Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2026: Razjaren Wins Overall, Storm Capital Takes Corinthian Title

The 2026 Melges 24 European Sailing Series has concluded after a wide-ranging season of close racing at some of Europe’s leading sailing venues. Razjaren of Croatia secured the Overall title, while Norway’s Storm Capital claimed the Corinthian crown.

The Series attracted 101 teams from 15 countries: Austria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden and the United States.

The ranking closed following Event 10 in Pula. Nine regattas were completed during the season after the scheduled Sønderborg (DEN) event was cancelled. In accordance with the Notice of Race, each team’s four best event results counted towards the final ranking. No team competed in more than four Series events.

The Melges 24 European Championship in Tønsberg carried an enhanced coefficient of 1.2, recognising the importance of the continental championship and the strength of its 42-boat fleet. 

Razjaren Claims the Overall Title

Razjaren (CRO) entered the final event in Pula in third place, behind Melgina (ITA) and Storm Capital (NOR), but produced a commanding performance when it mattered most.

After finishing third in the opening race, Ante Ćesić and his crew won the next six races in Pula. Their victory in Pula added 16 points to their Series score and lifted Razjaren to the top of the final ranking with 109 points, for the second year in a row.

The Croatian campaign, owned by Łukasz Podniesiński and helmed during the season by Ante Ćesić and Karlo Kuret, completed a remarkable year that also included victory at the Melges 24 European Championship in Tønsberg.

Melgina, led by Paolo Brescia, finished second with 105 points following another consistently strong season. The Italian team opened the Series with victory in Opatija and remained in contention for the title until the final event.

Storm Capital, led by Peder Jahre, placed third overall with 95 points. The Norwegian team achieved its final score from only three events, including victory at the Nordic Championship in Hankø and a strong result as the Corinthian European Champion title in Tønsberg.

Panjic’s second place in Pula moved Luka Šangulin’s Croatian team into fifth overall, while Taki 4 / Taki 5 (ITA) by Niccolò Bertola completed the season in sixth after winning the Trieste event and the historic Coppa Tito Nordio.

Tønsberg Provides a Decisive Boost

The European Championship in Tønsberg proved decisive in the Series. With a 42-boat fleet and an enhanced coefficient of 1.2, the event offered more ranking points than any other stop on the calendar.

Razjaren’s European title earned the Croatian team 50.4 points, providing a major boost towards its final winning total of 109. Tønsberg also had a significant influence on the other top teams. Storm Capital collected 46.8 points, Taki 4 / Taki 5 earned 45.6, Helly Hansen II Lisa added 44.4, Team Bagdad Prospects secured 40.8, and Panjic gained 38.4.

These results rewarded the teams that competed at the season’s largest and most important European event, helping to shape both the Overall and Corinthian podiums.

Strong Northern Participation Shapes the Rankings

A total of 101 different teams from 15 countries competed during the season. As many teams participated in several regattas, the nine completed events recorded 192 entries in total.

The three events held in Norway featured some of the season’s largest fleets. Trondheim welcomed 24 teams, Hankø attracted 25, and the European Championship in Tønsberg brought together a season-high fleet of 42 boats. Together with the 29 teams competing in Riva del Garda, these were the four largest events of the season.

The strong participation in Norway offered valuable ranking opportunities for the Northern European teams. Storm Capital, Helly Hansen II Lisa, Rett Rundt Hjørnet, Blow, Team Bagdad Helly Hansen and Team Bagdad Prospects all collected significant points from the Norwegian events, helping six Corinthian teams from Norway finish inside the Overall Top 10.

The numbers underline the Melges 24 Class's continued strength in Northern Europe, while also showing the importance of competing in events with larger international fleets.

Storm Capital Leads a Strong Corinthian Fleet

Storm Capital’s 95 points secured the 2026 Melges 24 European Sailing Series Corinthian title and placed the team third in the Overall ranking. The result highlighted the Corinthian competition's exceptional strength throughout the season. Six Corinthian teams finished inside the Overall Top 10, with Norwegian crews occupying each of the first eight places in the final Corinthian ranking.

Helly Hansen II Lisa, owned by Kristoffer Spone, finished second among the Corinthians with 89 points and fourth overall.

Rett Rundt Hjørnet by Herman Horn-Johannessen placed third in the Corinthian division with 77 points, followed by 2026 Melges 24 Norwegian Champion, Peder Nergaard's Blow on 75 points. Team Bagdad Helly Hansen by Kristian Nergaard and Team Bagdad Prospects by Tomas Mathisen and Hans Herman Nergaard, completed the Corinthian Top 6, with both teams scoring 73 points.

A Season Across Europe

The Series began in Opatija, where Melgina secured victory on countback after a closely fought opening event. Taki 4 followed with an impressive win in Trieste, while White Room (GER) by Michael Tarabochia claimed the international title at the Austrian Championship on Lake Attersee.

The northern circuit brought victories for Blow at the Norwegian Championship in Trondheim, Itsi-Bitsi (DEN) by Torben Mauritzen at the Danish Championship in Struer and Storm Capital at the Nordic Championship in Hankø.

Michele Paoletti's Strambapapà (ITA) won the Italian Championship in Riva del Garda before the fleet gathered in Tønsberg for the European Championship, where Razjaren claimed the Overall European title and Storm Capital took the Corinthian victory.

The Series concluded in Pula, on the same waters that will host the Melges 24 World Championship in 2027.

Razjaren’s six consecutive race victories secured both the Pula regatta win and the European Sailing Series title, while Italy’s Akua (ITA), led by Sergio Caramel, was the top Corinthian team at the final event.

Official Prizegiving in Pula

The official prizegiving for the 2026 Melges 24 European Sailing Series will be held during the 2027 Pre-Worlds Regatta in Pula, Croatia, from 14 to 16 May. The event will also serve as the 2027 Croatian Open Melges 24 Championship. The perpetual trophies and medals will be presented to the leading teams in both the Overall and Corinthian divisions.

The regatta will provide an ideal opportunity for the teams to come to the Pula racecourse and complete their final preparations for the 2027 Melges 24 World Championship, scheduled from 29 May to 5 June.

Looking Ahead to the 2027 Melges 24 European Sailing Series

Most 2027 Melges 24 European Sailing Series events have already been published, giving teams an early opportunity to begin planning their next European campaign. The final Series calendar will be confirmed shortly. In the meantime, the published events, dates, and venues are available in the official Melges 24 Events Calendar.

The International Melges 24 Class Association extends its sincere thanks to all the National Melges 24 Class Associations, host clubs, race committees, volunteers, partners and local organisers whose commitment and hard work made the 2026 European Sailing Series possible. Their dedication delivered high-quality racing across Europe and once again demonstrated the strength, cooperation and spirit of the international Melges 24 community.