Sell-out for J/70 World Championship

The 2024 J/70 World Championships has not only reached the maximum number of entries established by the J/70 Class (99 pre-registered teams), but moreover has a waiting list with an additional thirty teams signed and paid. Racing is planned for September 17-22 on the Spanish island of Mallorca in the western Mediterranean.

Tom Mallindine and Charlie Thompson’s British team BRUTUS III will seek to defend their 2023 World title against a fleet from 27 countries, the most numerous being the North American delegation with 15 teams, followed by the Spanish contingent with 12, and the Italian and Brazilians with 7 boats each.

Race details: https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=16441

Spain, Stronger Than Ever
With the World Championship taking place in their favorite “backyard” in Palma, the Spanish fleet brings great potential to the competition, including some very experienced and long-established teams that have won multiple J/80 World Championships.

They include teams from Vigo such as Luis and Jorge Pérez Canal’s Abril Verde and Abril Rojo, respectively, and Enrique Freire’s Marnatura skippered by Luis Bugallo, or Jorge Martínez Doreste’s Hang Ten and Luis Martínez Doreste’s Monjo from the Canary Islands.

From Barcelona’s fleet are Pablo Garriga’s Tenaz and Luis Martín de Cabiedes’ Noticia. From Santander are formidable teams like Jose María “Pichu” Torcida and Marcelo Baltzer’s Let It Be. Three local teams from Palma will also participate; Maria Bover’s Balearia, Miguel Coll’s Nautia.Net, and Luis Albert’s Patakin, with Olympic medalist Joan Cardona on the team.

The Argentinian teams are another habitual fleet to be found on the Bay of Palma and four boats will represent their country, including a regular in the RCNP regattas, Guillermo Parada with Nildo.

The Main Favorites
As well as the defenders of the title (Charles Thompson’s Brutus III), a further seven teams with a strong possibility of a podium position are also noteworthy to mention. They include previous J/70 World Champion Joel Ronning’s Catapult, Laura Grondin’s Dark Energy, Richard Witzel’s Rowdy, and Brian Keane’s Savasana. From Monaco, Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio’s G-Spot and the Italians Luca Domenici’s Notaro and Claudia Rossi’s Petit Terrible- Adria Ferries are also on the list of favorites for this year’s title in Palma.

The Logistics Challenge
Hosting a fleet of one hundred teams at the Real Club Nautica de Palma involves additional challenges for the club on the ground. Every team arrives with a minimum of one maintenance/storage vehicle and a tow trailer, as well as the competition boat itself. That’s approaching 1,000 sailors on the RCN Palma’s facilities every day- sailors, support teams, coaches, family & friends!

As such, it is not just a question of preparing the docks for a fleet of 99 boats, but also the support RIBs, the managing jury on the race course, the Race Committee, and facilities for the press (cameramen, photographers, editorial, and social network staff), as well as the personnel on the ground for sail measurement, car parking areas for each team’s vehicles, and a storage area for the boat transport trailers.

Source: J/News