European Sailing Circuit Trophy 2026

The third stop of the European Sailing Circuit Trophy 2026 took place during the Open Belgian Championship and Copper Cup in Blankenberge.

A fleet of 23 Snipes from Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, and Poland gathered on the Belgian coast for the third event of the inaugural circuit. After a windless opening day, sailors completed six races over the remaining two days in a variety of conditions, ranging from light winds to a steady 12-knot breeze.

Belgian sailors Jan Peeters and Nathalie Janssens claimed victory and the title of Open Belgian Champions, finishing just one point ahead of Manu Hens and Alexandre Tinoco. Defending champions Sam and Daan Vandormael completed the podium.

With another successful event completed, attention now turns to the overall circuit standings.

Circuit Ranking After Three Events

With Portugal, Great Britain, and Belgium now in the books, the battle for the inaugural European Sailing Circuit Trophy is becoming increasingly exciting.

The circuit was created to connect existing national regattas across Europe into one season-long ranking, rewarding sailors for participation, consistency, and performance throughout the year. Rather than adding new events to an already busy calendar, the Trophy gives additional value and visibility to established regattas while encouraging sailors to travel and compete internationally.

After three events, Matthew Wolstenholme (GBR) remains at the top of the leaderboard with 6,975 points, thanks to a strong start to the season and victory at Blackwater.

The Belgian leg brought significant movement in the standings. Liz Pike (GBR) climbs to second place overall, while Tim and Kay Tavinor (GBR) remain firmly in contention. Strong performances in Blankenberge also propelled Kristof Woutters and Roos Hertsens (BEL) into the top five.

Current Top 10 Overall

Rank	Sailor	Nation	Points
1	Matthew Wolstenholme	Great Britain	6,975
2	Liz Pike	Great Britain	6,475
3	Tim Tavinor	Great Britain	6,382
4	Kay Tavinor	Great Britain	6,382
5	Kristof Woutters	Belgium	5,454
6	Roos Hertsens	Belgium	5,454
7	Richard Marshall	Great Britain	4,075
8	Deborah Marshall	Great Britain	4,075
9	Jan Peeters	Belgium	3,820
10	Nathalie Janssens	Belgium	3,820

With three events remaining, the race for the overall title is still wide open.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

The European Sailing Circuit Trophy is proudly supported by:

• Olimpic
• MAS Marine
• North Sails
• Persson Marine
• Pires de Lima
• Cotesi
• Allen

Their support helps provide prizes, reward participation, and build a sustainable international circuit for the European Snipe community.

Next Stop: Italy 🇮🇹

The circuit now moves to beautiful Lake Maggiore for the fourth leg of the season:

10–14 June 2026
Italian National Championship
Maccagno, Italy

With valuable points still available and the leaderboard tightening, the Italian Nationals promise to be a crucial event in the fight for the inaugural European Sailing Circuit Trophy.

See you in Italy! ⛵🏆