470 Open European Trophy & Master's Cup 2026 - Day 1
by International 470 Class Association 15 Sep 10:39 PDT
14-19 September 2026
The 470 Masters Cup is officially under way in Portorož, and the Italian Grand Grand Masters duo of Giacomo Maranzana and Giorgio Leone wasted no time making their mark.
With three races completed on the opening day, the Italians sit at the top of the leaderboard after a consistent 2-1-2 scoreline.
Sailors took to the waters off Piran in challenging but enjoyable conditions, with the breeze ranging from 6 to 9 knots. The race course was set with the windward mark positioned in front of the picturesque town of Piran, offering the competitors spectacular views of the Adriatic throughout the racing.
"It was a fantastic day on the water. We made a 2-1-2, and I hope we are first after today! The conditions were fantastic, the racing was good, everything was okay" - said Giacomo Maranzana.
The Italian duo proved they were in no mood to ease into the regatta.
"The fleet is competitive, but today everything went perfectly. Nothing went wrong it was a fantastic day."
For Leone, returning to the 470 brings back memories that go much further than this Masters Cup.
"I raced in the 470 class when I was a child, and it's my first love in sailing. When I was young, I competed at the 470 Junior Championship against some of the best sailors, including a competitor who is now sailing with Luna Rossa" - Giorgio Leone recalled.
Swiss and German teams tied at the top of the Apprentice Masters
The battle is also tight in the Apprentice Masters category. Swiss sailors Julian Flessati and Stephan Ammann are tied on points with Germany's Rosa Hanig and Stefan Oetken.
The German pairing brings a special family story to the starting line: Rosa and Stefan are daughter and father, sharing their passion for sailing on the same boat.
"It's nice to learn a lot from him, and it's nice to spend some time with him", said Rosa Hanig.
For Stefan, sailing together with his daughter is equally special.
"It's perfect that she has a lot of fun sailing with me. It's great."
The 470 has been a big part of Stefan's life for many years, and now, that passion has become a family tradition.
"I have a lot of nice memories from the 470 Class. I sailed in great conditions when I was younger, and I also sailed with my brother years ago at the Masters Cup. For the last four years, I've been sailing with my daughter, and that's really nice. Sailing is definitely something that is very much part of our family" - he added.
Italians and Slovenians lead the Masters and Grand Masters
In the Masters category, Italy is also at the front, with Leonardo Passinetti and Stefano Barbarini leading the standings.
The Grand Masters category is led by Slovenian Dušan Puh and Matjaž Puh. Dušan is also the oldest sailor competing at this year's regatta, adding another remarkable dimension to the event.
With three races in the books, the 470 Masters Cup has already delivered close competition, light-to-moderate breeze and plenty of stories both on and off the water.
Full results here