A fresh face has stormed the European sailing circuit, and they’re turning heads. The Hellonext Sailing Team, a relatively young crew from Portugal, made a surprising debut at the SB20 European Championship in Ostend, Belgium. This team, already two-time national champions in the SB20 class, snagged an impressive ninth place. They outsailed 33 other teams, competing against 42 crews from 10 different countries.
Led by Nuno Cabral, the team hails from the Clube Naval de Cascais. The championship ran from August 17 to 23. Ostend, the largest city on Belgium’s North Sea coast, hosted the challenging event. Cabral was joined by Tiago Morais and Gonçalo Lopes aboard their vessel. The Hellonext Sailing Team itself is only two years old, yet they’ve quickly built a strong record with their two national titles. Their potential shone brightly from the start in Belgium. They finished fourth in the practice runs and secured a second-place finish in the very first race of the championship.
The journey wasn’t without its bumps. On the penultimate day, a broken halyard — a key rope for raising sails — forced them to miss the day’s first competition. But this setback didn’t derail them. The Portuguese team bounced back with remarkable spirit, clinching a decisive victory in the very last race of the championship.
Nuno Cabral reflected on their performance. “This was our first time at a European Championship,” he explained. “It really helped us understand our standing against the top international teams.” Cabral shared his satisfaction with the ninth-place finish. He was even prouder of the high level the team showed and how it boosted their drive for future challenges. “Seeing the Portuguese flag ahead of well-known teams proves our hard work is paying off,” he added, looking ahead with renewed motivation.
