Szabo and Iverson lead after day one of the Star European Championship
The 2026 Star European Championship got underway today on the IJsselmeer with two highly tactical races in conditions that surprised even the most experienced competitors. Warm temperatures, blue skies and sunshine welcomed the 76 teams from more than 20 nations – a far cry from the typical Medemblik weather remembered by generations of Star sailors.
An easterly breeze of around 12–13 knots greeted the fleet for the opening race, producing classic Star conditions during the first beat. As the race unfolded, however, the wind gradually eased to around 7–8 knots, rewarding crews able to adapt quickly to the changing conditions.
Leading from the first beat all the way to the finish were five-time Olympic medalist Robert Scheidt (BRA) and 2008 Olympian Austin Sperry (USA), who delivered a flawless performance to claim the opening race victory. Germany's Hubert Merkelbach and Markus Koy crossed the line in second, while two-time Star World Champion Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi (ITA) completed the podium in third.
The second race got underway shortly after the fleet returned from the first, with the wind remaining from the east but settling at around 7 knots. The lighter breeze made for another tactical contest, and several of the championship favorites found themselves on the wrong side of the first beat. Both Scheidt/Sperry and Negri/Lambertenghi rounded the windward mark well below mid-fleet after difficult starts.
While Scheidt and Sperry mounted an impressive comeback to finish twelfth, the race belonged to Denmark's Jørgen Schoenherr and Britain's Ed Wright, who sailed consistently to take the victory. George Szabo and George Iverson (USA) finished second, while Michael Schulz and Andriy Shafranyuk completed the top three.
After two races, consistency rather than race victories defines the overall standings. Thanks to an eighth and a second place, George Szabo and George Iverson lead the championship overnight. Schoenherr and Wright sit second overall after their race win, while Scheidt and Sperry complete the provisional podium following their dominant opening-race victory.
The fleet returned ashore to the daily prize-giving ceremony and Happy Hour, where sailors gathered to relive the opening day's racing and look ahead to tomorrow. With another two races scheduled and a forecast calling for similar sunshine with just a few more knots of breeze, the stage is set for another exciting day on one of sailing’s most iconic racecourses.
