It is not only in Spain that the Copa del Rey Mapfre has been synonymous with top-class coastal big-boat sailing for 44 years. Internationally, too, the King’s Cup – contested since 1982 – ranks among the most important and popular ORC championships in the sailing world.
Copa del Rey: Mapfre is here to stay
Most recently, the renewal of the partnership between the host club, Real Club Náutico de Palma, and Mapfre – which has been a loyal title sponsor for more than two decades – came as welcome news for both organisers and participants. The club and the insurance and financial services company intend to continue jointly promoting the Spanish regatta series until at least 2028.
No fewer than 100 boats are on the entry list for the 44th edition, which takes place from 1 to 8 August. These include twelve teams competing in the series under the German flag. The regatta is organised by the Real Club Náutico de Palma in ORC Divisions 0, A, B and C. In addition, the ClubSwan 42 fleet, comprising seven boats, has been given its own classification (with no German participation). Furthermore, the Balearia Women’s Cup will once again be contested by 15 women’s teams from four countries.
In the ORC 0 class, two well-known German owners and their crews are competing in a field of 14 boats from seven countries: Michael Berghorn’s Mills 45 “Halbtrocken 4.5” from the Halbtrocken Sailing Club and Carl-Peter Forster’s TP52 “Red Bandit” (Bavarian Yacht Club) are ready for the highlight of the Balearic Islands race. In their group, they will also be up against the ORC 52 “Hispania”, skippered by King Felipe de Bourbón of Spain. Eight fast TP52 yachts make up more than half of the ORC 0 fleet. The smallest boat here is the French Botin 44 “Albator 3”, skippered by Philippe Frantz.
German boats with a chance of a podium finish in several divisions
19 boats are set to line up at the ORC-A starting line. Four of them are flying the German flag: Johannes Wackerhagen’s Knierim 49 “Desna” (Kiel Yacht Club), Christian Plump’s Swan 42 “Elena Nova” (Real Club Náutico de Palma), Jan Opländer’s modified Swan 45 “Katima” (North German Regatta Club) and Sascha Schröder’s Neo 430 Roma “Neomind” (Seglerhaus am Wannsee Association) The A-teams will face stiff competition from ten nations.
ORC Division B comprises 23 boats from eleven countries. Among them is just one German boat: the First 44-P “Alegria” owned by Pit Finis (Düsseldorf Yacht Club). The favourites, however, are the reigning ORC world champions on the Argentine PG390 “Katara”, skippered by owner Julián Somodi, and a number of other top teams.
In ORC C, as the organisers have announced, there is “the highest concentration of champions”. Also competing here are the Cape 31 crews on Hendrik Brandis’ “Earlybird” (Norddeutscher Regatta Verein/Bayerischer Yacht-Club), Gabrielle and Otto Pohlmann’s “Meerblick” (Real Club Náutico de Palma) and Sönke Meier-Sawatzki’s Kieler Woche winner “Niramo” (Kieler Yacht-Club). The “Earlybirds” won silver at last year’s European Championships, which were held as part of the Balearic Islands Classic.
ASK boat “Askew” taking part in the Bay of Palma
Also competing in ORC C are Christian Teichmann’s JPK 10.30 “Velaroja” (RCNV/RORC) and the Comar Comet 38S “Askew”, crewed by Florian Schieren and Joshua Weller from the Karlsruhe Academic Sailing Club. The ASK purchased its current boat, built in 2008, second-hand in the Netherlands nine years ago. The “Askew” is used by the club for training cruises and participation in international regattas. Intensive training has taken place for the regatta in Spain – both recently on the route from Barcelona to Palma and currently in the Copa sailing area itself. The ASK team’s stated aim is: “Fair and sporting regatta sailing with a learning curve for all levels.”
This year’s Copa del Rey Mapfre will also demand a great deal of heat tolerance from its competitors. In Palma de Mallorca, the sailors are currently being put to the test by temperatures of around 35 degrees. It is even hotter in the island’s interior. Several Spanish media outlets have just reported that the next heatwave is on its way. Those who can enjoy a bit of a cooling breeze whilst racing on the water are in luck.
Sneak preview! The Spanish preview of the 44th edition of their series, which is regal in so many ways:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter