Part 1: Navigating the Elements – The Dynamic Sailing Conditions of the 2025 IOM European Championship

The 2025 International One Metre (IOM) European Championship in Rogoznica, Croatia, was not just a testament to sailing prowess but also a showcase of adaptability and resilience in the face of ever-changing weather conditions. From April 4th to 11th, the picturesque coastal town became the epicenter of radio-controlled sailing, drawing almost 100 competitors from 21 nations—a record-breaking turnout for the IOM class (98 in final number as two sailors were unfortunately sick few days right before the event started).​

A Week of Meteorological Challenges

This IOM championship commenced under the influence of a deceptive bora wind, bringing with it clouds and a chill that belied the typical Mediterranean spring. As the days progressed, sailors faced a medley of wind patterns:​

• Qualifications Day 1: Unstable winds delayed the start until 14:30, allowing only two complete laps by 18:00.​
• Qualifications Day 2: Continued instability with shifts in wind direction necessitated a change in the racing area to maintain fair competition.​
• Qualifications Day 3: Consistent B rig conditions prevailed, with gusts exceeding 17 knots, challenging sailors to make strategic rig choices.​
• Qualifications Day 4: A delayed start due to westerly winds eventually gave way to A rig conditions, with winds not exceeding 10 knots.​
• Final Days: A mix of A and B rig conditions tested sailors’ adaptability, with wind speeds ranging from 7 to 15 knots and minimal course changes, allowing for continuous racing.​

The Venue: Rogoznica’s Unique Sailing Landscape

Rogoznica’s coastal geography, characterized by its peninsulas and bays, played a significant role in the championship’s dynamics. The shifting wind patterns and varying sea states required sailors to be vigilant and adaptable, often making split-second decisions on rig selection and course strategy.​

The Human Element: Stories from the Fleet

Beyond the final statistics and results, the championship was rich with personal narratives as well:​

• Some sailors recounted the challenges of rig selection amidst fluctuating wind conditions, highlighting the fine balance between risk and reward,
• Others detailed the experience of equipment failure just before a race start, emphasizing the importance of quick thinking and resilience,
• Lots of calculations were done in the field of rigs & sails trim,
• Many shared great time together outside the racing course.

These stories underscore the essence of IOM sailing—not just as a test of technical skill but also of mental fortitude and adaptability.​

Part 2: Engineering Excellence – The Boats and Technology Behind the 2025 IOM European Championship​

The 2025 International One Metre (IOM) European Championship in Rogoznica, Croatia, was not only a showcase of sailing prowess but also a testament to the cutting-edge technology and design that define the IOM class. With 100 competitors from 21 nations, the event highlighted the pinnacle of radio-controlled sailing innovation.​

The IOM Class: Precision in Design

The IOM class is renowned for its strict design parameters, ensuring a level playing field while allowing for innovation within set boundaries („open box“ rules). IOM sailboats must adhere to specific measurements, including a maximum length of one metre and a minimum weight of 4 kilograms. This balance fosters a competitive environment where design nuances and sailor skill converge. Through decades of development many IOM sailors got the chance to experience diverse fleet under tough action which raised bar furthermore for all participants. 26 different IOM hulls were spotted on the racing course with various different rigs & sails alongside other equipment and results were amazing.

Now, we are going to use our power here not just to enjoy our moment and gold medal. We decided to share something on our website here which is probably not in our best (business) interest – we will give a stronger voice and praises to our fellow manufacturers and designers in IOM class.

