New Zealand Sailors Climb to Second Place at European Championships
New Zealand sailors Mattias Coutts and Oscar Gunn have made a strong start at the 2026 European Championships in Germany. After the second day of racing, the pair has climbed to second place in the overall standings. Their performance has put them in a great position to compete for a medal.
The Kiwi duo is competing in the 49er class, which is a high-speed boat known for being difficult to handle. During the second day of the event, Coutts and Gunn managed to win two out of the four races held. This success helped them move up the leaderboard against some of the best sailing teams in the world.
The European Championships are a major event for the 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 classes. Although the competition is held in Europe, it attracts top athletes from across the globe. For the New Zealand teams, these races are an important way to test their skills against international rivals and prepare for future world events.
As the competition continues in Germany, sports fans in New Zealand will be watching the results closely. With several days of racing still to come, Coutts and Gunn will need to stay consistent to keep their place at the top. The team remains focused on their goal of finishing the tournament with a strong result for New Zealand.