The 2025 Open Finn European Championship is edging towards its conclusion with a compelling mix of consistency and resurgence from the the top 10 protagonists.
France’s Valérian Lebrun, who has led since the opening day, remains firmly in control of the championship after eight races. But the story of the day belonged to Federico Colaninno, the Italian sailor who won both of Friday’s races with a blend of boldness and precision that thrilled the local supporters gathered along the waterfront.
Colaninno’s double bullet pushed him into second overall, 16 points behind Lebrun, and just one point ahead of Estonia’s seasoned campaigner Deniss Karpak, who holds third. With two races remaining on Saturday, the title remains Lebrun’s to lose — but the margins behind him are anything but comfortable.
Get all areas access to Yacht Racing Life with a Full Membership free 30-day trial. There's no obligation and you can cancel at anytime.
Racing was delayed once again as sailors waited for the sea breeze to fill in. It arrived, eventually, offering 7–12 knots and just enough pressure to challenge but not punish.
In the day’s opener, Colaninno rounded the first mark in command and never looked back. In the lightest breeze of the week, Hungary’s Elemer Peter Haidekker—a relative unknown in this elite fleet—demonstrated calm and control to finish second ahead of Italy’s Roberto Strapatti, while many of the leading contenders struggled. Lebrun managed only 29th.
Haidekker, one of the lighter sailors in the fleet at 85kg, capitalized on the marginal conditions. “It was a very good race for me,” he said. “I had a strong start and good speed in the light breeze. These are my conditions.”
The breeze picked up slightly for the second race, and again Colaninno was clinical, leading from start to finish. Lebrun, this time, was more assertive. After rounding sixth, he mounted a strong downwind charge when the Oscar flag signaled free pumping, overtaking several boats to finish second. Defending champion Alessandro Marega, also from Italy, finished third.
While Colaninno is mounting a late charge, Lebrun’s week has been defined by steadiness — a quality that has often separated champions from challengers in this class of sailing. The Frenchman has rarely been spectacular, but his ability to limit damage even on off days has made the difference.
Further down the fleet, Britain's Nick Craig, a veteran of multiple world titles across different classes, produced his best day of the regatta. His twin top-10 finishes lifted him into the top 10 overall, a position that reflects both his talent and resilience.
“It was more my kind of wind strength,” Craig said. “Fully powered up but still manageable. It’s great to be in a fleet this size again — 110 boats on one start line is something you don’t see much these days.”
Craig was also full of praise for the race organizers. “The race management has been excellent. It’s a tough job with this many boats, but they’ve kept us racing and kept it fair.”
As the championship heads into its final day, nerves will be tested. With most of the front-runners carrying at least one high score, the potential for a major shake-up remains.
Lebrun, Colaninno, and Karpak have emerged as the trio to beat, but the final act in Naples promises uncertainty — and, if the past four days are any guide, no shortage of drama.
Top 10 After Eight Races:
Tensions were high on day three of the 61st Congressional Cup as the battle for the last semi-final berth intensified on the waters off the Belmont Pier in Long Beach.
An independent subscriber-supported website, newsletter, and podcast. Featuring exclusive stories and interviews about Grand Prix sailboat racing. Subscribe to receive our free email newsletter. Get full access with a paid subscription.
Subscribe for free to receive our email newsletter.
