J/70 European Championship 2026 at Real Club Nautico de Barcelona - Overall
by Julie & Christopher Howell 25 Jul 12:31 PDT
20-26 July 2026
Empeiria wins the J/70 European Championship 2026 in Barcelona © Torveo
Hang Ten Claims J/70 European Title in Barcelona as Empeiria Takes Overall Championship
The 2026 J/70 European Championship concluded Saturday, July 25 in Barcelona after five intense days of racing, during which all 10 scheduled races were completed. A total of 82 boats from 24 countries competed in one of the largest and most competitive editions of the Championship to date.
The final day was sailed in easterly winds of 8-12 knots, providing ideal conditions to decide the titles. The penultimate race was won by the American Rowdy, helmed by Richard Witzel, ahead of Spain's Patakin, skippered by Luis Albert Solana, and Germany's Paint It Black. With everything still to play for, Hang Ten held the lead for the European title while Empeiria remained in contention for the overall Championship victory.
The Championship was decided in the 10th and final race. The American Empeiria, helmed by John Heaton, claimed the race win ahead of Portugal's SailCascais and Brazil's OceanPact, securing the overall Championship. Spain's Hang Ten sealed the 2026 J/70 European Championship title by finishing as the highest-ranked European team in the final standings.
The overall Championship was won by Empeiria, with John Heaton at the helm and Gonçalo Ribeiro, Mark Spearman and Pavlo Mauso as crew. Spain's Hang Ten, sailed by Món Cañellas, Alberto Guillén, Ricard Castellví and Pol Font, completed an outstanding regatta to claim the European title while finishing second overall. Brazil's OceanPact, led by Haroldo Solberg with Mario Tinoco, Gabriel Silva and Carlos Robles, completed the overall podium. Fourth and fifth overall went to two more Brazilian teams: Mindset, skippered by Ralph Vasconcellos Rosa, and Tô Nessa, helmed by Renato Cunha.
In the division standings, Hang Ten added another title by winning the Corinthian Division for amateur crews, which featured 31 entries, capping an exceptional Championship. The One Pro Division, contested by 16 teams, was won by Denmark's Sirena Chico, helmed by Peter Buhl with Tomislav Basic, Matias Rossing and Mads Christian aboard. Portugal's Active Sailing, with Artem Basalkin, Anna Smotrova, Denis Kondranin, Anna Putintseva and Maria Beliakova, claimed the Mixed Division title. The Young Crew award went to Germany's Paint It Black, representing Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, with Mats Schönebeck, Fabius Müller-Kauter, Aike Braje and Bjarne Stegelmann aboard. The top female skipper of the Championship was France's Béatrice Joyaud, helm of Jour J.
The 2026 J/70 European Championship was organized by Real Club Náutico de Barcelona and took place from July 21-25 on the racecourse off Barcelona's waterfront.
Overall Results: (top five)
1. John Heaton - Empeiria (USA), 66 points
2. Alberto Guillén
Ricard CastellvíMón Cañellas - Hang Ten (ESP), 67 points
3. Haroldo Solberg - OceanPact (BRA), 94 points
4. Ralph Vasconcellos Rosa - Mindset (BRA), 106 points
5. Renato Cunha - Tô Nessa (BRA), 127 points
Corinthian Division (Top 5
31 boats)
1. Alberto GuillénRicard CastellvíMón Cañellas - Hang Ten (ESP)
2. Javier Padron - HSN Sailing Team (ESP)
3. Victor Mesterton - Liquid Sun (FIN)
4. Massimo Rama - Caim Jeniale Team (ITA)
5. Juan Calvo Boronat - Let It Be (ESP)
One Pro Division (Top 5
16 boats)
1. Peter Buhl - Sirena Chico (DEN)
2. Kai-Uwe Hollweg - Diva (GER)
3. Onur Erardag - Nautique Yachting (TUR)
4. Nick Zeltner - DirtySeven (SUI)
5. Gianfranco Noé - White Hawk (ITA)
Young Crew Division (Top 3)
1. Norddeutscher Regatta Verein - Paint It Black (GER)
2. Simon Kaiser - Iceborg (SUI)
3. Alexander Ott - Aprotec Ville de Genève (SUI)
Mixed Division
1. Anna Smotrova - Active Sailing (POR)
Event website: j70eurobarcelona2026.com