The 5th and final event of the Cascais J/70 Winter Series took place from March 7th to 9th, marking the exciting conclusion of the winter J/70 sailing season.

Despite challenging weather conditions, the 27-boat fleet showcased remarkable resilience and skill in the waters of Cascais.

Severe winds and towering waves prevented any racing on Friday, March 7th, but the fleet was able to compete on Saturday and Sunday under unstable winds, big waves, and occasional rain squalls that tested the skills of the participants.

The standout team of the event was Irrational Exuberance, helmed by local sailor Diogo Machado Pinto, alongside António Matos Rosa, João Matos Rosa, and Afonso Leite. Their exceptional performance secured them the overall victory. Following closely behind was the impressive rookie team, Uon Sailing Team, consisting of Diogo Cayolla, Helder Basílio, Bernardo Freitas, and Tiago Leal. Rounding out the podium in third place was the Scottish team Jelvis, led by Martin Dent, with crew members Henry Wetherell, Rick Peacock, and Martin Wrigley.

The top Corinthian team, finishing 4th overall, was the Finnish team Liquid Sun, composed of Victor Mesterton, Ville Varesmaa, Simon Karlemo, and Emil Lindblom.

Season overview

With the conclusion of the second edition of the Cascais Winter Series, the overall series champion was Solyd Properties Developers, skippered by Vasco Serpa, with Afonso Domingos, Bernardo Plantier, and Tiago Alves.

This season saw remarkable participation, with 41 teams from 13 different countries competing. Across the five events, the series averaged 21 boats per event, ranging from a minimum of 16 teams in the first event to a peak of 27 in the final. An ambitious 45 races were scheduled, of which an impressive 35 were completed, resulting in a 78% race completion rate.

The local fleet continues to expand, and interest from international teams is growing steadily. The high level of competition and the consistent racing conditions in Cascais make it a premier venue for J/70 sailing.

Looking ahead

As the 2023/24 Winter Series wraps up, the excitement continues with major upcoming events. The next season kicks off with the Portuguese Nationals on the last weekend of September. Before that, Cascais will proudly host the inaugural J/70 Corinthian European Championship in the first week of April.

The calendar then aligns with the Galician fleet in Spain for the final stages of their Sailway Series in April and May, followed by the Spanish Nationals in June. The summer season will bring the fleet back to sunny and windy Cascais for the 1st Portuguese Worlds Qualifier in July, setting the stage for another thrilling year of competition.

The J/70 fleet in Cascais is growing stronger, and with rising international interest, the future looks bright for one of Europe’s most exciting winter racing circuits. See you next season – bigger and better!

The championship received generous support from several sponsors, including the Cascais Municipality, Turismo de Cascais, Vista Alegre, Sagres, Marina de Cascais, and SailCascais. Their contributions were instrumental in the success of this prestigious event.

• 5th WS results
• WS Overall Full results
• View photo gallery

by Clube Naval de Cascais 10