From 9 to 17 May 2025, the Adriatic city of Split, Croatia welcomed Europe’s top 470 sailors for the 470 Open European Championship — a key regatta in the Mixed Class calendar. Drawing 37 teams from 14 countries, the event served as one of the spring season’s most competitive and closely-watched fixtures.
Hosted by the respected J.K. Mornar Sailing Club — in collaboration with the International 470 Class Associationand under the guidance of the Croatian Sailing Federation — the championship followed two other major regattas: the Trofeo Princesa Sofía in Mallorca and French Olympic Week in Hyères, positioning Split as the spring's third decisive battleground for Olympic hopefuls.
Next on the class calendar: Enoshima Olympic Week in Japan, offering further insight into the form and potential of the world’s best mixed crews.
The 470 dinghy — named for its 4.70-metre length — remains one of sailing’s most admired classes. Designed to reward technical skill, teamwork, and adaptability, it offers a natural progression for sailors moving up from the slightly more forgiving 420 class.
An Olympic discipline since 1976, the 470 class transitioned to a mixed-gender format for the 2024 Games, a change that has brought fresh dynamics and renewed competitive intensity as the sport looks toward Los Angeles 2028.
The most recent Olympic podium in Marseille featured Lara Vadlau and Lukas Mähr (Austria) with gold, Keiju Okada and Miho Yoshioka (Japan) with silver, and Anton Dahlberg and Lovisa Karlsson (Sweden) securing bronze — setting a high bar for this new era of mixed competition.
The 2025 European Championship unfolded with suspense and precision, its final outcome shaped by the concluding Medal Race in light 7–9 knot conditions.
Spain’s Jordi Xammar and Marta Cardona Alcántara secured gold before the final day — their consistent fleet performance confirming Xammar’s successful title defence, this time with a new teammate.
Silver went to Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris (Great Britain), whose balanced and reliable performance across the week ensured a deserved place on the podium.
The battle for bronze remained alive until the final race, where France’s young pairing of Matisse Pacaud and Lucie De Gennes held their nerve, finishing third in the Medal Race and claiming third overall — an impressive result and a sign of promise for the next generation of French 470 sailors.
Beyond competition, Split’s maritime setting lent the regatta its distinct atmosphere. Easily reached by air, ferry, or road, the city offers a rare blend of cultural richness and nautical charm: Roman architecture, lively festivals, and Adriatic cuisine all against the backdrop of the Dalmatian mountains.
For sailors, Split serves as the perfect gateway to the Dalmatian islands — including Hvar, Brač, Šolta, Vis, and Lastovo — and farther reaches such as Korčula, Pelješac, and the Kornati archipelago. Its marina, among the largest in the region, makes Split a natural centre for cruising, racing, and offshore exploration.
The approach to Split from the sea — its ancient skyline rising beneath the mountains — remains one of the Mediterranean’s most memorable arrivals.
The 470 European Championship in Split reaffirmed both the competitiveness of the Mixed Class and the Adriatic city’s reputation as one of Europe’s premier sailing destinations — a place where tradition, sport, and natural beauty converge.
