Home-water advantage counted for plenty at Enoshima Week 2026, where Japanese pairing Kaito Ikeda and Asahi Miyazaki claimed the 470 class title after three days of racing at Enoshima Yacht Harbor.
The event served as a key tune-up ahead of the 470 World Championship at the same venue from 10 to 17 August, with the 470 class drawing the largest number of entries of any class at the regatta.
Thailand's Navee Thamsoontorn and Nichapa Waiwai finished second overall and took top mixed-crew honours, tied on points with Japan's Nonoko Nakamura and Kimihiko Imamura. Australia's Sophie Jackson and Austin Cross placed fifth among the Japanese fleet entries, with Malaysia's Muhammad Fauzi Kaman Shah seventh.
Jackson was candid about what drew her team to Japan. "There are so many 470s in Japan and the level is incredibly high, so competing in this regatta is excellent practice for us. The 470 World Championship will be held here in Enoshima this August, which is exactly why we decided to enter this event. In Australia, we only have about six boats nationwide at most. I really envy Japan for having such a huge fleet gather like this." She added with a smile: "I really enjoyed the racing!"
Much of the local fleet comprised newly formed mixed-gender crews working towards World Championship qualification. The mixed-crew format brings its own physical challenges, as Yuki Honda and Ryo Tsuchiya explained: "With mixed pairs, the combined weight is usually lighter, which can be a disadvantage in strong winds. We struggled quite a bit in the heavy conditions yesterday and today. We did our best and secured a place at the World Championships."
