2026 470 European Championships: The atmosphere is heating up

Three days of warm-up

This year, 106 athletes have confirmed their participation in the European Championship in Vilamoura, Portugal. Ahead of them are six days of racing, split into three parts. The first one is a qualification series with five races, followed by the finals with seven races, and on Saturday (14 March), two medal races will decide the outcome.

The last two days were dedicated to registration, measurements, and the opening ceremony. The pressure is slowly mounting, and on Monday, the real battle begins.

“This week, we have the best teams of the class coming. Things are getting serious for these LA28 campaigns. The committee’s level is very high. We expect to have a very good event,” says Dimitris Dimou, 470 class representative.

Last weekend in Vilamoura was a great opportunity to check the venue and get familiar with the race course. During the Vilamoura Grand Prix, more than 20 crews competed, and the trophy was won by the Portuguese team Beatriz Gago and Rodolfo Pires.

A strong fleet, including both veterans and newcomers

On the starting line are several leaders who showed tremendous potential last year. Among them are Jordi Xammar and Marta Cardona, who arrive in Vilamoura as the defending European champions and the silver and bronze medalists from the 2025 Europeans. The British duo Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris, and Matisse Pacaud with Lucie De Gennes.

“We feel confident. We have worked hard this season and improved quite a lot compared to last season. Obviously, it will be a long week, but ready to fight,” said Jordi Xammar, on Saturday afternoon in the boat park.

“It’s important to have knowledge, strategy, and methodology to be able to understand what’s going on, what pattern you are sailing at, so it’s gonna be an interesting week”, adds Xammar.

There are strong French, British, German, and Italian contingents, including both experienced sailors and newcomers. The young generation is also strongly represented, with Junior World and European top teams on the entry list.

Not only will European teams be fighting for the win. Crews from Australia, the United States, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea have also confirmed their participation. Four young teams from Australia, and, for the first time, neutral athletes (two crews) are competing.

European Titles and the Kevin Burnham Trophy

The first European crew of the championship will be declared the “470 Class Mixed European Champion.” In addition, the overall winning crew will be awarded the 470 Kevin Burnham Trophy by the International 470 Class Association.

Kevin Burnham was a three-time Olympic sailor and two-time Olympic medalist representing Team USA. He won Olympic gold at the Athens 2004 Games together with Paul Foerster and previously won a silver medal at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, sailing with Morgan Reeser.

Text and images courtesy of 470.org.