Through our social media we had talks about Ceccarelli’s & Vinaixa’s new GC24Proto & Venti, maestro Guillermo Beltri praised new acquisition for sure and it felt like Venti loves Rogoznica a lot when one looks end results too. Venti is built in series by Pepe Vinaixa in Spain, the construction is high tech from moluds (CNC machined). A lot of IOM sailors speak fondly about Italian roots and design – Giovanni Ceccarelli, a man well known in sailing world for his gentleman approach and great skills in design. Pepe is also a formidable force in IOM world who does not need much introduction for sure. One could notice that this event missed mighty Ian Vickers from New Zealand, but his V10, V11 and V12 were there to continue on the saga of “V” letter boats that are punching through IOM ladderboards. Ian is truly a highly praised man always willing to support IOM sailors around him and this attitude is also seen in his approach when constructing IOMs: “Stiff, lightweight boats, that are easily assembled, fast and forgiving to sail.“ Another design we discussed was new Orca from Darren Abdila, „Maltese falcon“ that is continuing new upgrades based on Malteser series from before, specifically the M2X, sharing many similar characteristics with a few key updates. Darren’s idea behind new work was to improve hydrodynamics and overall performance while keeping very sleek design that should act something like „all-arounder“ regarding the preferred conditions for sailing. When going to the eastern shores of Mediterranean sea, we will stumble upon smiling gentleman Savas Korkmaz and his Pi3 design (direct reference to famous 3.13 number, yes), then there was also a design by Ben Harker from GBR with his H40 who already had nice interview on last Worlds (check it out here). One could not miss out Polish kind hearted Eugeniusz Ginter with his Vihueala 3 and a kind supportive wife who is being enjoying watching IOM races a lot and travelling with her husband. By the words of designer, Vihueala 3 is aiming to have hull lines that almost perfectly match conditions such as we saw on first few days of Rogoznica and Eugeniusz was pleased with his improvements. 3D printed boats were there too of course, Rohner Ernst with his Parabellum was interviewed and we are sure that Swiss mentality will bring lots of precision and improvements in future years to come. Alioth from Juan Marco Egea was very pleased with the number of registered boats on this event and that is just another great IOM sailor who uses his technical knowledge to achieve very nice results with hull lines but also on a racing course. We could keep on going and mention French L’Ether that has years of racing behind it and there are still more IOM sailboats that were testing their capabilities and valor in Rogoznica, but time has come to mention what we were doing too in this big wonderful crowd.

At Sailboat RC we have been keen on focusing at instrumental areas around advancing hull lines, improving functions of sails & rigs, having strong and reliable sharp carbon keel and rudder, enhanced small parts, advanced sheeting inside hull, etc. All of that translates into powerful an reliable overall performance that complements many skilled IOM sailors on their latest adventures. Our two flagship models, the K2 and VISS, have garnered acclaim for their exceptional speed and adaptability to varying wind conditions as results behind them are simply giving us goosebumps today when looking back on more than half a decade now on most competitive IOM events to this day now…we are thankful for your recognition and continuous support that has been given to us.

K2: A Champion’s Choice

The Kantun 2 model, in particular, has solidified its reputation on the international stage once again. At the 2025 European Championship, the K2, under the designation Kantun 2R, clinched the gold medal, showcasing its constant high performance capabilities through many years up until today. The boat’s success is attributed to its well tested optimized hull shape, efficient keel design, and responsive rigging & sail setup, allowing for precise control and maneuverability when one needs it the most, especially in medium to stronger winds. When IOM sailors select our „Light shaping“ sails molds on K2, it gets the needed boost even in lighter conditions. Robert Matulja decided to reduce its famous “shark fin” at stern and thus he named it “Racer” (“R” that goes after K2) – but actually this K2 was manufactured back in 2016 and it was third one that came out of our mould! Many of you were thinking this is something new after VISS, but no, good ol’ K2! As craftsman’s, we can’t be happier with it, but we must also state that Robert was this year in such a good form that he obliterated competitors in CRO Open Nats, then also in “PreEuropeans” event and finally he clinched first place in 2025 IOM Europeans now. Kudos Robert, what to say except we bow down to your huge success in whole 2025 and we wish you many more to come!

VISS: Versatility, Stability and Speed

The newest VISS model (true successor of Kantun S) complements the K2 by offering a design tailored for versatility across a range of wind conditions with a focus on lighter winds and low to no waves on the racing course. Having World and Europeans title already behind it, we learned how well it joins balanced hull form and adaptable rigging make it a preferred choice for sailors seeking consistent performance in various different events worldwide.​ One could easily see many A fleet sailors going strong with VISS among this big fleet and even the youngest participant Tonko Puljiz managed to climb so high up with it, something we are proud of as well.

