2024 Techno293 and Techno293 Plus European Championships

©Robert Hajduk

Day 6 – Greece dominated at home but Italy and Spain pushed them all the way !

©Robert Hajduk

The wind calmed down for the final day of competition, providing an opportunity for light wind specialists to pick up valuable race victories and rebalance some standings. The lighter winds on both the first and last days allowed all competitors to race in a wide variety of conditions, ideal for a major championship.

During the week, between 13 and 15 races were held in winds that reached up to 30 knots at times, and the race committee rose to the occasion, consistently making the right decisions to ensure everyone's safety. A heartfelt thank you to all its members.

Following this highly successful event and the number of competitors and countries present, the Techno Class has once again demonstrated that it's the perfect platform for learning to race, and for progressing in windsurfing.

Some of the skippers present in Athens will become elite sailors in the future, as we saw at the recent Paris Olympic Games. Remarkably, 100% of the Olympic medalists in windsurfing had raced and excelled on the Techno 293 in previous years!

©Robert Hajduk
©Robert Hajduk

We extend our big thank you to the Greek Sailing Federation, who's president attended the awards ceremony, to the municipality of Artemis for supporting the event, and to the Nautical Club of Artemis-Athens for their warm hospitality. A special thanks to the TAHE team for providing 100 charter boards and rigs.

We look forward to seeing everyone in Ostia/Rome in April 2025 for the next European Championships.

Classements Finaux:

Techno + Women:

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Italian Teresa Medde, who took the lead early in the championship, had to battle hard right to the end to fend off the challenge of Greece's Nefeli Anagnostou. She finished on a high note with three first-place finishes on the final day.

Techno + Men:

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Greek challenger Aris Panagopoulos, with consistently good results all week, pulled ahead decisively on the last day, distancing himself from Italian Alessandro Giagoni Locci with three first-place finishes.

U17 Girls:

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Greece's Danai Anagnostou faced down all her challengers, maintaining her lead throughout the week. On the final day, in lighter winds, Turkey's Defne Egrilmez surged up behind, winning the last three races and finishing just one point behind Anagnostou. Georgia Tsoumou secured third place for the host country.

U17 Boys:

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Reigning World Champion Ioannou Panagiotis remained untouchable in all the conditions, dominating the fleet by winning 9 out of the 15 races held. His two Greek challengers, Agapitos Michalis Stamatoulakis and Pavlos Kallitsis Alagkiozian made it a Greek 1-2-3 on the podium.

U15 Girls:

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Spaniard Olivia Sanchez Moral, who was under significant pressure from Estonia's Johanna Lukk, ultimately seized control in the lighter winds, clinching victory in the last three races. Mia Berazategui from Spain finished in third.

U15 Boys:

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Four home nation racers, led by Spyridon Monastiriotis, established themselves at the front during the windy days. However, Italian Lorenzo Orecchioni made a remarkable comeback, securing third place by winning two consecutive races in the lighter conditions. He finished just behind Evangelos Kyriazakos who was second.

U13:

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In the youngest category, Spain's Joshua Castro Jure dominated the competition. The battle for the remaining podium spots was fiercely contested throughout the week, with Turkey's Zeynep Mavioglu ultimately finishing in second place, just ahead of the Italian Vincenzo Clausi.

RESULTS

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Day 5 - The excitement continues before the thrilling finale!

On the morning of the fifth day, the wind remains strong, blowing a solid 25 knots over Artemis.

While this is less than the previous day, the race committee decides to limit navigation to the “Bravo” course located at the back of the bay, where the swell from the open sea does not reach.

©Robert Hajduk
©Robert Hajduk

The U17 and Techno Plus categories are sent out first to open the water, and three races are launched in a wind that shows no signs of weakening, with gusts even reaching up to 28 knots. It’s a tough job to handle the large sails of 7.8 and 8.5 square meters!

However, the top competitors are accustomed to these conditions and return to shore with big smiles. They performed exceptionally well, making their Techno 293 boards fly, with GPS readings peaking at over 26 knots despite the choppy waters!

©Robert Hajduk

Next, the U15 competitors hit the water, completing three races. The wind has eased slightly but remains above 23 knots. The U13s follow suit, but unfortunately for them, the wind picks up again during their first race, creating challenging conditions for the lighter fleet as they struggle to stay in the race and earn points for the overall standings.

They return to shore proud of having completed their courses under such difficult circumstances. This experience is fantastic and will be etched in their memories!

©Robert Hajduk

A special mention goes to Astra Krastina, a young athlete from Latvia, who demonstrated remarkable sportsmanship by abandoning her race to assist another competitor in distress.

She received a bonus, as is customary in all onshore and offshore sailing competitions.


©Robert Hajduk

In the Techno Plus Women's category, Italian Teresa Medde maintains her lead, but the competition is fierce with Greek Nefeli Anagnostou just one point behind.

In the Techno Plus Men's category, Greek Aris Panagopoulos has consistently stayed in the top three throughout all races, distancing himself from Italian Alessandro Giagoni Locci in the overall standings.

