Switzerland's Julian Flessati and Stephan Ammann have won the 470 Open European Trophy & Master's Cup 2026, sealing the overall title on the final day after five days of tight, tactical racing.
It wasn't straightforward. The Swiss pair also picked up the Apprentice Masters title and the Joachim Hunger Trophy, but only after fending off a determined push from the local Slovenian crew.
Dušan Puh and Matjaž Puh, a father-and-son team sailing on home waters, won the first two races of the final day. Dušan Puh was the oldest skipper in the fleet, and the pair's charge put real pressure on the Swiss leaders heading into the last race.
"It feels really good to be the winners! It was a fight until the end," said Flessati. "On the second beat, we managed to get in front of the Slovenian guys. We knew that this was the win for us, and we tried to defend it until the end. We are really happy with the outcome."
"They sailed very well in the first two races," he added. "We knew that in the last race we had to be in front of them, or at least make sure they did not win the race. In the end, we managed to stay in front and we are really happy with the result."
The Puhs' late surge was enough to secure second overall and the Grand Masters title. France's Bernard Boime and Gilles Espinasse rounded out the podium in third, also claiming the Grand Grand Masters category. Slovenia's Miran Gustin and Ela Žagar took the Masters title, finishing fifth overall.
Igor Marenić, President of the International 470 Class and Olympic champion from Rio 2016, was on hand for the regatta.
"The regatta, sailed over five days, went very well. It was the first Master's Cup that I attended, and I have to say the level of the sailors was impressive," Marenić said. "Sailors showed incredible skill and incredible fighting spirit. It was very nice, and even emotional, to see how hard they tried."
He also thanked the hosts. "An event like this, like any other event we organise, would not be possible without the great support of the local authorities and organisers. I have to thank the Pirat Yacht Club and everybody who helped make such a wonderful event."
There were lighter moments among the results, too. The award for oldest boat still racing went to Claudio Cestari and Marianna Nocella, sailing a 470 built back in 1979, proof that a good hull ages just as well as a good sailor.
There was also a special prize for the heaviest crew, over 160kg combined: Maike Mulser and Björn Blom. In the Masters fleet, apparently, extra weight isn't always a handicap.
Marenić presented the prizes alongside decorated Slovenian Olympians Tina Mrak and Mitja Margon. The next edition, the 470 Master's Cup 2027, is already on the calendar.
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