Four days into the 2026 IFCA Fin Slalom European Championships, the competition in Hvide Sande, Denmark, continues to deliver close racing, a variety of conditions and plenty of movement on the leaderboard.

With 59 athletes from 13 countries competing for the Men’s and Women’s European titles, the championship has already seen a varied mix of sunshine, shifting winds, rain and strong racing conditions. Despite the challenges presented by the weather, the sailors have been able to put a significant number of races and eliminations on the scoreboard, setting up an exciting final stage to the championship.

In the Women’s fleet, Jenna Gibson GBR-96 continues to set the pace. The current Slalom World Champion has maintained her position at the top through the opening days, but the battle behind her is becoming increasingly close. Justine Lemétayer FRA-171 and Femke vd Veen NED-2251 are now tied on points, with Mae Davico FRA-203 and Charlotte Philip FRA-1194 also remaining within striking distance.

The Men’s fleet has seen even more movement. Nicolas Prien GER-7 has established himself as the sailor to beat and continues to lead after six eliminations. His performance in Elimination 6 was particularly impressive, winning all three of his heats and taking his tally to 16 heat wins from 18.

Behind Prien, the fight is wide open. Sacha Fortune FRA-655 has moved into second place, with Brendan Lorho FRA-113 now third. Taty Frans NB-9 sits fourth, while Thiémé FRA-888 has entered the Top 5, adding another new name to an already competitive fleet.

The championship has also introduced a new qualifying format for the Men’s fleet, designed to provide a more efficient racing structure for the number of competitors on the start line. The format allows the lower-seeded sailors to qualify through preliminary heats before joining the main elimination structure, helping avoid excessively large or small heats.

Day four began with an early start and promising winds, but the conditions once again proved challenging. Two qualifying heats were completed in the morning before the wind gradually faded. Despite several hours of waiting and a brief improvement around midday, the breeze did not return sufficiently and racing was eventually called off for the day.

With the final two days of the championship remaining, the competition is now entering its decisive phase. The third discard will come into play after seven completed Men’s eliminations, potentially reshaping the standings as the sailors fight for every point.

Friday brings a 09:00 skippers’ meeting and a first possible start at 09:30, with the fleet ready to make the most of every opportunity on the water.

The European titles are still up for grabs, and the final chapter in Hvide Sande is set to be an exciting one.

By IFCA Management
images: Lukas K Stiller
video: Diogo Cardoso

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