Ante Cesic and the crew of CRO 867 Razjaren have clinched the Melges 24 European Championship for the second time, sealing the title on Day 4 in Tønsberg, Norway, with one race still to sail. Two bullet victories on the penultimate day gave the Croatian team an unassailable lead, echoing their triumph at the 2024 championship on home waters in Split. Owner Lukasz Podniesinski and the crew can celebrate early, but the battles for the remaining Overall podium places and the Corinthian crown remain wide open heading into Friday’s finale.
After Wednesday’s punishing heavy-weather racing, the international Melges 24 fleet returned to more hospitable conditions on Thursday. During the morning briefing, sailors and officials reflected on the equipment failures and incidents from the previous day. Despite the damage sustained, the consensus was that the extreme conditions had produced an unforgettable day of challenging and exhilarating racing.
Another sunny afternoon greeted the fleet as Race 7 got underway at 13:05. Races 7 and 8 were sailed over 4.2 nautical miles in a south-southwesterly breeze of approximately nine knots. The wind eased to around seven knots for Race 9, which covered four nautical miles in a southerly breeze.
Razjaren opened proceedings with consecutive victories in Races 7 and 8. A fifth place in Race 9 completed a scoreline of 1-1-5, making the Croatian team the Overall Boat of the Day and giving them an unbeatable championship lead.
“We are European Champions with one day to spare,” said Ante Cesic. “At the beginning, I told the crew that it would not be easy because there are so many strong teams here. We decided to fight for every place and every metre, and that is exactly what we have done from the start. After the first day we were third overall, after the next racing day we were second, and now, before the final day, we are first. We are very happy to become European Champions for the second time.”
Cesic also acknowledged the unfamiliar conditions and the quality of the Norwegian fleet. “The conditions in the northern countries are quite different from what we are used to in the Mediterranean. There are much bigger waves here, and we were surprised by how strong the Norwegian fleet is. Winning this championship was not easy, but we fought for every metre and every place.”
Razjaren leads the standings on 22 points and will officially receive the European Championship trophy at Friday’s prize-giving ceremony.
Although the Overall title has been decided, the fight for silver and bronze remains very much alive ahead of the final race. Paolo Brescia’s Melgina (ITA 854) sits second on 36 points after adding scores of 4-9-10 on the day. The Italian team had led the championship through six races. Vladimir Prosikhin’s Nika (MON 860) enjoyed a consistent day with scores of 11-3-3 and moved into third overall on 44 points.
Several chasing Corinthian teams are also within striking distance of the Overall podium. Storm Capital (NOR 751) holds fourth on 48 points, followed by TAKI 5 (ITA 878) on 51 points and Helly Hansen II Lisa (NOR 697) on 57 points.
Kristoffer Spone and Helly Hansen II Lisa produced a remarkable comeback after a difficult heavy-weather day. The team recovered from 17th in Race 7 to finish second in Race 8, then won Race 9 in both the Overall and Corinthian divisions. With two Corinthian race wins, Helly Hansen II Lisa was named Corinthian Boat of the Day.
“Yesterday it was really blowing,” said Spone. “We are normally fast in heavy winds, but it was extremely strong and we had a very tough day. Today, we were on the wrong side of the shift during the first upwind leg of the opening race, but we fought our way back. We then finished second in the next race and won the final race, making us the top Corinthian team of the day. We congratulated Razjaren because they have sailed a great championship. Now we will fight for every place in the final race tomorrow.”
SWE 715, helmed by Jonas Berntsson, won the Corinthian division in Race 7. Helly Hansen II Lisa followed with Corinthian victories in Races 8 and 9.
Only nine points separate the top three Corinthian teams, leaving that championship completely open ahead of Friday’s deciding race. Storm Capital, helmed by Peder Jahre, continues to lead on 48 points. Niccolò Bertola’s TAKI 5 is just three points adrift on 51, while Helly Hansen II Lisa has climbed to third on 57. The final race will determine which team becomes the 2026 Melges 24 Corinthian European Champion.
Race Officer Eirik Brekke expressed satisfaction with the quality of racing and the technology supporting the Race Committee. “We completed three high-quality races in lighter winds, with very stable conditions across the course,” said Brekke. “The combination of GPS buoys and the Vakaros system gives us excellent control of the course. We can make quick adjustments immediately before the start and also during a race. Both systems provide us with valuable information. Without this technology, we would not have been able to complete nine races by the end of today.”
One race remains on Friday to complete the full ten-race championship schedule. The Competitors’ Briefing is scheduled for 09:00, followed by the first warning signal at 11:00.
Razjaren has the Overall title sewn up, but the remaining podium positions and the Corinthian championship will be settled on the final day. The 2026 Melges 24 European Overall and Corinthian champions will be celebrated on Friday afternoon at Tønsberg Sailing Club. The Overall champions will add their names to the Giorgio Zuccoli Trophy, while the Corinthian champions will be recorded on the Menno Meyer Corinthian European Trophy, continuing the proud history and legacy of the class.
The Melges 24 European Championship is hosted from 29 August to 4 September by Tønsberg Seilforening, in cooperation with the Norwegian Melges 24 Class Association and the International Melges 24 Class Association.
