An afternoon start on the fifth and penultimate day of the 2026 International Six Metre European Championship on Lake Geneva, Switzerland saw the event’s 50-strong fleet of 30 Classic and 20 Open yachts complete the seventh and penultimate race of the series in six-to-seven-knot breezes.
In the Open Championship, a second place for SUI145 Eau Vive, skippered by Jamie Hilton, was enough to promote the Swiss boat back into the overall lead. Meanwhile, in the Classic Championship, His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain’s ESP16 Bribon is on top of the leaderboard tonight.
At the first windward mark for the Classic fleet, Louis Heckly’s FRA11 Fun was first around – followed by Ossi Paija’s FIN80 Astrée III in second, Esben Poulsson’s GRE2 Aera in third, Reinhard Suhner’s SUI45 Mecara in fourth, and Erica in fifth.
However, confusion reigned at the leeward marks as the leading five boats rounded the gate incorrectly. First to round correctly was Andy Postle’s GBR33 Nirvana, followed by Bribon. After the race, Fun, Astrée III, Aera, Mecara, and Erica were scored ‘NSC’ (did not sail course) in the official results.
After subsequent protests lodged ashore against the race committee the disqualified boats were given redress equivalent to their finishing position on the water.
Today’s scores now see Bribon on top in the Classic Championship with 16 points. Second is Mecara (18 points), with Erica third – also on 18 points.
In the Open Championship, Foti Lykiardopulo’s GRE1 Aera crew recorded their third race win of this series, having led off the start and around every mark.
Second was Eau Vive, with Jeremy Thorp’s GBR89 Battlecry in third. In the overall standings, Eau Vive leads on 16 points, from Eric Monnin’s SUI100 Duclop (sixth today) in second (17 points), and Dieter Schön’s IVB145 Momo in third (21 points).
The scene is set for a final showdown tomorrow between the top few in both Championships.
At last night’s European Championships Gala Dinner at the Société Nautique de Genève, the original painting by French marine artist Marc Berthier, which is featured in the official event poster, was auctioned off by International Six Metre President, Louis Heckly. The highest bid of several thousand Euros came from a French sailor. The proceeds of the auction went directly to the International Six Metre Archive.
Racing at the International Six Metre European Championships hosted by the Société Nautique de Genève on Lake Geneva concludes tomorrow, July 24 – with the eighth and final race of the series scheduled to start at 1000.
International 6 Metre Association 