News
SPITZAUER AND NEHAMMER CROWNED EASTERN HEMISPHERE CHAMPIONS AFTER DOMINATING BALATON STAR SAILING WEEK
Two spectacular races in sunshine and a steady southwesterly breeze conclude the championship on Lake Balaton
Balatonföldvár, Hungary – June 6, 2026 – Austria's Hans Spitzauer and Christian Nehammer completed a remarkable week at the KÉSZ Group Balaton Star Sailing Week, claiming the title of 2026 Star Eastern Hemisphere Champions after a dominant performance that also saw them win the District 17 Championship earlier in the week.
The final day delivered the classic southwesterly breeze for which Lake Balaton is famous. Under brilliant sunshine and in a steady 8–11 knot wind, gently oscillating by around 10 degrees, the fleet enjoyed two beautiful races to conclude the championship.
For Spitzauer and Nehammer, the title was effectively secured after winning the fifth race of the series. With a comfortable lead established, the Austrian team did not need to sail the sixth and final race. Their scoreline throughout the regatta was impressive: three race victories and podium finishes in all five races that counted toward their championship total.
The silver medal was claimed by Germany's Daniel Fritz and Jan Eli Gravad, whose consistency throughout the week kept them firmly in contention until the final day. Fritz and Gravad are also the best U30 team in the Championship. Fellow Germans Hubert Merkelbach and Markus Koy completed the podium in third place after a strong championship that included a race victory on Thursday.
No Racing as stormy day halts sailing
A stormy day on Lake Balaton meant no additional races were completed at the Star Eastern Hemisphere Championship.
After a morning spent waiting ashore for enough breeze, the fleet launched in the early afternoon as a forecast cold front arrived with 16–18 knots. Racing got underway, but conditions quickly intensified, with gusts reaching 30–31 knots on the first upwind leg of Race 5.
With safety as the priority, Race Officer Péter Farkas abandoned the race and sent the fleet back to shore. All teams returned safely to the harbor as the wind continued to build.
The championship will now come down to the final day, with two races scheduled and lighter southwesterly winds currently in the forecast.
28 teams
SPITZAUER AND NEHAMMER EXTEND LEAD AFTER PERFECT DAY AT STAR EASTERN HEMISPHERE CHAMPIONSHIP
Three races completed in ideal Lake Balaton conditions as Austrian duo strengthens grip on overall standings
Balatonföldvár, Hungary – June 4th, 2026 – After the stormy and challenging opening race on Wednesday, the 2026 Star Eastern Hemisphere Championship enjoyed a spectacular second day on Lake Balaton, with sunshine, steady breeze and three races completed for the international fleet.
The 28 teams representing 11 nations were greeted by ideal sailing conditions, with winds ranging from 10 to 15 knots throughout the day. While the first race attempt was abandoned due to a significant wind shift and decreasing breeze, the Race Committee quickly reset the course and successfully completed three races in conditions that could hardly have been better for Star sailing.
The Austrian team of Hans Spitzauer and Christian Nehammer continued their impressive form, winning the first completed race of the day and extending their lead at the top of the leaderboard. Germany's Hubert Merkelbach and Markus Koy claimed victory in the following race, while Croatia's Marin Misura and Tonko Barać took the honors in the final race of the day.
STORMY OPENING RACE KICKS OFF STAR EASTERN HEMISPHERE CHAMPIONSHIP ON LAKE BALATON
Austrian duo Spitzauer and Nehammer take victory after thunderstorms and winds reaching 27 knots challenge the fleet in Balatonföldvár
Balatonföldvár, Hungary – The 2026 Star Eastern Hemisphere Championship got underway in dramatic fashion today on Lake Balaton, where thunderstorms, shifting winds and a storm warning tested both sailors and race officials before a single opening race could be completed.
The forecast had called for the morning southwesterly breeze to shift northwest and strengthen throughout the day. However, unstable weather conditions and thunderstorms circulating around the lake forced competitors to wait ashore while organizers monitored the situation closely.
Once the storms dissipated, a solid northwesterly breeze of 16–20 knots settled over the racecourse, allowing Race Officer Péter Farkas to send the fleet of 31 teams from 11 nations onto the water. The opening race finally got underway shortly after 3:00 PM.
Balaton Star Sailing Week
We are glad to welcome you in Spartacus Sailing Club at Balatonföldvár, host of the Star 17th District Championship and Star Eastern Hemisphere Championship in May/June 2026. Please find some useful information to make your stay as pleasant as possible.
2024 STAR EASTERN HEMISPHERE CHAMPIONSHIP IN ECKERNFÖRDE, GERMANY
The 2024 Star Eastern Hemisphere Championship has crowed its winners, Marin Misura and Tonko Barac are back in Croatia with another Silver Star, after claiming their first one last year at the 2023 Eastern European Championship in Warnemunde, Germany.
“We were here, in the North of Europe from the warm coast of Croatia also last year, and after winning we promised we would never come back into this cold and tough weather, but as you can see, we couldn’t restist, and we are glad we did, as it was a very nice Championship”, commented Tonko Barac at the prize giving ceremony at the Eckernförde Yacht Club.