Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris are the 2026 470 World Champions. The British crew sealed the title by winning the decisive second Medal Race in Enoshima, Japan, finishing with an overall margin of 14 points.
Light winds, one final race
The championship was decided in extremely light conditions off Enoshima, with Mount Fuji barely visible through the haze behind the fleet. The pair entered the final day carrying a points advantage after a week of consistent sailing, keeping their destiny in their own hands.
From the start to the finish
In the decider, Wrigley and Harris moved into the lead from the outset and never surrendered it. While German challengers Theresa Löffler and Christopher Hoerr fought back from a penalty turn to take silver, the British boat sailed clear to win the race outright and put the title beyond doubt.
"With the week we've had, with the tricky conditions, we knew how easy it is to get a bad race," Wrigley said afterward. Harris added, "It's so surreal after we had such a tough start. I'm so unbelievably happy."
Double gold in a season
The world title adds to the European 470 Championship the pair won earlier in 2026. For Spain's Jordi Xammar and Marta Cardona, the defending champions who took bronze, the result extended Xammar's run to eight consecutive world championship podiums.
A quiet morning in Sagami Bay confirmed a crew at the peak of its powers.
