News
2023 Star European Championship Open
From 24 to 29 October 2023, the Yacht Club de Cannes is organising the European Star Championship. Nearly 45 competitors are expected in the harbour of Cannes, with an exceptional line-up.
IRC European Championship, 12M JI European Championship and now European Star Championship In addition to the 45th Royal Regattas, the Yacht Club de Cannes continues a season that is as dense as it is brilliant in the organisation of prestigious regattas, where its know-how is unanimously recognised. The Star, designed by the American architect William Gardner in 1910, remains an incredibly innovative boat, often copied, never equalled with its seven-metre hull with sharp chines, its keel equipped with a bulb and its rig as slender as it is thin and fragile. An Olympic sailboat from 1932 to 2012, the Star has seen the greatest champions, including the Finn specialists, who, after having won everything on the former Olympic solitaire, have passed with the same success on this double-handed keelboat of rare complexity. It should be noted that the Star is a boat that requires weight at abseiling.
Double quintal!
Most of the crews are close to 200 kilos on the scales! Multiple world and European champion in Finn, with four participations in the Olympic Games, Hans Spitzauer is the perfect illustration of these sailors pursuing their careers in Star. Together with his faithful accomplice Christian Nehammer, the Austrian is undoubtedly one of the favourites. He will have to count on a pack of Italians who have won countless European and world titles. Diego Negri, three Olympians, double Star World Champion in 2021 and 2022, double European Champion, is undoubtedly the man to beat, especially as he is still as formidable as ever in "his" Mediterranean waters. Enrico Chieffi, former CEO of the Nautor Swan shipyard, now at the head of Slam, was 470 world champion with his brother, before racing in Star as a more than wise "amateur". European Champion 2021, he is an exceptional helmsman. And what about Flavio Favini, his two America's Cup campaigns, his nine world titles in Melges, Mumm 30, 6 M JI and Farr 40! He, like the vast majority of competitors, continues to sail at the highest level after more than fifty years of racing. In the setting of Cannes, where the weather is often blessed at this time of year, we will also find the Franco-Argentinian architect Juan Kouyoumdjian, who not only designed many of the winning boats of the crewed round the world race, but also reworked the hull of the Star, exploiting the rules, and who in all the major international championships shines with his touch at the helm and his tactical vision. Two French crews will defend the French colors in Cannes, including Raoul Dabry, captain on long-haul Airbus and trainer at Air France, associated with his accomplice Tristan Cotte.
An exceptional season for the Cannes Yacht Club
Jean-François Cutugno, President of the Yacht Club de Cannes, said: "This European Championship is the end of a fantastic season, and it is a great honour to be able to host one of the most prestigious series there is, and with so many champions. It should not be forgotten that in addition to the organisation of major events in Cannes, the club's racers have had an exceptional year in regattas, such as Matisse Pacaud and Lucie de Gennes, once again junior world champions in 470 for the third year in a row, Maxime Nocher, European vice-champion in Kitefoil, or Julien Rattotti, world champion in Wingfoil... Not to mention all our young riders and future "starists" who have won a string of national titles..."
Youth & Junior Star Sailors! U30 Star Teams!
We would like to hear from you!
If you are considering attending this event, send an email so that we can help you with the entry process and provide you with support.
The Class will do our best to help with
· Charter Boats – free or low-cost
· Accommodation – free or low-cost
· Reduced entry fees – discounted for U30 teams (if organizers agree to IGC policy)
· Other support – transportation, vehicle, stipend etc...
Should you be serious about this event, we can certainly provide with a list of all benefits available for you and your team. But we can only do this if we know you are coming, so:
Do not hesitate to reach out to the Class today with your specific needs, we might already be working on a solution.
TONCI STIPANOVIC AND TUDOR BILIC (CRO) ARE THE 2022 STAR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS
Two bullets on the very last day of the 2022 Star European Championship delivered the continental title unquestionably to Tonci Stipanovic and Tudor Bilic. It was a hard fought battle for the Croatian team who right after they christened their new Star boat here in Copenhagen, had a very bad day to start the Championship. A little disheartened, they began the climb to the top on day 2, when they finished first and third, to finalize the work today with two wins to undoubtedly earn the right to engrave their name on the 40-year-old Star European Championship Trophy.
HEROIC DAY IN COPENHAGEN AT THE 2022 STAR EUROPEANS
A broken mast followed by a second place for Hubert Merkelbach and Kilian Weise
A great come back by Tonci Stipanovic and Tudor Bilic best of the day
The day started out gloomy and grey, with cold wind blowing over 10 knots due to increase up to 15/18. You could feel the energy building up on the docks: a mix of excitement and terror for the 51-boat fleet which is very heterogeneous in age and experience, made of sailors from in their twenties to ones in their seventies and eighties, of big Star Class veteran and newcomers, of Olympic medalist wanting to prove their selves and a petite lady.
GREAT CONDITIONS WELCOME THE 51-BOAT FLEET IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
The 2022 Star Europeans started today hosted by the Royal Danish Yacht Club
Strong breeze, sun and a very eager fleet are the ingredients that made Day One of the 2022 Star Europeans a memorable one. The wind was coming from West/North-West at 10 to 15 knots with gusts of 18, making it challenging yet compelling, for the 53-boat fleet to manage their way on the course on both races.