Technological Advancements: 3Dmf (monoSRC™) Construction & Precisely Crafted Rigs

Other than our hulls, a standout feature of Sailboat RC’s offerings was also the utilization of 3Dmf (monoSRC™) sails construction technology. This approach involves precision 3D molding techniques, resulting in sails that are both lightweight and structurally robust while offering top notch performance. The monoSRC™ process ensures uniformity in production and that your sails are made from one-piece of material (single monofilm material without cutting), enhancing the full setup you select for various different conditions you can meet on IOM events worldwide.

Beyond sails & hull design, the championship highlighted also the importance of high-quality equipment with rigging. Sailors employed advanced trip tweaks and configurations, optimizing their setups for the varying wind conditions experienced throughout the event. The choice between A and B rigs, for instance, was often crucial in adapting to wind speeds ranging from light breezes to gusts exceeding even 17 knots on some bursts.​

Part 3: The Sailors Behind the Sails – People, Passion, and Performance at the IOM Europeans 2025

What made the 2025 European Championship in Rogoznica extraordinary wasn’t just the cutting-edge design of the IOM boats or the kaleidoscope of Mediterranean wind shifts. It was the people — the skippers, supported teams, racing spectacle they all brought, and international community — who put this event to life.

At its heart, IOM sailing is still a human story. A sport / technical culture of grandmasters and grinders, of strategy and instinct, where every millimeter counts and every gust writes a new chapter.

As our cofounders finally managed to sit for a moment and relax, the opportunity opened for one relaxed interview which we will transfer here fully:

• You’ve been on top of the Worlds four times already, and on top of the Continentals four times as well, but how did it feel sailing this specific European Championship in your home waters in Rogoznica? Well, we have already been sailing in Rogoznica: one-time Europeans and one-time Worlds, but this one was a completely new event, it was very shifty and very difficult to predict which side will be better and very difficult to prepare for this kind of conditions. Almost every leg felt like a gamble and there were many breathtaking moments which lots of people could probably see on LIVE stream.

• And this time you ended up on a fifth place, which is very good of course with a competition like this, but how would you describe your fight to get there? Was it mental, technical mostly, or something else? Well, through the whole championship I was feeling a bit sick and not on my 100 percent, but that put aside, at the beginning I was sailing okay, and trying to test few things here and there. Then, during the middle of the event, I really hit my rhythm and was sailing well. I even managed to take the lead at one point. But the day before the last day — that was really tough. I had a terrible day with three bad races in a row, and that knocked me down the standings. I dropped to seventh or eighth. So on the final day, it was just about trying to recover. I pushed hard and managed to climb back up two places to finish fifth. True rollercoaster, exciting event indeed!

• With so many amazing IOM sailors around, what’s the one thing you think that separates a great sailor from maybe a more relaxed sailor in IOM ladder boards today? I think the major difference is that top sailors are capable of climbing back and keeping strong mentality, so after the bad start or the bad first part of the race, they still manage to climb back in at least middle or the top group, while more mediocre sailors kind of stay where they are, so even if they have a good shift at the beginning, they will most likely maintain their advantage, but once they are at the back in a struggle, for them it’s hard to climb back up.

• Tactics or trim — in your opinion, what mattered most in these conditions?
  Definitely tactics. In this championship, the conditions were so unstable and shifty that it was all about being on the right side of the course — both strategically and in terms of positioning. When the wind is that unpredictable, it’s less about perfect sail trim and more about reading the shifts and making the right tactical choices. You could gain a lot — or lose everything — based on whether you chose the correct side of the beat. In these conditions, being tactically sharp was almost everything.

• Many top sailors keep a close eye on you. When they study your preparation, what do you think stands out most — both as a strength and a potential weakness? I think people notice that I wasn’t as consistent in my preparation for this event as I’ve been in the past. In earlier years, I had more time to dedicate to getting ready — more time to test, tune, and prepare every detail. This time, things were different. My personal commitments — especially working closely with whole team at Sailboat RC and mentoring a few people during the event — meant that I didn’t have the same level of focus before the championship began. I wasn’t as prepared as I would have liked at the start. But if you look at my performance over the course of the event, you’ll see that I got stronger and stronger as it went on. That progression is something I’m proud of.

