The Royal Yacht Club Sneek will proudly host the 2024 European Hansa Class Championships, an inclusive and prestigious event welcoming sailors of all abilities. Scheduled from September 16 to 21, the championships will take place on the scenic Sneekermeer, a lake near the city of Sneek, renowned for hosting large-scale sailing competitions. In 2024, this venue will be the gathering point for Hansa sailors from across Europe.

Bob Schahinger, VP of Championships for the International Hansa Class Association, expressed the committee’s enthusiasm for bringing the championship to Northern Europe. “The Royal Yacht Club Sneek’s proven history of organizing major sailing events, along with its excellent facilities, made it the ideal venue. We’re excited to collaborate with Sneek, marking the first major Hansa Class championship in Northern Europe since the 2016 World Championships in Medemblik.”

Classes

The 2024 European Hansa Class Championships will feature three distinct boat classes. The Hansa Liberty class, with 17 competitors, is designed for single-person use and is known for its stability and adaptability, allowing sailors of varying abilities to compete on equal footing.

The Hansa 303 class will include two separate competitions: the Single class with 41 competitors, and the Double class with 22 teams, where sailors pair up to navigate the boat in a two-person format, requiring close teamwork and coordination.

Notably, around 10 dedicated sailors will compete in both the Hansa 303 Single and Double categories, increasing the number of races they will participate in during the championship.

Event Schedule

The 2024 European Hansa Class Championships will run from Monday, September 16 to Saturday, September 21, with the week divided into two series:

– Qualification Series: Monday, September 16 – Thursday, September 19

– Final Series: Friday, September 20 – Saturday, September 21

With participants from all over Europe and even sailors from Korea and Chile, this championship not only highlights the growth of the Hansa class but also underscores the inclusive nature of the sport of sailing.

Photo’s by Eize Hoekstra and Robbert Evers