Marina di Scarlino – Just a couple more days and the 2026 J/70 Cup will be a reality: the first event of the season, organized by J/70 Italian Class in collaboration with the Yacht Club Toscana and scheduled to take place in the waters of the Gulf of Follonica, is ready to begin. This is a highly anticipated moment, as it marks the resumption of racing after the long winter break and defines the first seasonal rankings, highlighting the boats and teams destined for a leading role.

To date, for what will be the thirteenth first of the season and the fourth time the J/70s have been held in Scarlino – in 2014, 2017 and 2019 Calvi Network recorded three victories – there are just under twenty registered: a number in line with that recorded last year on the occasion of the debut leg which certainly does not lack in terms of technical level, given the presence of teams such as Rowdy, owned by the American Richard Witzel, already winner of the 2024 J/70 Cup, Mauro Roversi’s J-Curve, at the top of the class for several seasons and recent winner of the fourth edition of the Cascais Winter Series, and Gianfranco Noè’s White Hawk, who in 2023, in Riva del Garda, won the first Corinthian World Championship, reserved for specialists in the J/70 class. Manfredi Toninelli’s T-One will also be under special observation in Tuscany, while JB Sailing Team, led by J/70 Italian Class president Federico Siragna, will be considered an outsider in light of their excellent results at the Primo Cup.

Regarding the event format, it’s worth noting that the Yacht Club Toscana will race between Friday and Sunday over a maximum of eight races—thirty-two are scheduled for the entire 2026 J/70 Cup—with a discard counted after the sixth race.

Regarding the event organized by the Yacht Club Toscana, the program of side events is packed, including post-race socials and a crew party with tastings powered by Gin Vento.

“At the Yacht Club Toscana, we’re ready for a weekend of great sailing and are truly excited to see the J/70 one-design fleet in action, because it’s always an exhilarating spectacle, with races fought and fought to the last tack. Fortunately, the weather forecast is also on our side, so the famous race course in the Gulf of Follonica, which everyone envies us, will also be able to give its best, to the delight of the many sailors who, here, always have very high expectations. It will be a pleasure to share these days of sailing with them and welcome them, at the end of the day, to the spaces of our Club,” said Ettore Mattiello, president of the Yacht Club Toscana.

“There’s excitement in the air ahead of the opening leg, especially given the weather forecast, which predicts a particularly pleasant weekend. It will be interesting to meet the competitors on the competitive Scarlino race course and see who will be the overall leader in Lerici for the second leg,” explains Federico Siragna, president of J/70 Italian Class, adding, “What tipped the scales in favor of Marina di Scarlino, where we have always raced successfully in the past, was the opportunity to collaborate with the Yacht Club Toscana and its president, Ettorre Mattiello, whose organizational skills are well-known and appreciated in the sailing community.”

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