2021 Star Class European Championship

On a very light wind day, so different from what we’ve seen so far in Split, Croatia, the Italian duo Enrico Chieffi and Nando Colaninno scored a bullet and second place that made them 2021 Star European Champions with a race to spare!!

They put their boat in the water this morning seven points behind Star Class President Hubert Merklebach and Kilian Weise (GER), who seemed unstoppable in the strong breeze. Today’s different conditions, shiftier wind from the North between 4 and 6 knots, didn’t sit well with the German team who discarded an 18 and scored a 12. Chieffi/Colaninno had a brilliant day with two amazing starts and an excellent at managing the race course of the difficult racecourse, it was the perfect day to win their first Star European title

Warm sun and sea breeze from south-west at 12-15 knots, Day Two of the 2021 Star European Championship was very similar to Day One, confirming Split, Croatia as one of the best, and most reliable, sailing spots in Europe. 

Race Three and Four are now in the scoreboard and the top spots of the provisional overall ranking have slightly changed. Not the leaders though, Class President Hubert Merkelbach and Kilian Weise (GER) strongly defended their position with another bullet in today’s first race and a sixth in the second, a bit trickier race, due to some major wind shifts. They are the second best of the day, behind Laser Olympic Silver medalist Tonci Stipanovic(CRO), who was fifth and first. He won the second race, with crew Tudor Bilic (CRO), fighting against their fellow countrymen Marin Misura and Tonko Barac who finished second. The latter had a modest advantage upwind, but Stipanovic/Bilic had a big hedge downwind and extended hugely on the last leg. They are respectively fifth and sixth in the overall ranking

Day One of the 2021 Star European Championship in Split, Croatia, was just perfect for the 34 teams coming from 20 different nations. The sea breeze filled in from the prevalent South-West, and it stabilized at 12-15 knots for perfect champagne sailing conditions. After a 30-minute postponement, two races were completed on the beautifully set course by JK Mornar Yacht Club, the organizing authority with the International Star Class.

In three weeks’, the Sailing Club JK Mornar will open its doors to the 40+ teams signed up to attend the 2021 Star Europeans. JK Mornar is situated in the heart of beautiful Split in Croatia - where the successful 2016 Eastern Hemisphere was held (won by American Augie Diaz with Brazilian crew Henry Boening).

The 17th District Championship will serve as warm up to the Silver event, for those who will have time to invest in some yacht racing after a year short of regattas. The club has a strict safety protocol to guarantee everyone’s health, and hotels and restaurants in Croatia are opened, especially the dehors, so you won’t have to lock yourself up in a hotel room or apartment. The club will send confirmation letters for participants to allow travelling in Europe and in order to avoid quarantine when going back in their home countries, when required.

The competition will be high, with brilliant sailors like World Champion Enrico Chieffi, European Champion Diego Negri, Olympians - and reigning European Champion - Piet Eckert , America's Cup helmsman Flavio Favini and local hero and Laser Olympic Silver medalist Tonči Stipanović.

Click the link below and join the action from May 24th to 29th in Split, Croatia, organized by the Star Class and Sailing Club JK Mornar.

https://2021euro.starchampionships.org/entry/2021_european