European Beach Sailing Championships in St. Peter-Ording: France triumphs in 2025!

European Beach Sailing Championships in St. Peter-Ording: France triumphs in 2025!

On the first day of competition at the European Beach Sailing Championships in St. Peter-Ording on November 3, 2025, there were exciting duels on the large beach. The wind was blowing strongly and the conditions were perfect for the competitors. Ramonie Matar from France secured victory in the men's race, while Luna Rochelle Lebelle, also from France, came out on top in the women's race. The two thus proved to be the best of the best in their discipline, while Sven Kray from Schleswig and Marta Steffens from the Sankt Peter-Ording Yacht Club took second and third places. The regattas attracted large numbers of spectators and the atmosphere was appropriately festive. This championship is particularly notable as the last international competition took place seven years ago, which only increased the anticipation of everyone involved. The European Championships in boat classes two and three are actually scheduled for next year, so fans can expect even more from this exciting sport in the future. [NDR] reports that the competitions took place from Thursday to Saturday, which meant a busy program for the athletes.

The roots of beach sailing go back to the 1930s, when the first pilots used the winds to glide over the sand with their three-wheeled vehicles and sails on the beach at St. Peter-Ording. Thanks to the ideal surface and strong winds, this sport has now become a popular activity that attracts both hobbyists and professionals. [St. Peter-Ording] makes it clear that the regatta and practice areas are located in the south of the Bad bathing area, which can be easily reached via the pier from the spa center. Anyone looking for a thrill can take part in regattas and training courses that are regularly organized by the traditional St. Peter-Ording Yacht Club.

The fascination of beach sailing

But what exactly is beach sailing? It is a land sailing sport in which wheeled vehicles are powered by wind power. These so-called sand yachts can reach speeds of over 100 km/h under optimal wind conditions. The FISLY (Federation International de Sand et Landyachting) has established clearly defined rules for this sport that ensure that all participants can compete on equal terms. [Wikipedia] describes that sand yachts have a steerable front wheel for steering and that some models can even be equipped with skids for the winter in order to score points in ice sailing.

As its popularity has increased, more events and championships have emerged at national and international levels. Top athletes want to put their skills to the test and the spectators are thrilled by the fast-paced races. The atmosphere of beach sailing is electric, not just when looking at the chases on the sand, but also when thinking about the skills of the pilots. Those who want to gain a foothold in this exciting sport need a special sailing license and liability insurance in Germany. [St. Peter-Ording] emphasizes that St. Peter-Ording is not only a stronghold of beach sailing in Germany, but also a center where many athletes and fans come together to share their passion for this wind and sand sport.