Armengot and Lamothe Clinch 2026 Iberian Snipe Championship in Dramatic Madrid Finale
The waters of the Pantano de San Juan provided a grueling backdrop for the 2026 Campeonato Ibérico de Snipe, where Joaquín Armengot and María Lamothe emerged victorious in a contest defined by volatile weather and razor-thin margins. The event, a key fixture of the class’s National Circuit, brought together 38 crews from Spain and Portugal for a weekend of high-stakes tactical sailing in the heart of the Community of Madrid.
Armengot, representing CV Valencia and Lamothe, of the Real Club Náutico de Madrid, secured the absolute victory after a regatta that remained open until the final leg. Entering the decisive day with several teams still mathematically in contention, the Valencian-Madrid pairing demonstrated superior composure, sealing the title with a clinical win in the final race.
The duo’s consistency was the deciding factor. Finishing with a series of 1-3-2-4-3-1, Armengot and Lamothe finished two points ahead of the second-place pairing of Fabio Bruggioni and Felipe Rosa Bruggioni from RCN Madrid. The podium was rounded out by Martín Bermúdez de la Puente (RCN Madrid) and Beatriz Díaz (Independent), while the Balearic team of Francesc Terrasa (CN Ibiza) and Fernando Velarde (RCN Palma) finished a close fourth.
Battle Against the Elements
The championship was as much a test of endurance and gear management as it was of sailing skill. The wind conditions remained unstable throughout the weekend, forcing the Race Committee, led by César Sans, to adapt on the fly.
During the first day, an eastern wind dominated. However, frequent instability and sudden drops in intensity forced officials to modify the courses to ensure the scheduled races could be completed. For those unfamiliar with regatta formats, these modifications are often necessary to keep the fleet competitive when the wind “dies” in certain sectors of the reservoir.
Sunday proved even more treacherous. A gusty western wind brought heavy pressure changes, resulting in several capsizes and equipment failures across the fleet. Despite the chaos, the committee managed to complete the three planned legs, allowing participants to apply the “discard”—a standard sailing rule where a crew’s worst individual race score is dropped from their total points.
A Clean Sweep in Madrid
While the overall title was the primary goal, Armengot and Lamothe left the Pantano de San Juan with a nearly complete trophy cabinet. In addition to the Iberian Championship, they claimed both the 65th Trofeo San Isidro and the 55th Trofeo Miguel López Dóriga. These specific honors are reserved for the best crew without a discard, meaning they performed consistently across every single race without a single “bad” outing to hide.
The event also highlighted depth across different age brackets. In the Master category, Julio Soria and Álvaro Maristany (RCN Madrid) took top honors. The Youth category was won by Luca Rosa Bruggioni (CM San Antonio de la Playa) and André Rosa Bruggioni (RCN Madrid), signaling a strong pipeline of talent for the International Snipe class.
Institutional Support and Organization
The 2026 championship was organized by the Real Club Náutico de Madrid under the delegation of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation (RFEV) and the Portuguese Sailing Federation. The event received critical logistical support from the Royal Madrid Sailing Federation and the Spanish Snipe Class Association, with institutional backing from the Community of Madrid.
By bringing an international field to the Pantano de San Juan, the organizers successfully repositioned the Madrid region as a viable hub for high-level international sailing, despite being inland. The venue’s ability to host 38 international boats underscores the growing infrastructure for competitive sailing in the Spanish capital.
Quick Results Summary: 2026 Campeonato Ibérico de Snipe
| Position | Crew | Club | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Joaquín Armengot / María Lamothe | CV Valencia / RCN Madrid | Overall Winners & Trofeo San Isidro |
| 2nd | Fabio Bruggioni / Felipe Rosa Bruggioni | RCN Madrid | – |
| 3rd | Martín Bermúdez / Beatriz Díaz | RCN Madrid / Independent | – |
| 4th | Francesc Terrasa / Fernando Velarde | CN Ibiza / RCN Palma | – |
With the Iberian circuit continuing, the focus now shifts to the remaining stops of the National Circuit. The performance of the Madrid-based crews, who dominated much of the top ten, suggests a strong home-water advantage that may carry over into upcoming regional qualifiers.
What’s Next: Official rankings and full race-by-race breakdowns are expected to be published by the Real Club Náutico de Madrid later this week.
Do you think the volatile wind conditions favored the local Madrid crews, or was Armengot and Lamothe’s victory purely a matter of tactical superiority? Let us know in the comments.
