Europe Masters & Youth Championships at Haying Island Sailing Club start tomorrow
by Lucy Boreham 1 Jul 19:10 UTC
2-7 July 2025
All set for the Europe Masters & Youth Championships at Hayling Island © Robert Deaves /
www.robertdeaves.uk
Sitting in the sunshine at Haying Island Sailing Club - a perfect 13 knot sea breeze kicking in and 130 Europe's getting ready for a week of racing - what more could a sailor want?
The Europe Masters & Youth Championships kicks off on the 2nd July - with the Masters racing 2nd-6th July and the youth 3rd-7th July.
With an amazing depth in the class, for the Masters the sailors ranging from just over 30 through to the class legends (over 70's) its going to be a great week.
Who will prevail this year? Can French sailor Cyril Richard retain his overall title, will Soren Johnsen move up the podium from 2nd overall last year?
Could one of the Brits top the podium? Steve Cockerill, fresh off a 12th UK Nationals title earlier in June, or will it be time for Jason Belben to take the top spot? Can Tom 'Mozzy' Morris make gains from his downwind practice of the last few weeks and use his local knowledge to get his Synergy Marine Europe to the top spot?
The class is not short of legends, with Weronika Glinkiewicz-Madej from Poland using all her Olympic experience in the boat, having represented Poland in the 1996 games, Sarah Barbosa from Italy looking to improve from 3rd female overall last year. The 3 British women ' Mandy Horton, Emma Pearson & Lucy Boreham will be hoping some local knowledge to get them towards the top of the Women's categories.
Class legends of Richard Eagleton (GBR), Daniel Devos (FRA), Rene Chaudoy (FRA) and Evert-Ben van Veen (NED) will be racing for the legends trophy (over 70's).
For the youth, the event has subdivisions for Juniors & Youth as well as Men & Women.
A strong contingent from Spain should feel at home in the heat wave, but may find the tides of Hayling Bay to be a head scratcher, 15 youths from Germany will also be tested with the tides and shifts that the Solent has to offer.
Hugo Bejstup (DEN) returns in a bid to defend his 2024 title, or will Tomas Molto Romero (ESP) be able to take title?
For the Youth women, with last years champion not competing can Enea Poulain (FRA) improve and take the top spot this time or will last years 3rd placed Wiktoria Bazyli (POL) prevail.
Wednesday 2nd sees the Masters kick off with two races, it's measurement day for the Youth and the Opening Ceremony to look forward to in the early evening, Hayling Island is the place to be this week.