ClubSwan Racing in Spain
– The prestigious Copa del Rey celebrates its 40th edition with more than 100 participants
– Swan cruisers and one designs make up almost half of the fleet
– The regatta is the penultimate test of the Nations League
The ClubSwan Racing one-design fleet will be the protagonist of the 40th edition of the prestigious Copa del Rey de sailing, which will be held from August 1 to 6.
A total of 32 Swan class one designs will compete in the ClubSwan 36, ClubSwan 42 and ClubSwan 50 classes, while a further seven Swan units, including one from the new Swan 58 range, will compete in two of the open rating classes.
This high-level competition held in the Bay of Palma is one of the highlights of the Mediterranean regatta season, and – like the ClubSwan Racing circuit itself – attracts top-level professional sailors. who sail alongside passionate amateur sailors.
Organized by the exclusive Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP), the Copa del Rey is also the penultimate event of the Nations League season, in which boats from more than 13 different nationalities participate.
“It is excellent that ClubSwan Racing plays such an important role in the Copa del Rey”, says Federico Michetti, ClubSwan Racing Sports Activities Manager. “It’s a fantastic race, with superb organisation, very competitive racing and a fun social program on shore. We are delighted to be part of it.”
This is an idea shared by the president of the RCNP, Emerico Fuster, who assures: “All of us who are part of the Real Club Náutico de Palma have worked hard so that the Copa del Rey remains a key date in the regatta calendar of the Mediterranean, and I think we have achieved it, because we have more than 100 teams from 20 different countries ready to compete”.
“ClubSwan Racing has played a big part in this, and we are looking forward to welcoming all the owners and crews to the regatta, which is going to be a memorable one.”
As host, the RCNP will be the venue for many of the social events that are part of the Copa del Rey, with the terrace as the setting for the different concerts that will be held throughout the week, as well as a shipowners’ cocktail, which It will be held on Thursday, August 4.
For his part, the trophy delivery ceremony on Saturday August 6, which will be presided over by His Majesty King Felipe VI, will be held in Ses Voltes, a unique space at the foot of Palma’s Gothic cathedral.
On the water, the ClubSwan 50 class will be the largest of the Swan one design fleets, with 14 units in contention, and with Hendrik Brandis’ Earlybird undoubtedly trying to overcome the second position obtained at the recent Swan One Design Worlds in Valencia. .
For the team of the German yacht Olymp, based in Palma, the Copa del Rey is a home regatta. The setter Mark Bezner assures: “In Palma we feel at home, so competing here can give us an advantage.”
“Last time we competed in the Sardinia Challenge, so we know how competitive the ClubSwan 50 class can be, and we hope to put in a good performance and have a good time.”
The ClubSwan 42 class is also well represented in the Copa del Rey, with 10 boats on the starting line, including Pedro Vaquer’s Nadir, who will be attempting to repeat his decisive victory at the Swan One Design Worlds.
“We worked hard and trained a lot in the World Cup, which was a much closer competition than the results indicated,” says Vaquer. “Our rivals will be very competitive in the Copa del Rey, so we will have to be at our best again. Either way, it’s going to be fun.”
The ultra-competitive ClubSwan 36 class, made up of 8 powerful boats, will undoubtedly offer another tight racing masterclass, following the class’s last victory in the World Championship decided almost in stoppage time after four of the participating boats arrived to the last day with only one point difference between them.
One of the participants hoping to be in this fight is Richard Thompson’s Black Seal, sailing under the Guernsey flag, who already won the Swan Sardinia Challenge in early June, where he showed his potential.
“The Copa del Rey is a very prestigious event, and we will work very hard to repeat our success in Sardinia,” said Thompson. “We are under no illusions about the level of competition we will face, but that is part of the reason we are in the class, and we are going to give it our all.”
The tests of the Copa del Rey will begin on Monday, August 1, followed by another five days of competition.
