48 Nations Registered For Princess Sofia Trophy

The ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy will host one of its most international fleets in its 39th edition from 15-21 March.

Less than two weeks from its beginning, the 39 Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE is looking set to be one of the most international editions in the history of this Majorcan Olympic Classes regatta. Up to 48 nations will be represented in the Bay of Palma from 15-21 March with all the attention of the sailing world on the event in this Olympic year.

The 39 Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE will welcome the best world teams of each class, a fact that consolidates this event as the most important and international Olympic Classes regatta in Spain.

Up to 586 boats and 900 competitors will meet in Palma as shown by the pre-entry lists of the Consortium Regatta Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia, formed by the Govern de les Illes Balears, Palma and Llucmajor city councils, the Consell de Mallorca, MAPFRE, Real Federación Española de Vela, Federación Balear de Vela, Real Club Náutico de Palma, Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, Club Nàutic S’Arenal and Escuela Nacional de Vela Calanova.

The world’s top sailors are among those entered, including the gold, silver and bronze medallists of the past Athens Olympic Games as well as the current Olympic Classes World and European Champions. The organization of the Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE has invited all these top-level sailors to ensure the 39th edition of the regatta will feature the very highest level of competition.

The number of nations represented (48) will provide one of the most international and multicultural editions with the participation of sailors from the five continents. Antigua, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, China, Cyprus, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, USA, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zimbabwe are the participating nations.

MAPFRE sponsors the regatta for the third consecutive year.

Besides the Dragon as invited class, all Olympic classes – except for the Star fleet which is in Miami for the class World Championship – will participate in the regatta. The highest number of entries is registered in the Laser class (114), followed by the Men’s RS: X (95) and the Men’s 470 (93).

The Tornado fleet will be based at Escuela Nacional de Vela Calanova, Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa will welcome the Men’s and Women’s RS:X and the Laser and Laser Radial. The Dragon and Yngling classes will have their venue at Real Club Náutico de Palma, while Club Nàutic S’Arenal will be the base for the 49er, Finn and 470s.

Races for Olympic Classes will start on 16 March. Qualifying and final rounds have been scheduled with the Medal Race to be sailed on 21 March. The Dragon fleet will start racing on Monday 17 March with ten races scheduled.

The collaborators of the 39 Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE are the Ports Authority, Ports de les Illes Balears, the coastal demarcation of the Ministry for the environment and firms Ultramar Express, Acciona and Toyota.

Princess Sofia Trophy – www.trofeoprincesasofia.org