PAINT IT BLACK Wins Italian J/70 Cup Torbole by One Point
(Torbole, Italy)– A fierce duel between PAINT IT BLACK and G-SPOT was decided in favor of Michael Grau’s team by a single point following the eighth and final race of the third leg of the 2026 J/70 Cup, organized by Circolo Vela Torbole in collaboration with the J/70 Italian Class.
The solid lead Matteo Marenghi Vaselli’s team had built up by the end of the second day proved insufficient. After getting boxed in near the committee boat at the start of the seventh race (finishing twenty-fourth), G-SPOT placed eleventh in the final race, allowing the German team to overtake them.
Meanwhile, Michael Grau’s PAINT IT BLACK team— ably assisted by Gonzalo Ribeiro, Willem van Waay, and Florian Thoelen— secured an eighth and a third-place finish, closing the series with 32 points, one fewer than G-SPOT.
During the prize-giving ceremony, Willem van Waay— one of the J/70 class’s most renowned sailors and the tactician/trimmer for PAINT IT BLACK— spoke on behalf of Michael Grau’s team to publicly thank the organizers and address the fleet: “I’ve raced all over the world, and there is nowhere quite like Lake Garda. Its extraordinary beauty and the incredible energy driving the sailing, foiling, and windsurfing scenes make this place truly irresistible. It makes you want to drop everything and move here. The regatta was organized impeccably, featuring eight splendid races and a level of competition so high that it’s never over until it’s truly over. Naturally, we are delighted with the win, but what gave us the most satisfaction was reliving it and sharing three wonderful days of sailing with so many friends. We look forward to coming back.”
Rounding out the podium was Gianfranco Noè’s brilliant WHITE HAWK team, bolstered by the presence of Branko Brcin. They raced with great consistency, finishing outside the top ten on only two occasions. On the last day, a second and a sixth-place finish paved the way for them to climb from fifth to third place overall, while also securing victory in the OnePro category.
Corinthian Division
Just as in Lerici, the top Corinthian team in Torbole was Denis Infante’s EUROVOILES team, with Louis Barbet at the helm. The French team finished seventh overall, behind the American CALLISTO (fourth), the Australian VAMOS (fifth overall and winner of the final race), and the Swedish LEXIE (winner of today’s first race), but ahead of the J/70 Cup 2026 overall leader, Mauro Roversi’s J-CURVE.
Taking second and third place in the Corinthian division were the Irish team WILDCARD, with Harry Twomey at the helm, and Massimo Rama’s CAIM. Meanwhile, in the Mixed-Plus category, the Swiss team JERRY— led as always by Thomas Studer— celebrated victory!
With the third leg of the J/70 Cup 2026 now concluded, the J/70 Italian Class turns its attention to Porto Cervo and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, which will host the season finale from October 2-4; this event will also serve as the J/70 Italian National Championship.
The J/70 Italian Class, which uses the Vakaros RaceSense system to manage starts, is supported by Lincoln International, Garmin, VelaMania, North Sails Collection, UtilGraph, Gottifredi Maffioli, and Gin Vento.
For more Italian J/70 Cup sailing information
https://www.j70.it