Lebrun Holds Nerve to Win 2025 Finn European Championship

Sailing in his tenth and most consequential contest of the regatta, the Frenchman found himself buried in the fleet, the overall title at risk. He needed to finish 14th or better. He crossed the line in 10th.

And with that, Lebrun became the 2025 Open Finn European Champion — his first major title in the storied singlehanded class — after a nerve-shredding final day in the Gulf of Naples.

“It was not easy at all,” Lebrun said, reflecting on a regatta that tested not just his sailing skill but his composure. “My best friend used to coach us, and he told me once, ‘If it’s too easy, you won’t be happy.’ So yes, I am happy. Very happy.”

The 34-year-old also retained the European Masters title, adding an extra layer of distinction to a week that demanded consistency, intuition, and no small amount of resilience.

He won by just five points over Italy’s Federico Colaninno, who pushed him relentlessly to the finish and walked away with the U29 title as well. Estonia’s Deniss Karpak, returning to the Finn after a four-year absence, finished third in a performance that confirmed the class still suits his powerful frame and seasoned instincts.

Saturday's racing began as it had all week — with a wait. Clouds hung low over the bay, suppressing the sea breeze, and delaying the start. When the races did get underway, conditions remained marginal. Shifty, soft winds forced sailors into riskier decisions and made gains — and losses — come quickly.

In the opening race, Italy’s Alessandro Marega finally found his form, leading from the first mark and sailing clear for a comfortable win. Lebrun was fourth. Colaninno, however, capitalized on a free-pumping leg to slip into second place — narrowing the gap to just 14 points and setting the stage for a potentially dramatic upset in the final race.

And for a while, that upset looked likely.

As the wind veered left, unfamiliar names surged to the front. Britain’s Roman Khodykin led around the first mark, trailed by Italy’s Fulvio de Simone and Norway’s Peder Nergaard. Lebrun was deep — somewhere in the 20s — and for the first time all week, no longer in control of his own destiny.

Colaninno, meanwhile, was sailing like a man possessed, carving through the fleet, dueling briefly with Britain's Nick Craig, and finally pulling clear to win his third race of the regatta. Craig was second, with Australia’s Paul McKenzie third.

Then came the long wait. The scoring math was simple but cruel. If Lebrun could claw back enough places to finish 14th or better, the title would be his. In the end, he finished 10th — just enough.

“It was tricky because the right side, which had worked all week, didn’t pay off,” Lebrun said. “I was very far back, and I had no idea at the finish whether I’d done enough.”

He had.

In a class known for its blend of power, technique, and tradition, this week in Naples reaffirmed the enduring appeal of the Finn. The 110-boat fleet, sailed as one, mixed Olympians with emerging young talents and seasoned veterans — a testament to the class’s unique ecosystem.

“The championship was exactly what we expect from the Finn class,” Lebrun said. “Tough racing, big fleet, different conditions. I think we’re all very tired.”

As the week closes, the strength of the class seems undeniable. The return of sailors like Karpak, the rise of sailors like Colaninno, and the resilience of veterans like Craig point to a promising future. The 2026 European Championship will head to Gdynia, Poland — a new chapter waiting to be written.

Final Results – 2025 Open Finn Europeans (after 10 races):

1. FRA 111 Valérian Lebrun – 32 pts
2. ITA 71 Federico Colaninno – 37 pts
3. EST 2 Deniss Karpak – 50 pts
4. ITA 1103 Alessandro Marega – 58 pts
5. ITA 51 Arkadii Kistanov – 59 pts
6. GBR 790 Nick Craig – 95 pts
7. POR 21 Filipe Silva – 108 pts
8. FRA 75 Laurent Hay – 109 pts
9. GBR 74 Lawrence Crispin – 111 pts
10. AUS 22 Paul McKenzie – 111 pts

U29 Podium

1. ITA 71 Federico Colaninno
2. POL 2 Michal Gonciarz
3. GER 323 Jonas Jung

Masters Podium

1. FRA 111 Valérian Lebrun
2. POR 21 Filipe Silva
3. SUI 7 Christoph Burger

Grand Masters Podium

1. GBR 790 Nick Craig
2. AUS 22 Paul McKenzie
3. GER 511 Fabian Lemmel

Great Grand Masters Podium

1. FRA 75 Laurent Hay
2. GBR 74 Lawrence Crispin
3. AUS 2 Rob McMillan

Legend Podium

1. ITA 79 Giuseppe Lino
2. ITA 7 Antonio Pitini
3. FRA 511 Claude Got