Torbole – Even before the start of the third leg of the 2026 J/70 Cup, Lake Garda has already delivered its verdict, confirming the excellent health of the J/70 class and the strength of the J/70 Italian Class. After attracting around twenty entries at the first two events of the season, the fleet has surged past the thirty-boat mark in Torbole, hosted by the Circolo Vela Torbole.
“The numbers in Torbole once again demonstrate that, in terms of participation and community spirit, very few sailing classes can match the J/70 movement. It should not be forgotten that we arrive on Lake Garda just a few days before the start of the J/70 European Championship in Barcelona, an event that will involve many crews, especially from Spain, Italy and Germany, many of whom are regular competitors on the J/70 Cup starting line,” commented J/70 Italian Class President Federico Siragna, who added: “As far as the Italian fleet is concerned, it is great to see that around ten Italian boats will be competing in Spain, making Italy the third-largest national fleet at the European Championship. Only Spain, as the host nation, and Germany, where the Deutsche Segel Bundesliga has given the boat tremendous visibility, will have larger representations.”
Thirty-three boats, to be precise, will compete in Torbole, one of the most popular destinations among J/70 sailors thanks to its reliable weather conditions and the quality of the facilities available to competitors. It is no coincidence that exactly one year ago the first J/70 Mixed Plus World Championship was held on the Upper Lake Garda waters. The J/70 International Class is the only sailing class in the world able to award this title. The event attracted nearly sixty boats and featured numerous Olympic medallists battling for the championship.
Among the expected protagonists of the regatta, which will take place at Circolo Vela Torbole from Friday through Sunday over a scheduled eight-race series, are Andrei Pushkin’s Tenzor Team, winner of the Lerici event; gSpot, second in Scarlino, helmed by Matteo Marenghi Vaselli; current 2026 J/70 Cup overall leader J-Curve, owned by Mauro Roversi; and several strong outsiders, including the Corinthian entry White Hawk of Gianfranco Noè and Euro-Voiles of Louis Barbet. Also among the contenders are the American team Callisto, skippered by William Felder, and the Monaco-based Charisma, helmed by Carlo Vroo and featuring an impressive afterguard consisting of Andrea Racchelli, Michele Gregoratto and Patrick Costa.
“Following the tremendous success of the 2025 J/70 Mixed Plus World Championship, we are particularly proud and honoured to welcome the J/70 fleet back to Torbole for the third event of the circuit. The return of such a large fleet confirms the strong bond between the J/70 class and our club, as well as the recognition of the outstanding sailing conditions offered by Garda Trentino for high-level competition. Three intense days of sport, competition and spectacular racing await us, during which crews from different backgrounds will compete in a highly technical and competitive environment. For our club, this represents an important opportunity to promote the region and further strengthen Torbole’s reputation as an international sailing destination. I would like to thank all the athletes, teams, race officials, volunteers and sponsors who contribute to the success of this event. I wish all participants fair winds, exciting racing and an enjoyable stay on Lake Garda,” said Mauro Versini, President of Circolo Vela Torbole.
The J/70 Italian Class, which uses the Vakaros RaceSense system to manage race starts, is supported by Lincoln International, Garmin, VelaMania, North Sails Collection, UtilGraph, Gottifredi Maffioli and Gin Vento.
