Cascais J/70 Summer Cup 2026 concludes final World Championship warm-up
by Press CNCascais 8 Jul 13:21 BST
July 3-5, 2026
The Clube Naval de Cascais hosted the Cascais J/70 Summer Cup from July 3rd to 5th, welcoming 17 teams from 7 nations for what proved to be the final major regatta in Cascais ahead of the 2026 J/70 World Championship, scheduled for September.
With teams from across Europe, North and South America continuing their preparations for the Worlds, the Summer Cup offered one final opportunity to refine boat handling, test race strategies and gain valuable experience on the Cascais racecourse. Although forecasts suggested very light conditions throughout the weekend, the Race Committee successfully completed all nine scheduled races, making the most of every racing opportunity.
Day 1 - OceanPact and Patakin set the pace
The opening day delivered classic tactical racing, prompting the Race Committee to complete four races instead of the three originally scheduled, anticipating lighter conditions for the remainder of the weekend.
Before racing, Flavio Andrade, helming Brazil's OceanPact, explained the team's objective:
"We're here to learn and experience this wonderful Cascais venue. Haroldo Solberg will helm the boat at the Worlds, so this weekend is all about gaining experience. Cascais never disappoints."
Race 1 belonged to Luis Albert's Patakin (ESP), who sailed an excellent opening beat to secure victory ahead of Flavio Andrade's OceanPact (BRA). Diogo Rodrigues Pereira's Navis (POR) completed the podium after a consistent performance throughout the race.
OceanPact quickly responded in Race 2. Flavio Andrade guided the Brazilian crew to victory ahead of John Heaton's Empeiria (USA), while Diego Guardamino's Wilco (ESP) crossed the line in third.
The Brazilians maintained their momentum in Race 3, once again finishing ahead of Patakin, with Gulboy Guryel's Denizcik (TUR) securing an impressive third place after steadily climbing through the fleet.
The final race of the day produced another twist as Denizcik mastered the shifts to claim victory. Patakin finished second after recovering brilliantly from an average start, while Navis added another podium finish in third.
Day 1 Overall Standings:
1. OceanPact - Flavio Andrade (BRA)
2. Patakin - Luis Albert (ESP)
3. Empeiria - John Heaton (USA)
Reflecting on the opening day, Luis Albert praised both the fleet and the race management: "The fleet is incredibly tight. We managed to recover from bad starts in two races by choosing the stronger side of the course. I don't think I've ever recovered like we did today. It was a very tactical day and the Race Committee did an excellent job getting four races completed."
Day 2 - OceanPact extends its lead
Contrary to the forecasts, Cascais once again provided enough breeze for another full day of racing. Anticipating lighter winds on Sunday, the Race Committee again decided to complete four races, giving the fleet a valuable extra opportunity before the Worlds.
Before heading afloat, Gulboy Guryel explained that Denizcik was using the event as preparation for September:
"Everything is new for us — the crew, the charter boat, the venue. Every race we're learning something and getting more comfortable. That's exactly why we're here before the World Championship."
OceanPact continued its remarkable consistency by winning Race 5. Flavio Andrade held off Nuno Espírito Santo Silva's Bábá (POR) throughout the final run, while Bruno Bethlem's Aretê (BRA) crossed in third.
Race 6 saw the Portuguese teams strike back. Diogo Rodrigues Pereira steered Navis to victory after an excellent first beat, finishing ahead of José Paulo Ramada's AP Hotels (POR). OceanPact limited the damage with another podium finish in third.
The Brazilians returned to winning ways in Race 7. OceanPact once again demonstrated impressive boat speed, beating Luis Albert's Patakin, while Bábá completed another solid podium.
The final race of the day went to John Heaton's Empeiria (USA), whose team bounced back after experimenting with different boat settings earlier in the championship. Bábá continued its consistent performance in second, while Wilco rounded out the top three.
Day 2 Overall Standings:
1. OceanPact - Flavio Andrade (BRA)
2. Patakin - Luis Albert (ESP)
3. Empeiria - John Heaton (USA)
Although his own team had endured a difficult day, John Heaton highlighted the quality of the championship:
"The competition is amazing. The venue is fantastic, the Race Committee has been excellent and we're really happy to be here. We've been experimenting with the boat setup, but that's on us, not the venue."
Day 3 - OceanPact seals the Summer Cup
Despite expectations of very little wind, enough breeze filled in for one final race to complete the championship.
Before racing, Luis Martin Cabiedes, helm of Spain's Noticia, reflected on the growing strength of the fleet:
"The fleet keeps growing in both size and quality. There are already some of the best J/70 teams in the world here preparing for the Worlds, and that's only going to increase in September."
The final race produced another dramatic finish. Bruno Bethlem's Aretê claimed victory after an excellent tactical performance, while Nuno Espírito Santo Silva's Bábá finished second. OceanPact crossed third, which proved more than enough to secure the overall championship after three days of remarkably consistent sailing.
Overall Results: (top three)
1. OceanPact - Flavio Andrade (BRA)
2. Patakin - Luis Albert (ESP)
3. Aretê - Bruno Bethlem (BRA)
Corinthian Division:
1. Out with the Buoys - Peter Stratton (POR)
Following the prize-giving, Flavio Andrade underlined the importance of the event as preparation for September:
"We had very interesting conditions, very tight racing and some of the best crews in the world sailing together. It was excellent training ahead of the World Championship. Cascais once again proved why it's such a fantastic venue."
Looking ahead
With the Summer Cup now complete, all attention turns to the 2026 J/70 World Championship, which will take place in Cascais this September.
Throughout the Winter Series, Spring Cup, Portuguese National Championship and Summer Cup, the international fleet has continued to grow, with teams from around the world returning repeatedly to gain valuable knowledge of Cascais' unique racecourse.
The Summer Cup confirmed what has become increasingly evident throughout the season: the level of competition has never been higher, and the stage is now set for one of the strongest J/70 World Championships ever held.
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