The 470 World Championship ready to cast off at Club Nàutic S'Arenal

The spectacular Claustre de Sant Bonaventura in Llucmajor hosted the official presentation of the 470 World Championship, which will bring together 64 teams of 27 nationalities at the Club Nàutic S'Arenal until the 3rd of March.

The event was presided over by the Mayoress of Llucmajor, Xisca Lascolas, and was attended by the President of Club Nàutic S'Arenal (CNA), José Ramón Picó; the President of the Balearic Sailing Federation (FBV), Catalina Darder; the Vice President of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation (RFEV), Joaquín González; and the President of the 470 Class, Andreas Kosmatopoulos. The representatives of the Government of the Balearic Islands cancelled their participation due to the two days of mourning decreed for the death of the former President of the Balearic Parliament, Jeroni Albertí.

José Ramón Picó highlighted the importance of this World Championship and the special relationship between the club and the 470 Class: "More than two decades ago, in 1998, the Club Nàutic S'Arenal organized a 470 World Championship. It was a historic moment for the club, and since then the 470 class and the CNA have developed a strong bond. We must not forget that this class has given us great Spanish sailors with Olympic medals, such as Jordi Calafat, Theresa Zabell or Via Dufresne. The CNA becomes the epicenter of world sailing, and it is an opportunity to celebrate our passion for the sea and the sport. It will also be the first Olympics where men and women will share a boat in the 470 as a sign of the evolution of our sport.

Andreas Kosmatopoulos thanked the organizers: "I would like to thank the local authorities, and especially the Club Nàutic S'Arenal, not only for hosting us, but also for their hospitality. This event will decide four tickets to the Games, so it is especially important. Among the crews that will compete for this World Championship are the Olympic champions of Paris 2024". 

For her part, Xisca Lascolas highlighted the international projection of the event: "I am proud as mayoress that the CNA is hosting a world event of these characteristics; that our sea and our bay become the epicenter of this competition with athletes from 27 countries who will compete not only to become the best in the world, but also for the last chance to enter the Olympic spots.” The Mayoress of Llucmajor was in charge of officially opening the 2024 World Championship: "I declare this 470 World Championship open".

The event ended with a performance of the ball de bot, a traditional Mallorcan dance, in the setting of the Claustre de Sant Bonaventura, a 17th century building considered the most important civil monument in Llucmajor. 

The 470 World Championship will feature 64 crews of 27 nationalities, including the team that will represent Spain at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Jordi Xammar and Nora Brugman. The Spanish tandem's rivals will include the world champions of the last two editions: the Japanese Keiju Okada and Miho Yoshioka (2023) and the Germans Luise Wanser and Philipp Autenrieth (2022). The event will select the last Olympic berths in the 470 class for Africa, South America, North America and Europe. 

The 470 World Championship will kick off on Monday, 26th of February, with the official training regatta. The points distribution will start at 12:00 on Tuesday, 27th of February. After three days of qualifying races and two days of Final Series, the top ten teams will decide the title in the Medal Race on the sixth and final day of competition, Sunday 3rd of March.

The Championship is organised by the CNA, the International 470 Class Association, the Real Federación Española de Vela and the Federación Balear de Vela, with the support of the Govern de les Illes Balears, the Consell Insular de Mallorca and the Ajuntament de Llucmajor.