2026 470 Junior European Championship at Nida, Lithuania - Preview
by International 470 Class Association 21 Jul 05:57 PDT
22-27 July 2026
Fresh from the 2026 Junior World Championships in Gdynia, the international 470 junior fleet heads straight to Lithuania for another major event of the season, the 2026 470 Junior European Championship.
The championship is being hosted in Nida, one of the most picturesque sailing venues in the Baltic region. Located on the Curonian Spit between the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea, Nida has become a familiar destination for the 470 Class, having successfully organized several major championships in recent years, including the 2023 Junior World Championship. The venue offers good sailing conditions while showcasing unique natural surroundings of forests, dunes and protected landscapes. This year's championship will be sailed on the Curonian Lagoon.
Registration and equipment inspection began yesterday, while the official Opening Ceremony will take place today. As part of the championship's sustainability programme, sailors will participate in a tree-planting activity in the nearby forest before turning their full attention to racing.
Racing Schedule
The first races are scheduled for Wednesday, 22 July, with the opening warning signal at 12:00. After five days of fleet racing, the championship will conclude on Monday, 27 July, with the Medal Series for the top ten crews.
Strong international fleet
A total of 40 crews are expected on the starting line. Among them are the newly crowned Junior World Champions from Gdynia: Lisa Vucetti & Vittorio Bonifacio, as well as the defending Junior European Champions from 2025, Lomane Valade & Julien Bunel, who will be looking to add another major title to their impressive season.
- We began this journey here three years ago, so we want to end it with an amazing story. We'll see what happens on Monday at the end of the championship. Of course, we want to win. We've won three junior medals in the last three years, and we'd love to finish with another great result, said Lomane and Julien.
European titles at stake
The 2026 Junior European Championship will crown champions in several categories:
- Mixed U24
- Mixed U21
- Mixed U19
The first crew of the final official ranking list of the Mixed fleet will be awarded the "470 John Merricks Trophy" by the International 470 Class Association.
More information at the official website.