Gran Canaria Sailor Claims Silver at European J70 Championship
Canarian sailor Javier Padrón has secured the runner-up spot at the J70 European Championship in Barcelona, competing for the HSN Sailing Team, the only crew composed entirely of Canarians. This achievement marks Padrón’s sixth podium finish in the 2026 season.
This year alone, Padrón has won four gold medals in various competitions, including the J80 European and Spanish Championships, as well as in the J70 Conde de Godó and the ORC 1 SM La Reina event. He has also earned silver medals in the Spanish J70 Championship and at the recent European event in Barcelona, as reported by the Royal Canarian Sailing Federation.
“It’s been a fantastic season with several consecutive podiums and extraordinary results,” Padrón remarked. “I value this tremendously, as it reflects the countless hours of effort and the great teams involved in each project.”
Alongside Padrón, HSN Sailing Team members Gustavo del Castillo, Adolfo López, and Ricardo Terrades also earned the silver medal in the J70 category. Del Castillo and López are affiliated with the RCN of Gran Canaria, while Terrades is from the RCN of Arrecife.
The J70 European Championship took place from 20 to 26 July, featuring 80 boats, though not all were competing for continental points. The championship title was claimed by the Spanish boat Hang Ten, helmed by Catalan Món Canellas.
Looking ahead, Padrón’s next goal is the Copa del Rey, scheduled from 1 to 8 August in Palma, where he will race aboard the Vrolijk 37 Project Work in the ORC C class. “We approach the regatta with enthusiasm and aim to be competitive against a very high-level fleet,” he said.
The major highlight of the season will be the J70 World Championship in Cascais, Portugal, set for mid-September, where Padrón will again lead the HSN Sailing Team. “We arrive in good form, confident that our hard work this season will allow us to compete effectively,” he stated. “We know the competition will be intense, but we are eager to perform well.”
Additionally, seven Canarian sailors from Lanzarote, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria participated in other teams at the European Championship, with Alfredo González (RCNA) and Alberto Padrón (RCNGC) achieving the best overall position at 17th.
