470 Open European Trophy & Master's Cup 2026 officially open
by International 470 Class Association 14 Sep 18:01 BST
14-19 September 2026
The Master's Cup got under way today in the Slovenian sailing hub of Portorož. Almost 30 crews from around the world will take to the starting line tomorrow, including Slovenian 1987 Junior World Champions Marko Kocijancic and Željko Planinšic.
Joining them in the Grand Masters category are Romanian sailors Bujor Rosca and Mihai Nicolae Fagarasan Manci, rivals of the Slovenian sailors back in the 1980s and competitors from the same era.
Also heading to Slovenia are the 2025 Grand Grand Masters winners, Bernard Boime and Gilles Espinasse (FRA 68). The Grand Grand Masters fleet will also feature Greek sailors Christos Mamtoumidis and Apostolos Makras. A multiple-time Greek Champion during his prime, Mamtoumidis has also claimed medals at this event on several occasions. All of this sets the stage for a highly competitive battle for the Grand Grand Masters title.
Among the competitors is also, a Slovenian sailor and windsurfer, 75 years old, Dušan Puh, widely regarded as one of the most experienced and versatile competitors in the history of Slovenian sailing. This time, he will be racing alongside his son.
"I participate in the Masters because, if we have it at home. I was coaching; my main class was Flying Dutchman for many, many years, so I learned a lot. Later, I was also coaching our Slovenian and Yugoslavian competitors, Olympians, and, finally, also my son. Now I have the possibility, or the challenge, to try it myself", said Puh.
For Puh, the goal during the 470 Open European Trophy & Master's Cup 2026 is not simply about results.
"The goal is to have fun and to test a little bit, and maybe also to improve things for our young people, to show them that even if we're old, we can compete. And that we know something about sailing."
Today in Portorož was all about registration, final preparations and getting ready for the first day of racing at the Master's Cup.
With light winds settling over the bay, some crews took the opportunity to get out on the water for a final training session, while others stayed ashore, fine-tuning their boats and making the last preparations ahead of the opening races. The atmosphere around the club gradually built throughout the day as sailors from different generations and countries came together once again.
The day came to a close with the official opening of the regatta at the club, marking the beginning of another edition of an event that is about much more than simply racing. The Master's Cup brings together sailors who have spent decades in the sport, many of them former champions and international competitors, offering a unique opportunity to return to the racecourse, meet old rivals and share the passion for sailing with a new generation.
For many of the sailors, the event is as much about the people and the memories as it is about the results. Former rivals from past decades now meet again on the same starting line, while fathers and sons can share the same racecourse, a reminder that the passion for sailing can span generations.
With almost 30 crews from around the world taking part, the competition is expected to be particularly close across the Masters and Grand Grand Masters fleets.
The first races are scheduled to start tomorrow at 11:00, with sailors finally set to go head-to-head on the water in Portorož.
Event website