The 2026 EurILCA Europa Cup Lithuania concluded yesterday in Nida after three days of racing in challenging and varied conditions. More than 50 sailors from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Greece, and Ecuador competed across the ILCA 4, ILCA 6, and ILCA 7 classes.
In the ILCA 4 fleet, Mila Krum claimed overall victory ahead of Ugnė Trimonytė, while Latvia’s Toms Andrejevs completed the podium in third place. Krum won four of the eight races sailed, securing her first EurILCA Europa Cup victory.
“The competition was really tough. There were a lot of strong competitors, so I am very happy that I managed to win. This is my first victory in the EurILCA competition, and to achieve it in Nida makes it even more special,” said Krum.
The ILCA 6 title went to Tadas Ažukas, with Latvia’s Karlina Vaivodė finishing second and Rokas Rimša taking third place.
“This first place means a lot to me. Now I have a few weeks for training and recovery before the next competition in Poland,” said Ažukas.
Reflecting on the event, he highlighted the importance of both physical and tactical skills in sailing:
“It’s not enough to be physically prepared. You need to understand the wind, recognise its changes, and adapt quickly. You cannot dwell on mistakes after a bad race—you have to learn from them and keep fighting. This week brought a wide range of conditions. In stronger winds I felt confident, while in lighter winds a good start and maintaining speed became crucial. Throughout the regatta, I focused on staying concentrated and avoiding unnecessary mistakes.”
The ILCA 7 fleet was dominated by Latvia’s Karlis Junkers, who won all eight races to secure a commanding overall victory. Rokas Germanavičius finished second, while Marius Antanavičius took third place.
The regatta tested competitors and race officials alike. On the opening day, shifting winds in the Curonian Lagoon rotated almost 180 degrees. Day two offered only a short window of suitable conditions, requiring efficient race management, while the final day began with moderate breeze before the wind gradually faded, becoming almost calm by the finish of the second race.
Despite the demanding conditions, the international World Sailing judging team successfully completed the full programme, with eight races scored in all three classes.
The event marked the return of the EurILCA Europa Cup to Nida for the first time since 2017. Alongside the Europa Cup, the traditional Nida Sailing Week regatta was also held, featuring competition for the Optimist class.
Report by Agustín Argüelles – EurILCA | Text and photos provided by Matas Kabaila, ILCA District Officer for Lithuania.
