Gaastra PalmaVela, the first international sailing event of the Mediterranean season.

117 boats from 16 countries have confirmed their participation in the twelfth edition of the Gaastra PalmaVela Regatta to be held in Palma de Mallorca from 30th April to 3rd May. Gaastra PalmaVela will celebrate in 2015 its XII edition with a multi-coloured fleet, consolidating its international status as the Mediterranean’s first big boat sailing event of the season. With registration now closed, the event has registered the participation of 117 boats and 16 different nationalities at the Real Club Náutico de Palma, where flags will be flown from Germany, Antigua, Spain, France, Holland, Hong Kong, England, Ireland, British Virgin Islands, Italy, Monaco, Portugal, Russian, Switzerland, Sweden and the United States.

17 classes, four race areas
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 3.03 metre Hansa 303 to the colossal 32.61 metre British Wally Cento “Open Season”.

Spring breeze
Whilst the Copa del Rey MAPFRE is the Mediterranean’s obligatory summer sailing event, in spring time it is the turn of the Gaastra PalmaVela. Both regattas are referential and share the same setting and international character. However, conditions are quite distinct as explained by 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”.

Making history
The Gaastra PalmaVela Regatta was first held in 2004 as an ambitious project to “convert Palma into the Mediterranean capital of sailing”, explains Manuel Fraga. Eleven years later the regatta has established itself as the referential kick-off event of the season in the Mediterranean with fleets gathering over one hundred boats.“The key word is adaptation”, adds Fraga, “There are a lot of regattas on the calendar, but in the last decade Gaastra PalmaVela has managed to continue filling the spectacular Bay of Palma de Mallorca with boats and sails in springtime”.

The racing programme of Gaastra PalmaVela 2015 will alternate coastal racing with windward/leeward races throughout the four days. The first scoring race is programmed for 12.00h on Thursday 30th April. The prize giving will be held on Sunday, 3rd May.

The Gaastra PalmaVela Regatta is organised by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and the Spanish Royal Sailing Federation. It is a scoring event and part of the IMA (International Maxi Association) Circuit 2015, the official Wally Class and the Copa De España for Adapted Sailing for the Hansa 303, Hansa 303 Double and 2.4 classes.

Media contacts
www.palmavela.com

Alejandro Varela
+34 609800218
alejandro@infosailing.net

Clara Giraldo
+34 603618206
clara@infosailing.net
 
Javier Sobrino
+34 629 893 637
javier@infosailing.net

José Luis Miró
+34 606444861
jlmiro@rcnp.es