• What would your message be to the younger generation watching this championship and IOM class — the ones dreaming of competing with IOM sailboats one day? I would simply say without hesitation — go for it. Get involved. We really need more young people in this class. We’ve had a few juniors racing in this championship already, and I truly hope we’ll see more and more in the future. The IOM class has so much to offer — it’s tactical, technical, and truly international. And for us here in Croatia, and across Europe and worldwide, we should all do more to bring younger sailors into IOM. Because if we want the class to stay strong and keep evolving, it’s essential that we bring fresh energy, new talent, and new passion into the sport. For example, we guarantee that around 30% of our allocated places in Croatia will go to juniors, if they show interest. We willingly sacrifice some of our national CRO team’s results so our youth can flourish more. That’s how we grow — not just as a team, but as a class and a community.

The Sailors: Precision Meets Passion

This year’s event saw an all-time record of so many sailors — each bringing not just their IOM sailboats, but a lifetime of sailing experience and stories. From seasoned champions to passionate club racers, the fleet was a cross-section of what makes IOM sailing so magnetic.

Among the many standouts, we’ll share the most noted that ended up in Top 3:

• Robert Matulja (Croatia), sailing the Kantun 2, captured gold, earning the title of 2025 European Champion. A well-deserved victory for the great sailor and another amazing moment for Sailboat RC’s famous Kantun line.
• Jan Springer (Poland) completed the podium with great silver medal winning by a fraction of a point, demonstrating just how deep and competitive the fleet truly was. Jan sailed Venti and enjoyed so many well-earned praises, but we believe closest ones to his heart will be those that were coming from his little kids and wife who visited Rogoznica with him.
• Robert Walsh (Great Britain) entered fiercely into competition right from the start with qualifications and he sailed very skillfully his famous yellow IOM hull (Venti), managing to stay in the very top of the fleet and getting on the podium with bronze medal in the end.

We could not help noticing people were generally sharing some good time together on opening ceremony, around food, moments of relaxation between races, late night prize-award show, and on closing ceremony as well. This is something that IOM class has done well – preserving and cherishing sharing of international experience on big events.

Inside the Fleets: Grit and Glory

Behind the results were dozens of personal battles — some for medals, others for redemption.

We followed the journey of IOM sailor who endured rigging failures, misjudged shifts, and even a water-logged hull, but still climbed into the Top 10 of the Silver Fleet for example. These stories reflected the deeper truth of IOM sailing: that sometimes the hardest-fought finishes don’t come with a trophy — but with pride.

One could feel the weight of decisions and in LIVE stream we had vivid description on the agony of switching to the wrong rig just before a shift rolled in, only to be flattened in knockdowns. Big praises go to Zoran Grubiša for helping organizers on event and also for supporting LIVE commentary together with two main stars, Matea and Vedrana who were big part of streaming together with our cofounder Josip. But also, our commentators talked about discovering unexpected advantages from reading wind shadows across Rogoznica’s unique coastal landscape and happiness coming from those IOM sailors who recognized these patterns on time which allowed them to react meaningfully.

Moments like these painted the regatta in human tones — courage, frustration, recovery, and ultimately joy. It’s not just a championship; it’s an experience you carry home.

A World-Class Community on Display

This IOM regatta cannot be easily painted as competitive IOM race — it was a global reunion for sure. Sailors from all over the world shared meals, swapped stories, and raised glasses of local Croatian wine to the spirit of the IOM class.

Camaraderie and competition went hand in hand. The Sailboat RC Masterclass participants reconnected as well just before the event – decision that surely impacted their freshness and increase fatigue as the regatta was unfolding. But, experience always comes with price, it is just the question of time when it will reach you. Sails were trimmed, boats were tuned, and lifelong friendships were renewed — all under the Mediterranean sun, with the sound of waves and winches echoing around the marina Frapa and Rogoznica bay.

A New Chapter in IOM History

From its record-breaking size to the elite level of racing and remarkable organization by JK Val Šibenik, with the help of the Municipality of Rogoznica, the Tourist Board, and Marina Frapa and Sailboat RC, we trust that this championship became an instant classic in the IOM history books.

For us, it was a great spectacle definitely. Our K2 (Kantun 2R) secured the ultimate prize. Our VISS models filled the Gold Fleet in numbers. But most importantly, our boats carried the dreams, frustrations, and triumphs of sailors from every corner of the sailing world. Some went home with medals. Others with lessons. All with memories.

To all who tuned in, sailed, supported, and believed — thank you.