Matías Capizzano

03/06/2026

02/06/2026

All is set for the 2026 ISCYRA Eastern Hemisphere Championship, part of the KÉSZ Group Balaton Star Sailing Week, hosted by Spartacus Sailing Club on the waters of Lake Balaton.

International Star Class Yacht Racing Association
Spartacus Vitorlás Egylet

01/06/2026

Spitzauer and Nehammer Crowned District 17 Champions at KÉSZ Group Balaton Star Sailing Week

Lake Balaton, Hungary – Austria's Hans Spitzauer and Christian Nehammer secured the District 17 Championship title at the KÉSZ Group Balaton Star Sailing Week, hosted by Spartacus Sailing Club on Lake Balaton.

With only one race remaining on the final day, Spitzauer and Nehammer had already done enough to guarantee overall victory. Thanks to the points advantage they had built during the previous races and with the discard rule coming into effect, the Austrian duo clinched the championship before the start of the last race.

The final race was sailed under light rain and southerly winds ranging from 12 to 16 knots, providing excellent conditions for the fleet. Germany's Daniel Fritz and Jan Eli Gravad finished the event on a high note by winning the final race and securing second place overall.

Third place on the overall podium went to the German team of Hubert Merkelbach and Markus Koy after a consistent performance throughout the championship.

In the Under-30 division, Austria's Johannes Sablatnig and Tom Norek claimed top honors, highlighting the strength of the next generation of Star sailors.
The District 17 Championship marked the opening event of the KÉSZ Group Balaton Star Sailing Week, bringing together an international fleet that included world and European champions, Olympic medalists, and some of the most accomplished sailors in the Star Class.
Attention now turns to the ISCYRA Eastern Hemisphere Championship, the headline event of the KÉSZ Group Balaton Star Sailing Week. Sailors from 11 nations and a fleet of 34 teams will take to the waters of Lake Balaton to battle for one of the most prestigious titles in the Star Class.

Spartacus Vitorlás Egylet
International Star Class Yacht Racing Association

01/06/2026

Three races were completed today at the District 17 Championship, held as part of the KÉSZ Group Balaton Star Sailing Week on Lake Balaton and organized by Spartacus Sailing Club.

With predominantly southerly winds ranging from 16 knots at the start of the day to around 6 knots in the final race, competitors enjoyed excellent racing conditions. After three races, Austria's Hans Spitzauer and Christian Nehammer moved to the top of the leaderboard with an impressive scoreline of 2-1-1.

Germany's Daniel Fritz and Jan Eli Gravad are currently in second place after posting results of 5-2-2, while Canada's Ross MacDonald and George Iverson occupy third overall with scores of 4-5-6.

The championship is set to conclude tomorrow with one scheduled race, when the District 17 title will be decided and the final podium positions confirmed.

International Star Class Yacht Racing Association
Spartacus Vitorlás Egylet

31/05/2026

Tricky Winds on the First Day of the District 17 Championship

The Balaton Star Sailing Week got underway today in Hungary. The District 17 Championship, which will lead the fleet into the Eastern Hemisphere Championship, opened with challenging and shifting wind conditions.

The first scheduled race was abandoned due to unstable winds, but the fleet later completed two tactical races in light southerly breezes.

The first race victory went to Marc Skipwich and Lars Kangasniemi Doett of Switzerland, while the second race saw a start-to-finish triumph for the Gereben brothers from Hungary.

Consistency proved crucial in the difficult conditions. With a 2nd and a 5th place finish, Trygve Liljestrand and Samuel Goncalves lead the overall standings after the first day.

More stable winds are expected tomorrow at the KÉSZ Group Balaton Star Sailing Week, setting the stage for another exciting day of racing.

Spartacus Vitorlás Egylet
International Star Class Yacht Racing Association

28/05/2026

2026 Optimist North American Championship. © Matias Capizzano

Optiworld
Canadian Optimist Dinghy Association
Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron

25/05/2026

Races Day 2. 2026 Optimist North American Championship. @ Matias Capizzano

Canadian Optimist Dinghy Association
Optiworld
Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron

25/05/2026

Races Day 1. 2026 Optimist North American Championship. @ Matias Capizzano

Canadian Optimist Dinghy Association
Optiworld
Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron

23/05/2026

2026 Optimist North American Championship. Training and Opening ceremony. @ Matias Capizzano

Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron
Optiworld
Canadian Optimist Dinghy Association

26/04/2026

Last day. 2026 USODA OPTIMIST TEAM TRIALS / @ Matias Capizzano

Fairhope Yacht Club
US Opti Sailing