48 nations registered

The Princess Sofia Regatta gets underway next week in Palma

With less than two weeks to go until racing gets underway, the 39th Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE is set to be one of the most international editions in the history of this Majorcan Olympic classes regatta. Up to 48 nations will be represented in the bay of Palma from 15 to 21 March with all the attention of the sailing world on the event in this Olympic year.

The 39 Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE will welcome the best world teams of each class, a fact that consolidates this event as the most important and international Olympic classes regatta in Spain.

Up to 586 boats and 900 competitors will meet in Palma as shown by the pre-entry lists of the Consortium Regatta Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia, formed by the Govern de les Illes Balears, Palma and Llucmajor city councils, the Consell de Mallorca, MAPFRE - title sponsoor for the third consecutive year - , Real Federación Española de Vela, Federación Balear de Vela, Real Club Náutico de Palma, Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, Club Nàutic S’Arenal and Escuela Nacional de Vela Calanova.

The 90 top world sailors are among these entries. In other words, the Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists of the past Athens Olympics as well as the Olympic classes World and European champions. The organisation of the Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE has once again invited all these top level sailors so we will enjoy one of the most competitive regattas ever.

The number of represented nations (48) will offer one of the most international and multicultural editions with the participation of sailors from the five continents. Germany, Antigua, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belorussia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, China, Cyprus, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, USA, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zimbabwe are the participating nations.

Besides the Dragon as invited class, all Olympic classes- except for the Star fleet that is in Miami for the class world championship- will participate in the regatta. On the other hand, despite the coincidence with the Tornado, Laser Radial and Yngling World and European championships, these classes will be well represented in Majorca. The highest number of entries is registered in the Laser class (114), followed by the RS: X M (95) and the 470 M (93).

The 39th Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE will have a new class distribution in the different organizing clubs: the Tornado fleet will be based at Escuela Nacional de Vela Calanova, Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa will welcome the RS: X men and women and the Laser standard and Radial. The Dragon and Yngling classes will have their venue at Real Club Náutico de Palma, while Club Nàutic S’Arenal will be the base for the 49er, Finn, 470 men and women.

Races for Olympic classes will start on 16 March. Qualifying and final rounds have been scheduled with the Medal race to be sailed on 21 March. The medal race scores double, cannot be discarded and is reserved to the top 10 classified sailors. On the other hand, the Dragon fleet will start racing on Monday 17 March with ten races scheduled.  

The collaborators of the  39 Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE are the Ports Authority, Ports de les Illes Balears, the coastal demarcation of the Ministry for the environment and firms Ultramar Express, Acciona and Toyota.

Entry lists available, here .