Britain's Ed Wright won the Finn European title in taxing conditions at Cadiz today ©finneuropeans

Britain's Ed Wright won his second Finn European title in Cádiz today after a spectacular medal race in high winds and huge waves that nearly resulted in the event being cancelled.

Nicholas Heiner, from The Netherlands, had led all week, but several capsizes and a last place left him with the silver medal in Spain.

Five other sailors were in with a shout at the bronze and it eventually went to Sweden's Max Salminen, who managed to win the race.

The medal race had started with an average windspeed of 24 knots gusting to 29.

With the huge waves, it was on the limit of what was possible for competition.

The 40-year-old Wright, who last won this title in 2006, described today as "a crazy race", adding: "I saw Heiner capsize at the five-minute mark so then I realised everyone was having a hard time with the conditions, not just me.

"I knew I needed to nail the start which I did and immediately rolled Heiner, which was great and I had good speed to extend.

"I tried to sail him back and still stay in contention, as I needed boats between us.

Britain's Ed Wright celebrates the second Finn European title of his career in Cadiz at the end of what he described as a
Britain's Ed Wright celebrates the second Finn European title of his career in Cadiz at the end of what he described as a "crazy race" in challenging wind and waves ©finneuropeans

"I got an early gybe in on the first run and sailed the boat hard downwind and extended. 

"By then it was a matter of keeping it upright.

"The seas were massive and very difficult, but it was awesome sailing and awesome racing.

"I enjoyed every second.

"What a race - I am so happy to win the title again."

Heiner had needed to be within two boats of Wright to secure his first title in a medal race that had been brought forward to 9.30am to avoid forecast high winds.

"I have a five-point lead and am guaranteed a medal, but I have been leading all week and we want to finish that way for sure," Heiner had said.

But it was not to be for him.

"It was a really hard race today, with quite extreme conditions," he said.

"I didn't really sail my own race in the end and tried to stay close to Ed.

"Unfortunately I had a capsize on the downwind and another at the bottom mark.

"I just wasn't good enough today, and we know what we need to work on.

"I must say I haven't sailed much in these conditions in the finn.

"But that’s no excuse."

Fifth place in the medal race saw Wright finish overall winner with 57 points.

Heiner finished ninth and last following the disqualification of Brazil's Jorge Zarif.

The final race for the rest of the fleet was cancelled because of sustained gusts well over 30 knots and huge seas.

This meant that Nils Theuninck, from Switzerland, won the Under-23 European title from last year's winner, Britain’s Henry Wetherell and Ondrej Teply of the Czech Republic were third.