EM Seascape 18: Home game for Lisa Berger - from Globe40 to European Championship gold

Globe40 circumnavigator Lisa Berger had a blast at the European Championship for the Beneteau First 18 SE class at home on Lake Attersee. With Slovenian helmsman Uroš Kraševac, she sailed to three daily victories in seven races over four days and a total of just 27 points. The Seascape 18 gala was enough for European Championship gold ahead of the accomplished Slovenian match racer Dejan Presen and Dénes Szilágyi. Click here for the final results of the European Championships.

After seven years: second European Championship gold for Lisa Berger

Raphael Lorenz from Yacht-Club Seeshaupt sailed with Leoni Kluge and Antonia Schirner as the best German crew to European Championship bronze. They were the only one of 33 crews in a three-man constellation. Angelika Stark and Martin Pöll came sixth at the European Championships and won the Austrian championship title in a series straight out of a sailing picture book. Against a mountainous backdrop, the conditions on Lake Attersee were "marvellous", as many participants reported. Only the race on the final day had to be shortened in very light winds.

The Union-Yacht-Club Attersee was the experienced host of the European Championships. For Lisa Berger the venue was a stroke of luck. She is at home on Lake Attersee, but has not sailed on her home waters for many years. She last sailed with Jade Edwards-Leaney the Globe40 double-handed circumnavigation contested. Together, the "Wilson" skipper from Upper Austria and the Welshman had shown that they were a team, what is possible with a boat from 2010, unconditional will and passion.

The current European Championship appearance, which she crowned with her second European Championship gold after winning the 2019 Mixed Offshore European Championship with Christian Kargl, was rather spontaneous. The call from helmsman Uroš Kraševac asking if she wanted to compete in the series with him came just a few days before the first starting signal. Lisa Berger is spontaneous - and said yes, even though she had never sailed a Seascape before. The European Championship gold therefore speaks for the quality of her helmsman on the one hand and for her ability to adapt quickly on the other. And Lisa Berger now knows: "These boats are so much fun! I wouldn't have thought that they were such cool boats to handle!"

Berger bows to Kraševac

The comeback on the lake on her own doorstep has also given her the humorous skipper was a lot of fun. "We sailed races here every day. That's not a matter of course on Lake Attersee. The conditions were ideal," says the young woman, who can look out over Lake Attersee from her terrace at home, where she was finally able to be active again and win the European Championship title.

Lisa Berger knows her European Championship helmsman Uroš Kraševac from their mini time together. He was the best rookie in the mini-transat in 2023 as series boat fifth. She explains: "We got to know each other during the Mini-Transat qualifiers. He is an extremely good sailor and was also on board with us at the European Championship "The Brain". I'm sure he would win a Mini-Transat if he could find the support for it."

Lisa Berger herself has long had other plans and wants to take part in the single-handed circumnavigation from autumn 2027. Global Solo Challenge take part. Her Class40 "Wilson" is currently moored in Kiel-Schilksee, where it will soon be launched. "The first step is to have the mast, hull and keel scanned to see if the boat is structurally OK. 'Wilson' is an older boat. That's why this is important," explains the 36-year-old.

"Wilson" in Kiel, sights set on the next circumnavigation

According to the intrepid sea racer, further plans will then depend on the test results. Lisa Berger thinks out loud and says: "In the best case scenario, I'll tinker with the boat for a few months. Ideally, I'll be back in the water in autumn. Taking part in the RORC Transat with guests would then be a possibility. Maybe even a start in the Caribbean 600." In a perfect world, Lisa Berger would then sail the boat back to Europe single-handed. "I have to practise sailing solo," says the "Wilson" owner, explaining her planning thoughts. One thing is certain for her: "Wilson will sail around the world again!"

This is how fans got to know Lisa Berger at Globe40 - the "Wilson" skipper in the Q&A during the circumnavigation: