Cascais J/70 Portuguese National Championship draws international fleet ahead of 2026 Worlds
by Press CNCascais 23 Jun 18:03 BST
12-14 June 2026
Clube Naval de Cascais hosted the 2026 Cascais J/70 Portuguese National Championship from June 12 to 14, bringing together 34 teams from 11 nations for one of the final major regattas before the J/70 World Championship, which will take place in Cascais this September.
Although the event crowned the Portuguese National Champion, the championship attracted a strong international fleet eager to gain valuable experience on the Cascais racecourse ahead of the Worlds. Under class rules, only teams composed entirely of Portuguese sailors are eligible for the national title, but that did not prevent some of the world's top crews from fighting for overall victory throughout three highly competitive days.
The championship delivered a complete range of Cascais conditions, from classic Atlantic breeze on the opening day to lighter and more tactical racing over the weekend, producing nine races and multiple changes at the top of the leaderboard.
Day 1 - Aretê shines in classic Cascais conditions
The opening day delivered the strongest breeze of the championship, with easterly to north-easterly winds ranging from 8 to 13 knots and gusts reaching 18 knots. Combined with Atlantic swell, the conditions rewarded crews capable of combining boat speed with tactical awareness.
The first race immediately showcased the strength of the Brazilian teams. Bruno Bethlem's Aretê (BRA) executed an excellent start and controlled the right-hand side of the course to secure victory. Doug Rastello's Good To Go (USA) crossed second, while Martin Dent's Jelvis (GBR) completed the podium.
Race 2 belonged to the Americans. Doug Rastello and Good To Go found another gear in the moderate breeze and claimed the win ahead of Bruce Golison's Midlife Crisis (USA). The leading Portuguese team in the race was Nuno Espírito Santo Silva's Bábá, finishing third after a strong recovery during the downwind legs.
The final race of the day produced another Brazilian success. Bruno Bethlem once again guided Aretê to victory after a near-perfect first beat. Behind him, Haroldo Solberg's OceanPact (BRA) secured second place, while Midlife Crisis added another podium finish in third.
The consistency displayed by Aretê placed the Brazilian team at the top of the standings overnight.
Day 1 Overall Standings
1. Aretê - Bruno Bethlem (BRA)
2. Good To Go - Doug Rastello (USA)
3. Midlife Crisis - Bruce Golison (USA)
After racing, Bruno Bethlem reflected on a successful opening day:
"It was a very nice day of sailing. Cascais always delivers great sailing conditions. We had two very good starts in the first and third races, chose the right side and sailed fast. There are a lot of good teams racing here this week and we're very happy with today."
Day 2 - Good To Go takes control
The second day brought a completely different challenge. Winds dropped to just 5-6 knots from the west and northwest, turning the championship into a highly tactical affair where positioning and patience became critical.
Race 4 saw OceanPact strike back. Haroldo Solberg's Brazilian team mastered the lighter conditions and claimed victory ahead of Doug Rastello's Good To Go. Filip Engelbert's Elvis (SWE) delivered one of the surprises of the regatta by securing third place.
The Spanish teams then entered the battle. In Race 5, Luis Albert's Patakin (ESP) sailed a superb race to take victory ahead of Richard Witzel's Rowdy (USA), while **Tiago Morais' Another Affair (POR) crossed third and strengthened its position among the Portuguese contenders.
Race 6 produced perhaps the biggest upset of the day. Gulboy Gouryel's Denizcik (TUR) mastered the difficult conditions to take an impressive victory. Filip Engelbert's Elvis continued its consistent climb with another podium finish in second, while Vasco Serpa's SailCascais (POR) finished third.
Despite a difficult final race that included an OCS and penalty turn, Doug Rastello's consistency throughout the championship allowed Good To Go to move into the overall lead.
Day 2 Overall Standings
1. Good To Go - Doug Rastello (USA)
2. Aretê - Bruno Bethlem (BRA)
3. Bábá - Nuno Espírito Santo Silva (POR)
Doug Rastello acknowledged how competitive the fleet had become:
"We've been going pretty fast and sailing well. The last race was difficult because we were over the line and had to go back and do a turn, but overall we're sailing very well. There are some great teams here and it's not easy to stay ahead. The sailing here is awesome and the race committee has done an exceptional job."
Day 3 - National title decided as Good To Go secures overall victory
The final day brought moderate north-easterly conditions and one final opportunity for teams to improve their positions before the championship concluded.
Race 7 saw Good To Go deliver exactly the response required from a championship leader. Doug Rastello's crew sailed a composed race to take victory ahead of Jorge Villanueva's Bodegas Villanueva (ESP) and Tim Ryan's Vamos (AUS).
Race 8 produced another twist. Bruce Golison's Midlife Crisis returned to winning form, finishing ahead of Luis Albert's Patakin and Filip Engelbert's Elvis. With positions changing constantly behind the leaders, every point became critical.
The final race of the championship went to Tim Ryan's Vamos after an excellent performance in the afternoon breeze. Bruno Bethlem's Aretê secured second place, while Nuno Espírito Santo Silva's Bábá finished third, enough to maintain a strong overall championship result.
When the final calculations were completed, Doug Rastello's consistency across all three days proved decisive.
Overall Results: (top three)
1. Good To Go - Doug Rastello (USA)
2. OceanPact - Haroldo Solberg (BRA)
3. Aretê - Bruno Bethlem (BRA)
Corinthian Division
1. Solid Fun - Lucas Karlemo (FIN)
Portuguese National Championship
1. Another Affair - Tiago Morais (POR)
While international teams occupied many of the leading positions overall, the Portuguese National Championship title was awarded to Tiago Morais and Another Affair, the highest-placed fully Portuguese crew.
Morais highlighted the value of competing against such a strong international fleet:
"This regatta was a great opportunity for all Portuguese teams to improve their skills. The level was extremely high. From the start to the finish, every boat was fighting together. You couldn't lose focus for a single second. It's a privilege to sail among some of the best sailors in the world."
Looking ahead
With only one major Cascais event remaining before September, the focus now turns toward the Summer Cup and the final preparations for the 2026 J/70 World Championship.
The Portuguese National Championship once again demonstrated why Cascais has become one of the most sought-after venues in international one-design sailing. The growing international participation, combined with the challenging Atlantic conditions and highly competitive local fleet, provided exactly the type of racing teams are seeking as they prepare for the biggest event of the season.
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