The Wizner brothers make it into the gold group in an epic day of triumph for Spanish sailing in Germany

Photographer: Daniel and Nora García de la Casa. Photo: RFEV | Bernardi Bibiloni

Olympic Sailing | European Championship

The Wizner brothers secured their place in the 49er European Championship finals on a tactical day of racing. Paula Barceló and María Cantero returned to competition after their accident, demonstrating remarkable resilience in the waters off Eckernförde.

The waters of Eckernförde (AlemaniaThis Thursday, the 49er, 49er FX and Nacra 17 European Championship fleet presented a completely new challenge. After the fury of the previous day's wind, which exceeded 25 knots, the third day brought a softer and more unstable breeze, turning the racecourse into a chessboard where tactics and cunning were key to success.

The Wizners, in the fight for medals

In the highly competitive 49er class, which was concluding its qualifying phase, the tension was palpable. The reigning European champions, Martín y Jaime Wizner (RCN VigoThey secured their place in the prestigious Gold Group, which brings together the 25 best crews on the continent. Despite a challenging day, with scores of 14 and a discard of 25, the Galicians showed their mettle and finished in the eighteenth position overall, ready to fight to retain their title in the final series.

The other Spanish crews will sail in the silver group, such as the one formed by Álex y Pol Marsans (CN Arenys de Mar), who continue to show enormous potential. With four top-ten finishes in their group to date, they confirm their progression into the elite. "We're in a very tough fleet, with the best 49ers in the world. Here, mistakes are unforgivable, and you learn a lot, very quickly," he stated. Álexaware of the frenetic pace of the competition.

Resilience and talent at the 49er FX

The story of overcoming adversity of the day was led by Paula Barceló (CN Arenal) and María Cantero (RCN Gran Canaria). Following Wednesday's incident, which resulted in several stitches for BarcelóThe reigning world runners-up returned to the water with admirable determination. Competing in the silver group, they posted excellent splits of 3-21-1demonstrating that her competitive spirit remains intact. "I feel much better than yesterday. We felt comfortable, enjoying ourselves and focused on sailing," declared a satisfied Barceló.

In this same fleet, the best Spanish performance of the day went to Pati Suárez (RCN Vigo) and Melania Henke (RCN Palma), with solid scores of 5-7-2. Meanwhile, the young women of Team 2032, Stella Enríquez (RCN Vigo) and Nicola Sadler (CN Arenal), continue their valuable learning process. For EnríquezIt is "a very good opportunity to continue growing" surrounded by Olympic champions, with an eye on the Junior World Championships to be held in Holanda in just ten days.

Cardona and Van der Velden regain their rhythm

In the Olympic catamaran class, the Nacra 17, the Spanish crew made up of Joan Cardona (RCN Palma) and Nicole van der Velden They regained their form. After a forgettable Wednesday in which they failed to score any points, today they improved as the day progressed, closing with a excellent fourth place in the last race. This result propels them to twentieth position overall and boosts their morale for the decisive races remaining in the championship.