J/70 International Class confirms Porto Cervo for 2028 Open World Championship
by J/70 International Class 28 Jan 04:13 NZDT
J/70 Open World Championship © Kurt Arrigo
On behalf of the J/70 International Class, I am delighted to confirm that the 2028 J/70 Open World Championship will be hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo.
The decision to award the 2028 Open World Championship was taken by the J/70 Class World Council, which is comprised entirely of member representatives from each of the 30 National Class Associations around the world, spanning Argentina to Australia.
Our members already know Yacht Club Costa Smeralda well. The Club successfully hosted the 2017 J/70 World Championship, an event that remains a landmark moment for the Class. That championship attracted 161 boats, setting what was at the time a world record for a one-design keelboat World Championship, and it is still widely regarded as one of the finest J/70 events ever held.
Looking ahead to 2028, we are planning for up to 198 entries, bringing together the very best J/70 sailors from around the world. The scale and quality of the fleet will make this one of the most competitive World Championships ever staged.
Beyond the racing itself, simply being part of such a gathering of elite sailors will be an extraordinary experience. With nearly 200 boats on the water and competitors from every corner of the globe, the 2028 J/70 Open World Championship will be not only a pinnacle sporting contest, but also a remarkable social occasion and a celebration of the international J/70 community.
We are confident that Porto Cervo will once again provide the perfect stage for this flagship event, and we look forward to working closely with Yacht Club Costa Smeralda as we build towards a truly exceptional World Championship in 2028.
The Open World Championship is only one of three World Championships held annually by the J/70 Class. In addition to the 2028 Open Worlds announcement, venues have also been confirmed for two equally prized Championships in 2027 - the Corinthian World Championship and the Mixed Plus World Championship.
This year we have over 100 entries already registered for the 2026 Corinthian World Championship in Marseille. The 2027 edition will be hosted by Real Club Náutico de Vigo, another spectacular venue also familiar to J/70 members who recall the epic European Championship held there in 2018.
The Mixed Plus World Championship, which promotes female participation was launched at Torbole, Lake Garda in 2025, attracting not only the top sailors from the Class, including 25 Olympians but also a record breaking female participation with over 125 women. The 2027 edition will be sharing the Americas Cup venue of Naples, Italy.
The J/70 Class is unique in its ability to deliver three World Championships, serving a diverse, international, and continually growing membership.