The 2026 J/24 European Championship concluded in Trelleborg Sweden, after four days of racing August 20-23 and 10 completed races in varied and demanding conditions. Twenty teams competed from five nations.
The European title went to ITA416 La Superba, helmed by Ignazio Bonanno. The experienced Italian team produced an exceptionally consistent series, scoring four race wins and finishing with just 15 points to secure the Championship by a seven-point margin.
For La Superba, the victory marked a third J/24 European Championship title, following previous wins in Sardinia in 2012 and Patras Greece in 2019. The team’s recent international record also includes silver at the 2023 J/24 World Championship and the 2024 European Championship.
Italian J/24 Class President Massimo Frigerio congratulated the team on maintaining such a highly competitive level over many years, highlighting the work of helmsman Ignazio Bonanno and the strength, preparation and teamwork of the entire crew.
The battle behind La Superba was equally strong.
GER5381 Schwere Jungs, helmed by Stefan Karsunke, finished second overall with 22 points. The German team scored three race victories and remained remarkably consistent throughout the 10-race series, adding three second places to their scoreline. Their performance kept the pressure on the leaders and earned them a well-deserved European silver medal.
Third place went to NED5440 The DutchJees, helmed by Dirk Olyslagers, with 27 points. The Dutch team built a strong and consistent series and made a major move up the standings with back-to-back race victories in the second half of the Championship. Several other top-four finishes secured their place on the podium.
After 10 races, the final top three were:
1. ITA416 La Superba – Ignazio Bonanno – 15 points
2. GER5381 Schwere Jungs – Stefan Karsunke – 22 points
3. NED5440 The DutchJees – Dirk Olyslagers – 27 points
With Italy, Germany and the Netherlands represented on the podium, the Championship once again demonstrated the international strength and competitive depth of the J/24 Class.
For La Superba, Trelleborg added another major title to an already impressive J/24 record and once again showed the importance of consistency, preparation and teamwork at the highest level of one-design racing.
For complete results, visit Results 2026. Thank you for the report from Julia David.
