The Olympic 470 dinghy class closed a compact but influential season marked by dominant performances, youth success and experimentation on the racecourse.
The post-Olympic year reshaped the international fleet and set a sharp competitive tone.
Ireland was last represented in the class at the London Olympics in 2012.
Senior events: Spanish crews set the pace
The season opened in Split, Croatia. After weeks of joint training, Jordi Xammar and Marta Cardona took gold.
Britain’s Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris finished second. France’s Matisse Pacaud and Lucie de Gennes placed third.
Less than two months later, the World Championships in Gdynia confirmed the pattern. Xammar and Cardona claimed a second major title.
Germany’s Simon Diesch and Anna Markfort secured silver. Wrigley and Harris returned to the podium with bronze.
Junior championships draw global interest
Nearly 50 crews raced at the Junior Europeans and 42 at the Junior Worlds.
In Murcia, Israel’s Roy Lavy and Ariel Gal won the Junior World title. France’s Lomane Valade and Julien Bunel were second, with Italy third.
Two weeks later, Valade and Bunel took the European crown. Israel finished second, with Greece third in the European standings.
New race formats tested
World Sailing-backed trials aimed to improve clarity and spectacle.
At Gran Canaria Olympic Week, a compressed scoring system kept gaps tight. The title remained undecided until the final race.
At the Polish Championships, short-format races shifted focus from trimming to tactics and manoeuvres.
“This format forces you to think more about positioning and your rivals,” said Szymon Wierzbicki.
Breakthrough year for Cardona
Marta Cardona enjoyed a standout debut season alongside Jordi Xammar.
The pair won both European and World titles. Cardona was later named Young World Sailor of the Year.
“It’s an honour to be here,” said Xammar at the World Sailing Awards. “We had an amazing year with Marta.”
SEA Games success for Thailand
Thailand claimed 470 gold at the 2025 SEA Games.
Navee Thamsoontorn and Nichapa Waiwai won by four points after ten races. Malaysia took silver, with the Philippines earning bronze.
Olympic milestone ahead
The 470 class marks 50 years in the Olympic Games in 2026.
Introduced in 1976, the class has evolved from open to gender-specific and now mixed-gender competition since Paris 2024.
New management committee named
The 470 Internationale confirmed its Management Committee for 2025–2028.
President Igor Marenic said: “We will continue to strengthen our class and support our sailors worldwide.”
