Barely has round 3 of the Sailing World Cup ended in Hyères, France and teams are heading for the Principality, some keen to consolidate their results and others determined to shuffle the pack.
 
The provisional entry list features 90 teams representing 26 nations, and fourteen of these teams competed at the Rio 2016 Olympics. This is an unprecedented gathering in the Principality, as expressed by YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri who commented that “after organising the first J/70 European Championship in October 2015, then the Monaco Europa Cup in December 2016, this regatta is a perfect illustration of the competitive sailing policy our President HSH Prince Albert II wants to see in action.”
 
With its new facilities designed by Lord Foster to host regattas, the Yacht Club de Monaco is fast establishing itself as an instigator of high level events by organising an international meeting in collaboration with World Sailing at least once a year. The 2,000 members from 68 nationalities who are the lifeblood of the Club love it, with many involved in the smooth running of these events in the “Flotte des Commissaires”. ‎
 
An outstanding field
The level is on a par with the Championship. Among the women’s teams are Dutch duo, Afrodite Zegers and Anneloes van Veen, 4th at the last Olympics, and Bàrbara Cornudella Ravetllat - Sara Lopez Ravetllat from Spain, 12th in Brazil but ranked 4th in the World Rankings.
 
In the men’s it’s impossible to make any predictions, with duos like Australians Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan, Olympic Vice-Champions, facing the Greek Rio bronze medallists, Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis. With six days of racing ahead and a medium wind forecast, competitors will have plenty of time to get to grips with the Monegasque race area, renowned for testing strategy and tactics to the limit.
 
It all starts Monday 8th May at 12 noon when the first race kicks-off. Spectacle guaranteed!
 
Programme
Saturday 6th May
6.00pm: Opening Ceremony
 
Sunday 7th May
2.00pm: warm-up race
 
Monday 8th May
12 noon: 1st warning signal. Qualifying stages.
 
Tuesday 9th May
TBA: 1st warning signal. Qualifying stages.
 
Wednesday 10th May
TBA: 1st warning signal. Qualifying stages.
 
Thursday 11th May
TBA: 1st warning signal. Qualifying and final stages.
 
Friday 12th May
TBA: 1st warning signal. Qualifying and final stages
 
Saturday 13th May
TBA: 1st warning signal. Final stages and Medal Race.
7.00pm: Closing Ceremony

About the 2017 470 Open European Championships
The 2017 470 Open European Championships is organized by Yacht Club de Monaco in co-operation with the International 470 Class Association. The racing format is an 11 race series scheduled for the 470 Men and 470 Women fleets with, depending on final fleet sizes, 5 qualifying series races, before the gold and silver fleet split for the 6 final series races. If each event sails as one fleet, then a single series of 11 races will be contested. The top 10 teams will then advance to the final Medal Race on Saturday 13 May 2017. Titles will be awarded in the 470 Men and Women for the overall Open European Championship leaderboard and the European Championship for European nations.

Nations represented at the 2017 470 Open European Championships are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, Finland, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine.

A performance racing machine, the 470 rewards agility, tactics, tuning, sailing skills, strategy and mental astuteness. Teamwork is crucial and the pressure is high, with European titles at stake.

Useful Links
Championship Website - 2017europeans.470.org
Entry Lists - 2017europeans.470.org/en/default/races/race-inscriptions
Official Noticeboard - 2017europeans.470.org/en/default/toa/race

Media Information
The Yacht Club de Monaco will provide the Official Championship Photographers. Daily photo galleries will be available on the Championship website, Facebook and high resolution photos for media download are available on the World Sailing Photo Shelter platform. Details at: 2017europeans.470.org/en/default/races/race-mediaboard

Daily video highlights and interviews will be produced by Icarus Sailing Media on the Championship website and YouTube. Requests for specific interviews and raw footage can be made by formal media request. Details at: 2017europeans.470.org/en/default/races/race-mediaboard

Social Media
International 470 Class Association on Facebook will bring you regular updates at www.facebook.com/470olympicsailing

The @470sailing Twitter account will be following the action throughout the Championship. Get involved by using #470Euros and #470sailing

Follow the 2017 470 European Championship via YouTube at www.youtube.com/470OlympicSailing