©Robert Hajduk

In the U17 girls' series, Greek Danai Anagnostou has strung together several first-place finishes, allowing her to create a gap ahead of Turkish competitor Defne Egrilmez, who is closely followed by three other Greek competitors.

Among the U17 boys, the Greek team led by reigning World Champion Ioannou Panagiotis is firmly in the lead and will be hard to dislodge. Only Italian Kristian Porcu is putting up a fight in fifth place.

©Robert Hajduk

In the U15 boys' category, the four Greek competitors who have been leading the race for several days are excelling in these strong winds, with their leader Spyridon Monastiriotis winning the last six races. It’s tough to compete against them!

In the U15 girls' series, Spanish Olivia Sanchez Moral remains at the top, but after Estonian Johanna Lukk's three consecutive victories in the last races, she is now within striking distance for the top spot.

The youngest category, U13, is still dominated by Spanish Joshua Castro Jure, but Italian Marta Clemente has climbed to second place after three impressive first-place finishes in the strong wind. Greek Iliana Panagiqui is just one point behind her.

As the championship nears its conclusion, with 12 races completed, some categories already have their winners determined, but three races remain.

These could shake up the standings in certain categories, as the weather forecast predicts lighter winds that may favor competitors more accustomed to medium wind conditions.

©Robert Hajduk

Day 4 – Challenging conditions keep most of the competitors onshore

As anticipated by the weather forecast, the wind picked up significantly on the fourth day of the competition, reaching consistent speeds of 30 knots on the water.

Due to these challenging conditions, the organizers decided to only launch the most experienced category, the Techno Plus, for a preliminary test, hoping for a lull in the wind to allow the other fleets to compete. 

©Robert Hajduk
©Robert Hajduk

Unfortunately, the wind did not ease, and all other competitors remained on shore. In the Techno Plus category, however, the top sailors managed to complete a race, but there were no changes in the overall standings.

The forecast for the fifth day of racing indicates slightly less intense winds, raising hopes for more racing opportunities.

Stay tuned throughout the week for the latest photos, videos, and results on the official event website:

Day 3 – Stronger wind, more thrills and fun in all categories

©Robert Hajduk

On the morning of the third day of racing, the wind was blowing strongly right from the start, and the white-capped waves signal that the anticipated strong winds have indeed arrived. The weather forecast predicts winds of 25-30 knots. A decision is made to run only two races on the most sheltered course at the back of the bay.

The U17 and U19 categories are sent out first. Although the conditions were physical, the water proved to be more manageable than expected, allowing for two races to be completed quickly. The other groups followed suit, with the U15 and U13 categories competing in slightly less strong winds. Two intense and fun races were launched, featuring exciting battles at the start and around the buoys, along with endless thrilling slides on the downwind legs, pushing the limits of control. 

The championship now boasts a total of 8 races and the mid-point standings confirm the dominance of Greek competitors across many categories. However, several “foreign” competitors have managed to slip into the top ranks, disrupting the well-oiled Greek machine. The “discard” race, which was removed after the sixth race, has also changed the standings.

In the U19 category, Italian Teresa Medde, the current World Champion, had taken the lead from Greek Nefeli Anagnostou yesterday. However, after the removal of an initial discard, they find themselves tied, keeping the suspense alive!

In the Techno + Men category, Italian Alessandro Giagoni Locci had closed the gap on leader Aris Panagopoulos from Greece, but Panagopoulos has performed flawlessly in the strong winds and now leads significantly.

©Robert Hajduk
©Robert Hajduk

In the U17 girls' series, Turkish competitor Defne Egrilmez has climbed to second place among the top four Greek sailors but remains behind Danai Anagnostou, who adds another first-place finish to her tally. Notably, Spanish sailor Martina Barbara Tor has inserted herself between the two Greek contenders.

In the U17 boys' category, the Greek team, led by reigning World Champion Ioannou Panagiotis, is not letting up and maintains four sailors firmly positioned at the front of the race. 

The same is true for the U15 boys, where four Greeks occupy the top five spots. Only Italian Lorenzo Orecchioni has managed to secure fourth place but remains far behind in total points.

In the U15 girls' category, however, Spanish sailor Olivia Sanchez Moral leads with six first-place finishes, followed by Estonian Johanna Lukk and another Spaniard, Mia Berazategui. The top Greek competitor is currently in 14th place.

©Robert Hajduk
©Robert Hajduk

The youngest U13 category is dominated by Spanish sailor Joshua Castro Jure, who leads Turkish Zeynep Mavioglu by just three points.

As the races progress, the standings continue to solidify, but there are still seven races left to run, with many potential twists and turns ahead. Unless the strong winds forecasted for the next two days disrupt this magnificent championship, the competition remains wide open. Except for two categories, nothing is yet decided in this championship, which is unfolding splendidly. 

Stay tuned throughout the week for the latest photos, videos, and results on the official event website: 

©Robert Hajduk
©Robert Hajduk

Day 2 – Another fantastic day of racing! 

