Euro test run

Booth said the European Championships represented a key opportunity to build on that result.

“The Europeans are a more important event, and our goal is to carry that momentum from Kiel into this week and put together another consistent regatta,” he said.

“We’d love to be fighting for a top-five finish and ultimately, we’d love to be back on the podium.

“Eckernförde is quite a closed bay, and the wind can be quite unstable, so I think having our heads out of the boat and staying consistent will be key. At the moment, the forecast looks like we’ll have good breeze for at least the first few days.”

The Booth siblings are part of a strong Australian Nacra 17 contingent. Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown will be looking to convert a run of top-10 finishes into a podium result, while Archie Gargett and Sarah Hoffman arrive after an impressive fourth place at the recent World Championships. Jake Liddell and Niamh Meehan complete the Australian Nacra 17 entries.

In the 49er fleet, Harry Price and Max Paul loom as one of Australia’s leading medal prospects after an outstanding World Championships campaign, where a difficult final day saw them narrowly miss the podium.

“We’ve had an awesome season so far with some good results,” said Price.

“We haven’t really stopped since the Worlds. We had a small break but have continued our training leading into this last part of the European season. We are hoping to put together another consistent series and improve our race playbook. It’s going to be a great week.”

Price and Paul will be joined by five other Australian crews in one of the regatta’s most competitive fleets.

In the 49erFX, Olympian Evie Haseldine continues to develop her new partnership with helm Brooke Wilson, with the pair gaining valuable international racing experience as they build towards future campaigns. Australian Sailing Futures athletes Darcy Robbins and Eva Atwood will also represent Australia in the class.

Australian Sailing Team High Performance Director Iain Brambell said the European Championships offered another important benchmark for the national squads.

It’s been encouraging to see a number of National Squad athletes consistently finishing inside the top 10 this season,” said Brambell.

“That consistency provides a strong foundation, and the next step is converting those performances into regular podium finishes.

“Pinnacle events such as the Europeans provide the ideal environment for athletes to build the confidence, boat handling and tactical execution required to contend for medals and deliver repeatable podium performances. The fleets are exceptionally strong, and every race presents another opportunity to test themselves against the world’s best.

“It’s an exciting period for these squads, with Europeans followed closely by the Olympic Classes Regatta in LA. Together, these events provide valuable opportunities for athletes to continue building confidence, refining their racing, and putting themselves in contention when it matters most.”

The 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships run from 7 to 12 July in Eckernförde, with medal races scheduled for Sunday 12 July.

Event details

Event: 2026 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships
Location: Eckernförde, Germany
Dates: 7–12 July 2026
Classes: 49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17
Fleet: 382 athletes from 37 nations
Australian classes represented: 49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17
Medal races: Sunday 12 July 2026

australiansailingteam.com.au