The 2025 ILCA 6 Youth European Championships & Open European Trophy officially got underway yesterday in Vilamoura with a lively opening ceremony that welcomed teams from around the world. Organised by Vilamoura Sailing in partnership with EurILCA, the event brings together 360 sailors and 87 coaches from 43 countries on Portugal’s southern coast.
After several days of training and equipment checks since April 11th, the competition begins today, with the first races scheduled for 11:00. The week ahead promises tight racing and challenging conditions as the next generation of Olympic contenders take to the water.
From April 14–16, sailors will compete in qualification races, aiming to secure a spot in the final series. The finals, held from April 17th to 19th, will group competitors into fleets based on their earlier results. Points will carry through, and the battle for the overall standings and the European titles will unfold over the closing days.
Building the anticipation, three of the four reigning ILCA 6 Youth European Champions are back to defend their titles:
- Alina Shapovalova (Ukraine), 2024 Girls’ Overall Champion
- Hermione Ghicas (Greece), 2024 Girls’ Under 17 Champion
- Alessandro Cirinei (Italy), 2024 Boys’ Under 17 Champion
They’ll face stiff competition from a number of experienced sailors, including past World and European youth medalists in both ILCA 6 and ILCA 4.
The countdown is on! Follow us throughout the week for daily updates, race results, and exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage.
Event website: https://2025-ilca6youth.eurilca-europeans.org/
Photo galleries: https://eurilca.smugmug.com/ILCA-European-Championships/2025/I6Y
Report by Agustín Argüelles – EurILCA | Photos by Prow Media.
