Paul Rodrigues and Christian Ebbin underlined their potential after topping the international podium at this year’s 29er European Championships that concluded in Saltsjöbaden, Sweden, at the weekend.

The local pair beat out the likes of the United States on the way to securing the title among the non-European nations, finishing 38th in the overall 173-strong fleet.

Rodrigues and Ebbin were among the 44 teams that qualified for the gold fleet and had their work cut out competing in the trying conditions among the world’s elite during the final two days of the regatta, which concluded on Saturday.

“We had some very challenging conditions these two days of racing,” helmsman Rodrigues told The Royal Gazette. “We are still very pleased with our outcome.

“This has given us a lot of experience to use going forward and was great training in preparation for Youth Worlds in December.”

Crew Ebbin was also pleased with the outcome and the progress that he and Rodrigues have made competing together in the class.

“We were happy to be the top international team with teams from Japan, South Africa and the United States,” he said.

“We had a great regatta even under the unique conditions it gave us.

“I was pleased with where PJ and I have come as a team in only a year of racing together and are looking forward to competing in the Youth Worlds.”

Rodrigues and Ebbin secured their spot in the gold fleet after placing 35th in the nine-race qualifying series, with three top-five finishes and a best showing of third in the penultimate race, competing in trying conditions.

It is the second successive time they have qualified for the gold fleet at an international regatta, having also done so at the Typhoon UK 29er Class National and Open Championships in Weymouth, England, last month when they placed 31st among an overall fleet of 91 to secure their spot at the Youth World Championships in Brazil in December.

Ireland’s Ben O’shaughnessy and Ethan Spain won this year’s European Championships, with Germany’s Per Christoffer Schwall and Carl Frederik Schwall claiming the silver medal and the Netherland’s Yanne Broers and Gustav Åsholm-Bradley bronze.