44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE

The second day of racing musters the entire fleet including the start of the Balearia Women’s Cup which sees a record 15 different teams racing . The four ORC divisions will compete on a coastal course within the Bay of Palma of between 27 and 32 nautical miles.

And so that means 99 boats from 19 countries all lining up to race at the 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE. The Baleària Women’s Cup make their debut with the first matches of its Round Robin format. Everyone has an equal chance with racing in groups of six boats. Each morning, the boats are drawn among the different teams to ensure maximum equality.

Today, the Abanca ORC 0, ORC Sail Racing A, Uber ORC B, and Azulmarino ORC C boats are racing their coastal race. In the Bravo area (off Arenal beach), the ClubSwan 42s carry on with their windward-leewards and the Baleària Women’s Cup boats will make their debut off Portixol, just to the east of the entrance to the harbour.

The coastal course will be between 27 nautical miles for the ORC B and C, and 32 nautical miles long for the ORC 0 and A. It will take the fleet from the start to Enderrocat before rounding a series of buoys across the bay and heading to Sech for the short course and Illetas and Porrasa for the long course. The coastal course is published here.

Hispania and Vudu share the lead in Abanca ORC 0, Teatro del Soho San Miguel leads in Uber ORC B, Nadir in ClubSwan 42, Rán are just ahead in Sail Racing ORC A and Niramo in Azulmarino ORC C.

“We are again expecting nine to 14 knots with the breeze a little more left than yesterday, so 210 degrees, so racing will all be in the bay which is nice.” Explains Alberto Barovier tactician on the Hispania.

The day’s racing will begin at 12:30 PM for the ORC coastal race and at 1:00 PM for the other classes.