Star Class Honoring the Past, Leading the Future
Paul Cayard wins overall with Julia Graber, Müller and Nehammer crowned Austrian Champions
Lake Wörthersee, Austria – June 2025 – The 2025 Austrian Star Championship, held last weekend on the picturesque waters of Lake Wörthersee, was an event to remember — not only for the quality of racing, but for the historic milestones reached by two outstanding female sailors.
Paul Cayard (USA), one of the most iconic names in international sailing, made a surprise appearance on the local racing scene and teamed up with Julia Graber (AUT). The duo showed their class and composure across five races sailed in exceptional conditions — with wind ranging from 7 to 16 knots — to secure first place overall.
Behind them, an inspiring story was unfolding. Julia Müller, a two-time Austrian youth champion, sailing with Christian Nehammer, not only claimed second place overall, but also secured the title of 2025 Austrian Champions — awarded to the top-finishing fully Austrian team.
This marks a historic first for Austrian sailing:
The first time a female skipper has won the national title
The first time a skipper under 30 years of age has achieved this milestone
Their road to the championship began in May at a local regatta in Attersee, where they placed fourth. After refining their teamwork in two targeted training sessions, Müller and Nehammer returned to Wörthersee determined — and delivered a standout performance against a seasoned fleet.
Completing the national podium was Roman Stelzl, who placed fifth overall and second among the Austrian crews.
With two women leading the top two teams, the 2025 edition will go down as a landmark moment for Star sailing — a powerful signal of progress for gender equality and youth development in one of the sport’s most traditional classes.
Beyond the racing, the atmosphere was quintessentially Star: laid-back, friendly, and filled with camaraderie. Local and national media, including Austrian television, covered the event, and the social gatherings felt more like intimate garden parties than formal regatta dinners — something Cayard himself praised as a unique strength of the Star Class.
“This event was a celebration of what sailing can be,” said Christian Nehammer. “Blending international experience with emerging local talent, and having two brilliant young women leading the way, made it unforgettable. It is my ninth Austrian title in the Star, but emotionally, it feels just like the first one”.
