Yesterday it was the turn for the IRC,TP52 and Swan 45 classes to race in the Bravo area, the setting forthe coastal races at this 28th Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre. The three fleets had to sail a course of about 28 miles course through an intermediate scoring mark in just nine to twelve knots of unstable and shifty wind, with a direction of 160 to 190.
This was the last chance for those lagging behind on the leaderboard to reduce their deficits.
The biggest surprise was provided by the Mini Maxi class, where “Bella Mente” won followed by “Alfa Romeo”. The American 70 footer caught “Alfa Romeo” in the first part of the course, and so both were tied on points at the first scoring mark.
Even with her coastal race win “Bella Mente” is still 7,5 points behind Alfa Romeo, which seems to be in good shape to is in good shape to take the Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre trophy home this year. But Neville Crichton's Mini Maxi “Alfa Romeo” will not be able to leave Palma with an undefeated record, such a perfect scoreline as was set last year by the Spanish Navy’s IRC Optimised TP52 “Aifos”, which won all his races in last year's edition. “Bella Mente” and “Container” tussle for second place, but the discard favors Hap Fauth's Bella Mente.
“CAM” will almost certainly probably have to make do with the fourth place. The IRC TP52 owned by Spanish Olympic champions Fernando León and Kiko Sánchez Luna, with H.M.H. The Prince of Asturias at the helm, sailed a good race, but couldn't catch the big boats which are dominating the IRC class. Just one point behind in fifth, Andy Soriano’s successful Mark Mills designed 68 footer “Allegre” is getting dangerously close. Last year's winner “Aifos” of the Spanish Navy, skippered by Jaime Rodríguez Toubes, is seventh in the overall standings.
After the X-35 class’s two windward-leeward races, the two Italian boats ”Tixelio” and “Karma” are tied in the first position with an aggregate of15 points. They both made a very good first race, but were equally poor in the in the second contest, where they finished eighth and tenth. Second in the overall standings is Alberto Kooijman's “Just 4 fun”, which ejected Javier Sanz's “Autoritas” off the podium, after their was tenth and fifth.
The race win for Pepe Lis's “Xacobeo 2010 Galicia” in the second race Compensated slightly for being disqualified in the first race.
Alberto Roemmers’ “Realstone Matador” won the coastal race for the TP52 class and so is now just one point behind the leader, Vasco Vascotto's “Mutua Madrileña”. At the first scoring mark, the one at Illetes, “Music”, a boat belonging to the IRC class, got in “Realstone Matador's” way when the Argentineans were about to round the mark. In spite of this minor hiccup Guillermo Parada’s crew freed themselves and went on to comfortably win
the race. “Bribón” is climbing up the rankings and is third. Tomorrow's race will be a crucial one for the famous Spanish boat with H.RH. The King of Spain at the helm, with a podium finish overall still possible for Bribon at this most coveted of Mediterranean regattas.
In the X-41 class, “Karhu” made a spectacular finish which has lifted him up to the first place in the overall standings. Javier Armada's crew dominated most of the race but Van der Ploeg's GP42 “Turismo Madrid” managed to pass him in the last moment finally winning the race. “Turismo Madrid” is now second in the overall standings, and “Lexus” goes down to the third position.
The talk of the day was the Argentinean X-35 “Edding” skippered by Gustavo Warburg, who had to retire after he was hit at the first top mark by Italian “Day by day”.
No changes in the Swan 45 class, where RW Bol's “No Limits” remains first in the overall standings despite being third in in the coastal race, which was won by Dutch “Charisma”. German “Earlybird” was first at the first mark, and both Swans are second and third respectively in the overall.
In Abanca ORC 0, Vudu arrivava all'ultima prova con un margine di nove punti e non ha lasciato spazio alle sorprese. Il TP52 di Mauro Gestri ha chiuso secondo l'ultima regata, risultato sufficiente per mettere definitivamente le mani sulla Copa del Rey
Al Circolo Vela Arco è iniziata la grande festa internazionale dell’Optimist. Tre prove nella prima giornata con vento da sud fino a 16 nodi
C'è sempre Vudu di Mauro Gestri in testa in ORC 0 dopo una giornata estremamente regolare con due secondi posti
Le due finali della Gold Fleet ribaltano il podio Juniores: lo spagnolo Miguel Echavarri vince davanti allo statunitense Ryan Lee e allo spagnolo Luca Nueschen. Tra i Cadetti successo dello svizzero Carlo Milan davanti all’italiano Valerio Pucci
Valerio Pucci firma una tripletta e balza al comando tra i Cadetti. Tra gli Juniores lo sloveno Mihael Zobec resta leader, mentre l’italiana Annalie Meoni sale al quarto posto assoluto
Tre prove combattute davanti alla spiaggia di Levante con circa 12 nodi di vento. Riccardo Basso vince l’Overall e il Trofeo Challenge. Bene anche i giovani della Scuola Vela del Circolo Nautico Santa Margherita
Da Cowes è scattata la 50ª edizione della grande regata organizzata dal Royal Ocean Racing Club
In testa c’è il Volvo 70 Pace di Johnny Vincent, che procede intorno agli otto nodi mantenendo una rotta relativamente vicina alla costa della Cornovaglia. Alle sue spalle il Ker 56 Varuna 6 di Jens Kellinghusen e il Mach 50 Palanad 4 di Antoine Magre
Una nuova divisione dedicata alle imbarcazioni il cui primo varo della serie è antecedente al 1990. La novità entra ufficialmente nel programma della CentoMiglia del Garda 2026
Nelle ultime 24 ore Pace ha percorso circa 428 miglia, con una media prossima ai 18 nodi: un'autentica prestazione da record