The wind was on time for its annual appointment with the Copa del Rey MAPFRE. The fleet took to the water with a forecast of medium breeze from midday onwards, and the first start of the day took place a few minutes after midday.
The intensity ranged from 10 to 15 knots, which allowed the six classes to return to the ‘boxes’ of the Real Club Náutico de Palma with their homework done: three of three scheduled partials for the Majorica ORC and two of two for the ClubSwan monotypes.
The first leaders of the 41st Copa del Rey MAPFRE are: Palibex-Elena Nova(ESP) en Majorica ORC 1, Teatro Soho Caixabank (ESP) en Majorica ORC 2, Scugnizza (ITA) en Majorica ORC 3, Just the Job (GBR) en Majorica ORC 4, Moonlight (MON) en ClubSwan 50 y Pez de Abril (ESP) en ClubSwan 42.
Triple ration for the Majorica ORC
In Majorica ORC 1, the best of the day was Javier Sanz’s Palibex-Elena Nova (1+2+2), which leads Giovanni di Vincenzo’s Lisa R (2+3+1) by the minimum. The Spanish Armada’s Aifos, skippered by King Felipe, is fourth after a 3.5 (on a tie-break with From Now On), a fourth and a third.
In Majorica ORC 2, a perfect day for the defending champions, Teatro Soho Caixabank, skippered by Daniel Cuevas and helmed by Javier Banderas from Malaga. After three wins out of a possible three, the 2022 champions returned to port no less than nine points ahead of their nearest challengers, Pedro Gil’s Maverta (2+2+8).
In Majorica ORC 3, Italian Vincenzo de Blasio’s Scugnizza also started the defence of his 2022 title in the lead (1+1+2). It was only beaten by Laplaza Assesors of Barcelona’s Alexandre Laplaza in the last race of the day.
Meanwhile, the Majorica ORC 4 fleet returned to port with a tie between the British Scott Beattie’s Just the Job (1+1+3) and Arturo Montes’ Ybarra-Befesa (2+2+1). The two had an intense duel throughout the opening day, only interrupted by Gonzalo Calvo’s Lassal in the last round.
Two out of two for the monotypes
The first day of the ClubSwan 50 ended in a tie between Graeme Peterson’s Moonlight and Hendrik Brandis’ Earlybird, which alternated first and second place in the two races sailed. It is Moonlight’s best day since her debut in the class in 2022. The Monegasque boat, fifth in the last Copa del Rey MAPFRE, has been reinforced with New Zealander Cameron Appleton on tactics. For its part, the Earlybird is the most successful ClubSwan 50 in the Bay of Palma, where it has won three titles, and in this edition it entrusts the tactics to Brazilian ace Robert Scheidt.
In the ClubSwan 42 class, the undisputed protagonist of this first day was José María Meseguer’s Pez de Abril, winner of the two races sailed. The Murcian boat, with the tactics of Portuguese Olympic medallist Hugo Rocha, won by just three seconds in the first race and managed to demarcate in the second, in both cases ahead of the Italian Selene Halifax, which leads by two points ahead of the second day.
On shore, the premiere of the regatta village on the RCNP terrace was provided by the music of DJ Alba Serano. The day ended with a welcome cocktail for all participants at the Hotel Castillo Son Vida.
On Tuesday they all play
The competition returns tomorrow, Tuesday 1st August, with the incorporation of the two classes that have not yet released their classifications: Herbalife J70 and Sotheby’s Women’s Cup. All are scheduled to race in the bay of Palma from 12:00h with a menu of windward-leeward races for all classes. Conditions permitting, the Majorica ORCs could race a coastal race on Wednesday.
The 41st Copa del Rey MAPFRE is organised by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and the Real Federación Española de Vela, with the sponsorship of MAPFRE and the institutional collaboration of the Govern de les Illes Balears, Palma City Council, the Autoritat Portuaria de Balears and the Federación Balear de Vela.
Provisional rankings. Day 1
(Position/Ship/Skipper/Posts/Posts/Posts)
Majorica ORC 1
1. Palibex-Elena Nova, Christian Plump/Javier Sanz, 1+2+2=5
2. Lisa R, Fracesco Bertone, 2+3+1=6
3. From Now On, Ezequiel Despontin, 3,5+1+4=8,5
4. Aifos, El Rey Don Felipe, 3,5+4+3=10,5
… up to 14 qualifiers.
Majorica ORC 2
1. Teatro del Soho Caixabank, Daniel Cuevas, 1+1+1=3
2. Maverta, José Ballester, 2+2+8=12
3. Reve de Vie, Angelo Galeati, 4+3+6=13
… up to 15 classified.
Majorica ORC 3
1. Scugnizza, Enzo de Blasio, 1+1+2=4
2. Laplaza Assessors, Carles Rodríguez, 3+2+1=6
3. Lady Power by Ready Set Go, Juan Pablo Marchesoni, 4,5+6+6=16,5
… up to 21 qualifiers.
Majorica ORC 4
1. Just The Job, Scott Beattie, 1+1+3=5
2. Ybarra – Befesa, Arturo Montes, 2+2+1=5
3. Lassal, Gonzalo Calvo, 3+4+2=9
… up to 7 qualifiers.
ClubSwan 50
1. Moonlight, Graeme Peterson, 2+1=3
2. Earlybird, Hendrik Brandis, 1+2=3
3. Niramo, Sonke Meier Sawatzki, 3+7=10
… up to 9 qualifiers.
ClubSwan 42
1. Pez de Abril, José María Meseguer, 1+1=2
2. Selene-Alifax, Massimo de Campo, 2+2=4
3. Porron X, Luis Senís, 3+3=6
… up to 8 qualifiers.
Source: 41 Copa del Rey Mapfre Communications Office
IMAGES: Villegas Photo
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