographers and communication professionals
- Jürgen Jentsch, President of the International Tornado Association, for his presence and support of the event
The 2026 Tornado European Championship thus closes with a great sporting contest, a podium decided down to the final race, and the confirmation of Campione del Garda as an ideal venue for major international sailing events.
Overall podium
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | GRE 86 | Nikolaos Mavros | Polydoros Parianos | 30 |
| 2nd | GRE 11 | Konstantinos Trigonis | Konstantinos Kazantzis | 31 |
| 3rd | 110 | Marcel Steiner | Jörg Steiner | 38 |