117 yachts for Gaastra PalmaVela

Another Wallycento dust up plus new Maxi 72 and TP52s at the Mediterranean keel boat season opener

117 boats and 16 nationalities have confirmed their participation in the 12th edition of the Gaastra PalmaVela Regatta to be held in Palma de Mallorca over 30 April to 3 May

As usual the Gaastra PalmaVela retains its position as the Mediterranean’s first big boat racing event of the season, with participating yachts set to congregate at the Real Club Náutico de Palma next week, from Germany, Antigua, Spain, France, Holland, Hong Kong, England, Ireland, British Virgin Islands, Italy, Monaco, Portugal, Russian, Switzerland, Sweden and the United States.

The Real Club Náutico de Palma's Organising Committee has divided the fleet into 17 classes: Wally, Maxi 72, TP52, IRC, ORC (the largest fleet with 48 boats registered and classified in ORC 0, ORC 1, ORC 2, ORC 3 y ORC 4), J80, Dragon, Flying Fifteen, Traditional, Classic, 2.4, Hansa 303 and Hansa 303 double. The competition will be held on four different race areas across the Bay of Palma, with boats ranging from the smallest Hansa 303 to the colossal 32.61m Wally Cento Open Season.

This year it will also feature much new hardware from the brand new Maxi 72 Momo, a sistership to Niklas Zennstrom's Ran as well as three of the nine new TP52s - Quantum Racing, Azzurra and the first Alegre 52 for owner Andres Soriano, the current Maxi 72 World Champion. 

While the Copa del Rey MAPFRE is the Mediterranean’s obligatory summer sailing event, its spring time equivalent is Gaastra PalmaVela. Both are important regattas however, their conditions are quite distinct, explains Manuel Fraga, Sporting Director at the Real Club Náutico de Palma: “During the Copa del Rey MAPFRE, conditions in the bay are typical of summer, with the clear, constant presence of the Embat thermal winds, and not too changeable. At PalmaVela, conditions can be much more unpredictable with the possibility of thermal winds if the weather is good”.

The racing programme of Gaastra PalmaVela 2015 will alternate coastal racing with windward-leewards over its four days. The first scoring race is scheduled to start at 12.00 on Thursday 30 April. The prizegiving will be held on Sunday, 3 May.

The event forms part of the International Maxi Association Circuit for 2015, and it is also an official Wally Class event as well asthe Copa De España for Adapted Sailing for the Hansa 303, Hansa 303 Double and 2.4 classes.