The J/70 class fleet is ready to tackle the World Championship in the Bay of Palma

Fast, agile, and highly competitive. At just seven meters in length, the J/70 is possibly the most numerous one-design class in the world. Since its creation in 2012, the class has only grown in popularity, now reaching nearly 2,000 units sold in 30 countries.

The Sandberg Estates J/70 Worlds, which will determine the world champion this week in the Bay of Palma, will bring together the 100 best crews from around the globe. This Monday, September 16th, they will officially test their skills in the practice race.

At the helm of “Nildo” is Argentine Guillermo Parada, current skipper of “Gladiator” in the 52 Super Series and one of the most experienced sailors in the TP52 class. For him, the J/70 is “a very well-conceived boat from a design perspective, which is why it has had such global success.”

For the “Nildo” crew, this will be a real test, and they know it won’t be easy. As the Argentine skipper confirms: “For us, this is an event we’re entering mainly to get a feel for such a large fleet. I’m coming straight from Porto Cervo after competing with the Maxis, so I’m eager to sail, and above all, to remember what it’s like to do this with friends, with my brother, out of love for the sport. It’s our first time in the J/70 here in Palma, so let’s see how it goes.”

In total, 96 boats from 25 countries will compete starting Tuesday, September 17th, vying for the prestigious title hosted by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and the International J/70 Class Association. They will compete in what many consider one of the best racing venues in the world, and this Monday at 2:30 PM, they will have their first chance to test it with the practice race.

Giangiacomo Serena, skipper of the Monegasque “G Spot” and two-time Copa del Rey winner in ClubSwan 36, states: “There is definitely a strong maritime culture here, with excellent organization and a racing venue that is normally exceptional. We’ll be happy to finish in the top ten, but it won’t be easy because the competition level is very high.”

Parada, on the other hand, explains that the conditions in the bay “depend a lot on where the racecourse is set. The bay is very different if it’s near Arenal, in the middle of the bay, or closer to the shore or further out to sea.”

Monday’s events will conclude at the RCNP with the opening ceremony at 7:00 PM. The ceremony, welcoming the nearly 400 sailors competing for the season’s most important title until next Saturday, will be presided over by Vittorio Di Mauro, president of the international class, and Rafael Gil, president of the RCNP.

The Sandberg Estates J/70 Worlds 2024 is organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and the International J/70 Class Association, sponsored by Sandberg Estates, and supported by the Palma City Council, the Spanish Navy, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation, and the Balearic Sailing Federation.