Copa del Rey MAPFRE: the larger fleet ever

With less than two weeks to the start of the 37 Copa del Rey MAPFRE, a spectacular 156 boats have pre-registered to participate. Almost 70 will be racing in the BMW ORC classes, from 17 countries.

On 28th July, the 37 edition of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE will officially be opening its doors, and pre-registration figures have already topped last year’s record of 138 participating boats. With less than two weeks until the beginning of the competition, 156 teams have enlisted in one of the 12 classes making up the fleet. Once again, the majority of participants will race in one of the three BMW ORC classes; a multiple variety of boats that will race under the ORC compensated time system.
 
Three classes
The Race Committee for the 37 Copa del Rey MAPFRE has divided the ORC fleet into three classes: BMW ORC 1, BMW ORC 2 and BMW ORC 3. 67 boats from 17 nationalities; the most numerous and international class in this edition of the event.
 
In BMW ORC 1 there will be 25 teams from 13 countries, a magnificent representation of the world’s fleet from Germany, Argentina, Chile, China, Spain, Estonia, France, England, Italy, Peru, Portugal, Russia and Sweden. Naturally the class will include the current defender, the Spanish Swan 45, Rafael Carbonell's “Rats On Fire”, skippered by Rayco Tabares. 

14 boats will race in the BMW ORC 2 class represented by eight nationalities, featuring actor Antonio Banderas’ X-41 “Antonio Banderas Design” and Javier Sanz’s Rodman 42 “Red Eléctrica”, the same boat which won in 2017 sailing as “SUM Innovation” and in 2016 as “Movistar”.  
 
The BMW ORC 3 class will see 28 boats and 8 nationalities, the most numerous division of the 37 Copa del Rey MAPFRE, and gathering boats measuring between 32 and 40 feet (approximately 10-12 metres). The fleet will include Miquel Banús' Dufour 34 “Fanytas” (third place in its category in 2017 sailing as “Lanzarote Sailing Paradise”) and Alexander Laplaza's Sinergia 40 “L’Immens Laplaza Assessors” (fourth place in the BMW ORC 2 last year). 
 
The BMW ORC 1, BMW ORC 2 and BMW ORC 3 will dispute up to 11 races, including at least one coastal race in each class. The competition programme will begin on Monday 30th July. 
 
The 37 Copa del Rey MAPFRE will be held between 28th July and 4th August. It is organised by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and the Real Federación Española de Vela (Spanish Sailing Federation), and is sponsored by MAPFRE with institutional collaboration from the Govern de les Illes Balears (Balearic Islands Local Government), the Ayuntamiento de Palma (Palma Town Hall), the Autoritat Portuaria de Balears (Baleares Port Authority), and the Federación Balear de Vela (Balearic Islands Sailing Federation). 

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