Please select your home edition
Edition
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP TOP

Sandberg Estates J/70 Worlds set for an exciting line-up of 100 boats

by Alejandro Varela 7 Sep 2024 20:36 NZST 13-22 September 2024
J/70s at the 42 Copa del Rey MAPFRE © Nico Martinez / 42 Copa del Rey MAPFRE

The Sandberg J/70 Worlds, to be held in Palma from 13th to 22nd September, will be a landmark in the history of sailing world championships; not only due to the extremely high quality of the teams in the most numerous One Design class in the world, but because of the starting procedure system used in each race.

GPS Control at the start

One hundred J70s will be lining up to take the start line, which can mean additional pressure for the fleet, since any boat that is too early 'over the line,' and makes a false start, can force the whole fleet to return to the starting area and to retake the starting procedures. This situation can almost certainly lead to a less promising result in any such race.

Therefore, to have a bona fide and trustworthy system of knowing immediately which team has started early, information that is then directly transmitted to the fleet, is crucial, and involves a great deal of responsibility from the Race Committee.

For this edition of the World Championships in the Bay of Palma, the competition will be supported by the innovative system "RaceSense", an electronic appliance which each boat will carry on board, enabling the precise position of the teams to be transmitted at the exact moment of crossing the line. In under a second, this information is transmitted to those boats that are 'over the line' so they can begin to exonerate the infraction as soon as possible.

Support from the Spanish Navy and the Naval Commission of Regattas

The Real Club Nautico de Palma is getting ready to receive close to the one hundred teams of the J/70 fleet, their boats, vehicles, tow trucks and RIBs, with the added logistics coordination involved with measuring each of the boats beforehand, to certify the team's entry into the World Championships. A challenge, which naturally requires a large area on land for the boats to be taken out of the water with a crane so they might be measured, weighed and then returned to the water.

Likewise, space is required not only to park and store the boat tows but also the support RIBs (rigid inflatable boats), and without the collaboration of the Spanish Navy and the Naval Commission of Regattas, (which is based at Porto Pi), it would not be possible to organize a World Championships of this scale.

Team training

For a few weeks, many of the teams have already begun training on the racecourse (situated between Portixoll and Cala Gamba) in the Bay of Palma. The current world title holders, British team, Tom Mallindene and Charlie Thompson's Brutus III for example have been encountering a good dozen other teams who are doing the same.

Rafael Gil, president of the RCN de Palma, highlighted the importance of this World Championships, both for its sporting value, and for the high number of participants, "It is an honour for the Real Club Náutico de Palma to welcome the 98 teams from 25 countries, that will compete in this prestigious edition of the J/70 Worlds. I want to thank them all for their participation and for their trust in our club to provide them with an unforgettable experience here in the Bay of Palma."

Gil also emphasised the club values, "We are proud to offer them our hospitality and hope they enjoy the competition and the facilities and services we have provided for them. To host an event of this side is a true logistics challenge, but we have a highly qualified team, with a huge organisational experience in large sailing events. I wish all the participants the very best of luck and that they enjoy their time in Palma."

More information at www.rcnp.es/j70worlds

Related Articles

Introducing the Micro Gateway from Cyclops Marine
Live load data, simplified - smaller, smarter, even more connected At Cyclops Marine, we're driven by the pursuit of precision, performance, and progress. As the marine industry continues to embrace digital transformation, our technology is evolving rapidly. Posted on 10 Jul
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy 2025 overall
A weekend marked by strong winds, demanding seas, and top-level racing in Cascais The 6th edition of the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy came to a close this Sunday after a weekend marked by strong winds, demanding seas, and top-level racing in Cascais. Posted on 7 Jul
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy 2025 Preview
International sailing & ocean conservation unite in Cascais From July 4 to 6, Cascais hosts the biggest sailing regatta of the year with a strong focus on sustainability. The Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy celebrates six years of diversity, competition, and environmental commitment. Posted on 30 Jun
J/70 Mixed-Plus Worlds at Lake Garda Overall
Winners crowned at inaugural event, hosted by Circolo Vela Torbole It's hard to imagine a better debut for the inaugural J/70 Mixed-Plus World Championship, held in the iconic sailing venue of Torbole on Lake Garda in Italy. Posted on 29 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 10
Seven nations celebrate victories at the finale On the final sailing day of Kieler Woche 2025, there were beaming faces all around the Olympic Centre in Schilksee. Eleven decisions were made on Sunday and alongside Germany, Denmark, France, GB, Malta, Sweden, & Hungary were able to celebrate victories. Posted on 29 Jun
SGS Gold at Kieler Woche goes to France and GB
The best German team, Theresa Löffler and Christopher Hoerr, finished fifth With a victory in the final medal race of the Kieler Woche, the British team of Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris secured gold in the 470 class on Sunday (June 29). Posted on 29 Jun
Infante crowned French J/70 National Champions
The French J/70 class continues to grow nicely and competition continues to heat up The French J/70 class continues to grow nicely and the competition also continues to heat up. La Rochelle Nautique hosted the 2025 French J/70 Nationals for a fleet of twenty-one teams. Posted on 29 Jun
Fun, fabulous sailing @ J/70 Helga Cup
The eighth edition was hosted by Norddeutscher Regatta Verein The eighth edition of the J/70 Helga Cup was hosted by the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein in Hamburg, Germany for an international field of sixty-one all-women's teams on the gorgeous, tree-lined Alster Lake in downtown Hamburg. Posted on 29 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 9
Hosts without Sailing Grand Slam medals, but leading in five classes The final six medals in the mixed classes of the Olympic Sailing Grand Slam (SGS) at Kieler Woche will be awarded on Sunday (June 29) without any German contenders. Posted on 29 Jun
J/70 Mixed-Plus Worlds at Lake Garda Day 3
Yupi extends its lead, To Nessa climbs on to podium: all eyes on the grand finale in Torbole A busy day full of tactical challenges wrapped up in Torbole Saturday, where the first-ever J/70 Mixed-Plus World Championship continues at full speed. Posted on 28 Jun
PredictWind - GO! exec 728x90 BOTTOMLloyd Stevenson - AC INEOS 1456x180px BOTTOMBoatseekr_LeaderBoard_5 - BOTTOM