PalmaVela: Crash off Palma - "Magic Carpet e" collides with "Spirit of Lorina"

Everyone involved would have liked to have avoided this crash: In the third race of the Maxi Series at the PalmaVela, the new GV 100 "Magic Carpet e" and the Botin 65 "Spirit of Lorina" collided on Friday. Whilst the French sailors were sailing on the lay line shortly before the start, "Magic Carpet e" -here in the first presentation at YACHT online - came from behind at high speed and wanted to squeeze into the gap, but there was no longer one.

PalmaVela: one case, four protests, two disqualifications

The result was a board-to-board collision in which the rigs also touched. As a result, the "Magic Carpet e" crew later had to pull their mast for inspection - no small job for a new hundred-foot yacht. At the same time, four protests were lodged: one from the IMA class association against "Magic Carpet e", two from "Spirit of Lorina" against "Magic Carpet e" and one from "Magic Carpet e" against "Spirit of Lorina".

In the end, both boats involved in the collision were disqualified. The jury referred to a whole series of rules that had been violated by one or the other party: RR 11, 14(a), 36(b), 60.3 (a), 60.4(a), 61.4(a) and 63.2(b). The application by the Spirit of Lorina team to reopen the hearing had not yet been decided on Saturday evening.

The disqualification and the subsequent missed race meant that the team on Sir Lindsay Owen Jones' almost brand-new "Flying Carpet" dropped back to third place after two opening victories and a total of four races. Magic Carpet e" will not be taking part in any more races. The team has abandoned the series and is focussing on repair work. Before the final day, Sven Wackerhagen's Wally 80 "Rose" from the Kieler Yacht-Club held the lead in the Maxi class ahead of the Wally Cento "Tilakkhana II".

Three German yachts lead the PalmaVela

In ORC 1, Christian Plump's crew on "Elena Nova" has taken the lead. After just two races in the light winds so far, the Swan 42 CS with German sail number GER 8042 is just ahead of the XP-50 "X-Odessa" and the Spanish DK 46 "HM Hospitales - Hyatt". Johannes Wackerhagen's Knierim 49 "Desna" followed in fourth place before the final Sunday races.

A German boat is also in the lead in ORC 3 after the short programme of just two races so far: Otto and Gabriele Pohlmann's Cape 31 "Meerblick" won the Coastal Race on Saturday, which was originally planned over 17 nautical miles and then shortened to twelve nautical miles. "We have good people on board and I'm the only owner who sails with his wife," reported Otto Pohlmann in high spirits in the evening.

After winning the OneDesign classification of the Trofeo Princesa Sofía, the "Meerblick" team could sail towards their second regatta success of the year on Sunday before the Cape 31 with sail number GER 22 continues at the Giraglia. The beauties have also only managed two races in the traditional class at the PalmaVela so far. Christian Oldendorff's Spirit 52 "Happy Forever" was in second place on Saturday evening.

Too little wind at PalmaVela and 52 Super Series

After two races, it was no surprise that Dieter Schön's "Momo" with Markus Wieser, Eberhard Magg and Frithjof Kleen came out on top in the small but excellent field of the six-metre class. Two second places were enough. The two race wins were secured once by the Swedish "Filippa" and once by the Finnish "Riva". All PalmaVela standings before the decisions on Sunday can be found here.

Like the PalmaVela crews, the professional teams also hope that the 52 Super Series in Saint-Tropez for better winds for their Sunday final. Harm Müller-Spreer, his team on "Platoon Aviation" and the other ten crews were only able to complete two races here and have now lost three complete days of racing.

The outcome of the season-opening summit of the 52 Super Series will be decided on Sunday. At least three races are required for the regatta to be valid. "Platoon Aviation" will attack from seventh place if the conditions offer the desired opportunity. Click here for the intermediate results in Saint-Tropezwhere the British "Gladiator" leads.

Update, 4 May 2025: There was no protest by the IMA against "Magic Carpet e" among the many protests following the collision. The report was based on an incorrect interpretation of the protest description on the official Notice Board of the regatta.

Close-up of the "Magic Carpet e" supermaxi rocket:

The highlights of day two of PalmaVela: