33 Copa del Rey Mapfre: Mini Maxi fleet

Five Mini Maxis will compete for the glory of the 33 Copa del Rey MAPFRE in the Gaastra IRC 0 Class, including the champion from 2013. Ten teams from six different nations will fight for the title in the Gaastra IRC 1 Class.

The Bay of Palma will host an exceptional superyacht duel during the 33 Copa del Rey MAPFRE. Five Mini Maxi teams, with a length of 72 feet (22 meters), have confirmed their entry and will compete in the Gaastra IRC 0 Class: Americans "Shockwave" and "Bella Mente", Italian "Robertissima III" and British "Jethou" and "Alegre". The latter is precisely the team defending the class title in the Copa del Rey MAPFRE.

"It's difficult to talk about any favourites because the class is very even," says Andrés Soriano, owner and skipper of "Alegre". "Both U.S. boats are coming, and they are sailing really well. Just as the European fleet has been training at all the regattas previous to Copa del Rey, they have also practiced very intensely. They'll be very prepared." "Shockwave" lands in Europe after winning the Newport Bermuda Race last June and the RORC Caribbean 600 in February, both ahead of "Bella Mente".

Amongst the European fleet, Roberto Tomasini’s "Robertissima III" is proving that is in excellent form this season, after finishing second in the regatta Gaastra PalmaVela in the Mini Maxi class, achieving the overall victory in the Rolex Capri Sailing Week and also winning in its class in the Giraglia Rolex Cup. Meanwhile, Sir Peter Ogden’s "Jethou" will try to make up for the second place finish in the last Copa del Rey MAPFRE. Any of them are serious candidates for the 2014 title.

The Mini Maxi competition will  start on August 4th, at 13h00, in the Bay of Palma. The 33 Copa del Rey MAPFRE is organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and will be held from August 2nd to the 9th, 2014.