Ecuador's Morenita tops Chileans on their own Pacific swells

1 min read

Ecuador's Jonathan Martinetti has claimed the 2026 J/70 South American Championship, sailing Morenita to victory over a strong Chilean fleet on home waters.

The regatta ran from October 27-31 at the Cofradía Náutica del Pacífico in Algarrobo, Chile. Fourteen teams from four nations, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina, took on three days of racing out on the rolling Pacific swells off the club's waterfront facilities.

Martinetti won on 30 points, his margin coming down to consistency rather than outright speed. Finishing strongly race after race was enough to hold off the host nation's best, who were desperate for a home win.

Chile filled out the rest of the podium. Pedro Cabezón's Los Rolling took second on 40 points, with Pablo Herman's New Wave third on 42, a result that will sting locally but confirms the depth of Chilean talent in the class.