Milan – In two near-unanimous votes, the J/70 International Class board has assigned the organization of two prestigious international events to the J/70 Italian Class: the 2027 J/70 Mixed Plus World Championship, scheduled for Naples, and the 2028 J/70 World Championship, scheduled for Porto Cervo. This is a ‘unicum’ in the history of the J/70, underscoring the confidence the J/70 International Class’s World Council has placed in the organizational capabilities of the J/70 Italian Class, chaired by Federico Siragna.

The only class in the world to offer the Mixed Plus world title—a formula that allows a maximum of two adult males on board—and awarded for the first time in 2025 in Torbole, thanks to the organization by the Circolo Vela Torbole and the J/70 Italian Class, the J/70 Mixed Plus World Championship was the revelation of the past season, both in terms of entries and competitive level, with over twenty-five Olympians on the entry list. A success destined to be repeated in late spring 2027 in Naples, the venue chosen for the 38th America’s Cup. Given the recent assignation, the J/70 Italian Class has immediatly initiated discussions aimed at identifying the host yacht club and finalizing the dates of the championship, currently scheduled for April or May.

In September 2028, J/70s from around the world will gather to Gallura for the J/70 World Championship, which is already the most anticipated ever. Crews will gather at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the aim to surpass the 161 that gathered in the same location for the 2017 J/70 World Championship, the most attended one-design class World Championship ever. The maximum number of crew allowed is set for 198. To allow for a thoughtful approach to this highly anticipated event, the J/70 Italian Class and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda will offer a triple appointment over the coming two seasons: from October 2nd to 4th this year, the J/70 Italian Championship will take place in Porto Cervo, while in 2027 and 2028, the yacht club will host an event of the J/70 Cup.

Please note that, as per tradition, the 2026 Italian J/70 Championship will be the final leg of the J/70 Cup. The circuit, organized by the J/70 Italian Class since 2012, will previously visit Scarlino (April 10-12), Lerici (May 8-10), and Torbole (June 26-28).

“As much as it was expected, given the intense public relations activity carried out in the past months, the outcome of the voting by the J/70 International Class board confirms the J/70 Italian Class as the partner of reference when aiming to leave something important to posterity: think of the record-breaking World Championship of 2017, the European Championship in Torbole in 2019, with over 120 boats at the start, the first edition of the J/70 Corinathian World Cup, held in Riva del Garda in 2023, and the first J/70 Mixed Plus World Championship, which proved to be one of the most exciting events of the past season. Exhilarating moments, which have become part of the history of the Class, and which we aim to replicate thanks to two international events of this magnitude. Regarding Naples, we hope to shortly identify the host club for the event, while in Porto Cervo, to which the Class still today associates very clear emotions, we will be guests of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. The idea of ??returning to Gallura to ??celebrate the tenth anniversary of the record-breaking World Championship was born following a meeting with Secretary General Giorgio Benussi and has been enriched with three events: the 2026 Italian J/70 Championship and a circuit event in 2027 and 2028. This path has been designed to best prepare for participation in the world championship. It should also be emphasized that such assignments attract the interest of important entities: this is the case of Confindustria Nautica and the Genoa’s International Boat Show, with whom we are identifying a possible collaboration. These are all reasons that lead me to imagine an 2026 Italian Championship with at least forty boats and a J/70 Cup with rapidly increasing numbers. More generally, I expect growing interest in the Class, making the experience even more engaging for owners and sailors and more rewarding the involvement of the commercial partners who support us. A program full of events, opportunities, and titles to be awarded, which brings us back to the adage: Forget the rest, J/70 is the best!” commented Federico Siragna, president of the J/70 Italian Class.

The J/70 Italian Class is supported by Lincoln International, Gottifredi Maffioli, Garmin, VelaMania, North Sails Collection, UtilGraph, Gin Vento, and Cantine Tinazzi.