Jack Jennings and Pedro Trouche conquer the Star European Championship

After four races at the 2023 Star European Championship in Cannes, France, for the numerous 45 boat fleet there are two new champions, Jack Jennings (USA) and Pedro Trouche (BRA). They claimed the leadership of the ranking on day one, and like everyone else, had to patiently wait ashore for two days for the wind to drop, and then confirmed their position today, on the final day, after two very hard races with winds up to twenty knots and very challenging chop.

"We've just finished the Star European Championship, and this win has  to be shared with my crew Pedro Touche and our wonderful coach, I am very thankful to them and to our training partners Hubert Merkelbach and Scott Barnard before the regatta started, I think that helped really a lot", said Jack Jennings after the prizegiving ceremony. "We got four good races in even though we had a two day forced stop, they were sailed in excellent strong conditions, there was a great competition among the top five boats, the sailors have amazing resumes, Jorgen Shoenherr, Flavio Favini, they are fantastic athletes and so I have to thank my team for making this happen".

"It was a tough week for everybody, for us, for the other 44 teams, and for the Race Committee, as the wind was strong and had to be managed", added Pedro Trouche. "I am very happy for the second silver star with Jack, it is now time to celebrate".

This final day started out with winds building and the course was set in the Bay of St.Maxime, with a Southwesterly breeze at 15-18 knots. Two-time World Champion Diego Negri with Alberto Ambrosini won the first race of the day as the wind was getting stronger for race number four – second of today. A few teams did not finish Race Three and a few other opted for not even starting Race Four, as the breeze was gusting to twenty knots. It was a five leg final race, and Jack Jennings with Pedro Trouche wanted to seal the regatta and went on to claim the second bullet of this short score board.

In the overall ranking Jorgen Shoenherr and Markus Koy won the silver medal, and Italian America's Cup sailor, Flavio Favini with Nicolas Seravalle with the bronze, after a fourth place at the past Worlds in Scarlino in September.

The 2023 Star European Championship ended with the prize giving at the Yacht Club de Cannes, and the teams are now on their way back home, with the European season coming close to the winter break, while there is still one Silver medal up for grab at the Star South American Championship in Rio de Janeiro from November 30th to December 3rd, 2023.

Provisional Top 5 (after two races)

1. JENNINGS / TROUCHE (USA / BRA)
2. SHOENHERR / KOY (DEN / GER)
3. FAVINI / SERAVALLE (ITA)
4. NEGRI / AMBROSINI (ITA)
5. COPPO / KLEEN (ITA / GER)