PalmaVela welcomes the big boats fleet, with first races for maxi boats scheduled for tomorrow

Having finished the Offshore Race - La Larga, and with the 52 Super Series PalmaVela Sailing Week pending its last day of competition, the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP) is ready to welcome the big boats' fleet. 

PalmaVela, the multi-class competition which opens the Mediterranean regatta calendar, begins tomorrow (Thursday May 2) with the first races planned for the Maxi class. This year its fleet includes a J Class, a Farr Design and three majestic Wallys.

“It is always an honour for the club to host the Maxi fleet,” explained the sporting coordinator for the RCNP, Viviane Maineare. “Normally, most of them spend the winter working on the boat, or are in the Caribbean before coming to the Mediterranean. Many aren’t ready until June, but those that manage to, always try to come to PalmaVela”.

Logistics offered by the Bay of Palma and at the RCNP itself are two of the main reasons why PalmaVela is a must-event for the giants of sailing. “The Bay is almost always a guarantee for hosting a regatta. The teams are delighted because they can enjoy some really good racing on a very good racecourse, and are hosted by a great club; it’s a wonderful way to start the year,” Mainemare added.

The ever-imposing Wallys include “V” skippered by Ole Hansen, and “Rose” with Sven Wackerhagen, as well as the defender of the title “Galateia” owned by David Leuschen and Chris Flowers, also back to compete. Lining up with them tomorrow is the J Class “Svea” skippered by Paul Kelly, and the Farr 100 “Leopard 3” with Joost Schuijff.Weather forecast currently shows winds of 15 knots throughout the day, and the Race Committee has programmed racing to begin at 13:00h for the first windward/leeward format races, which open the competition of the 20th edition of PalmaVela.

In total, the Maxis will complete up to six races over the four days of competition, one of which may be a coastal race format.

Following the Maxis, the full fleet will then be on the water with the first race programmed for 13:00h for all the classes. In total the fleet numbers over a hundred teams divided into the categories ORC 0, ORC 1, ORC 2, ORC 3, ORC 4-5, A2 0-3, A2 4-5, J80, J70, Dragon, 6 Metre and Spirit of Tradition, fighting for their individual titles in this 20th edition of PalmaVela.

The 52 Super Series PalmaVela Sailing Week concludes on Thursday. 

Event website and media contacts: 

www.palmavela.com

Alejandro Varela

+34 609 800 218

alejandro@infosailing.net

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Helena Paz

+34 659 293 291

helena@infosailing.net

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Clara Giraldo

+34 661 346 534

clara@infosailing.net