©Robert Hajduk

The second day of the Techno 293 European Championships began with a worrying weather report, predicting strong winds that had everyone on edge.

 

However, to the delight of the competitors, the wind and sea conditions remained similar to the previous day, allowing for a fantastic day of racing in medium wind.

 

All riders returned to shore with smiles on their faces after three intense and exhilarating races, filled with thrilling battles at the start, exciting buoy turns, and exhilarating downwind slides at full speed.

After six races, the second day confirmed the dominance of the Greek riders across many categories. Yet, several international competitors managed to slip into the top three, shaking up the Hellenic performance.

 

In the U19 category, Italian Teresa Medde, the reigning World Champion, reclaimed the lead from Greek sailor Nefeli Anagnostou, showcasing her skill and determination. Meanwhile, in the Techno + Men series, Italian Alessandro Giagoni Locci is hot on the heels of the leader, Greek Aris Panagopoulos, trailing by just a few points.

©Robert Hajduk
©Robert Hajduk

The U17 girls' series saw Turkish sailor Defne Egrilmez rise to second place among the top four Greek competitors. However, she remains behind Danai Anagnostou, who has been nearly unbeatable with six first-place finishes to her name.

 

In the U17 boys' series, the Greek team continues to assert its dominance, with four riders firmly positioned at the front of the race. Ioannou Panagiotis , 2024 World Champion, is leading the category.

The same trend is observed in the U15 boys' series, where four Greek sailors occupy the top five spots, with only Italian Lorenzo Orecchioni breaking into fourth place.

 

In the U15 girls' series, Spanish competitor Olivia Sanchez Moral leads the pack with an impressive six first-place heats, followed closely by Estonian Johanna Lukk and Italian Laura Grasso Castagnetta. The first Greek competitor in this category is currently in 11th place.

©Robert Hajduk
©Robert Hajduk

The youngest competitors in the U13 category are led by Spanish sailor Joshua Castro Jure, who holds a narrow lead of just one point over Turkish rival Zeynep Mavioglu.

 

As we look ahead, it’s clear that except for two categories, the championship remains wide open, with plenty of racing left to be done. However, the strong winds forecasted for the latter half of the week could potentially disrupt the competition. For now, the atmosphere is filled with excitement and anticipation as the sailors prepare for the challenges that lie ahead!

Stay tuned throughout the week for the latest photos, videos, and results on the official event website: 

©Robert Hajduk
©Robert Hajduk

©Robert Hajduk

Day 1 – Perfect conditions for a smooth start

©Robert Hajduk

After an intense training round the day before, the first day of racing at the Techno 293 European Championships began with a slight drop in wind, creating perfect conditions for a gentle start to the week. With a medium breeze and manageable sea conditions, competitors were eager to hit the water.

Three rounds were successfully completed across all series, showcasing thrilling action on every course without any incidents. The Greek racers made a strong impression, dominating most categories right from the start. The only exceptions were the U15 girls and the U13s, who managed to keep the Hellenic competitors out of the top three spots. 

©Robert Hajduk
©Robert Hajduk

Despite the Greek dominance, the competition remains fierce, with other countries closely trailing behind. With 12 rounds still to go until Saturday, there’s plenty of opportunity for surprises and shifts in the leaderboard. Everyone is looking forward to what the next days will bring!

Stay tuned throughout the week for the latest photos, videos, and results on the official event website: 

©Robert Hajduk

©Robert Hajduk

The Techno293 and Techno293 Plus European Championships launched on Saturday with a spectacular opening ceremony at the heart of the Artemis City Stadium.

Day 0 – Everyone is ready for the event

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Competitors and spectators were treated to a grand celebration as 270 participants from across Europe paraded along the seaside road, soaking in the lively atmosphere. The event was officially opened after local authorities and officials warmly welcomed the athletes with motivational speeches.

 

The traditional dance show that followed the ceremony was a crowd favourite, as competitors couldn’t resist joining in on the action. Their spontaneous participation added an extra burst of energy to the evening, setting the stadium ablaze with excitement and cheers from the audience.

Challenging wind and sea conditions await the competitors

With the celebrations over, the athletes turned their focus to training and the practice races held the next day. It was a crucial opportunity for the race committees and competitors to familiarize themselves with the conditions.

©Robert Hajduk
©Robert Hajduk

The wind proved to be challenging, with the anemometer reaching 23 knots, and the sea presenting a significant swell offshore. According to the weather forecast, this could be just the beginning of an intense week ahead.

 

Winds are predicted to remain moderate until Wednesday but are expected to strengthen up to 30 knots towards the end of the championships. The Aegean Sea, famous among sailors for its formidable Meltem winds, seems set to live up to its reputation.

©Robert Hajduk

First races start today

The first official races of the championship begin today, and a total of 15 races are planned over the course of the event. The participants will need to stay focused and adapt quickly to the changing conditions to come out on top.

Stay tuned throughout the week for the latest photos, videos, and results on the official event website: 

©Robert Hajduk