ISAF Sailing World Cup: Starting gun of the European calendar

With only two weeks to go to the ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca, the European season is to commence with a record edition. With racing held in the bay of Palma from 29th March to 5th April, an astonishing number of entries have been received.

The ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca in Palma, Spain is the fourth stop on the five event 2013-14 ISAF Sailing World Cup. The season has been to Qingdao, China (Oct 12-19); Melbourne, Australia (Dec. 1-8); and Miami (Jan 25-Feb 1); and will continue on after Spain to conclude in Hyeres, France (Apr. 19-26).

The ISAF Sailing World Cup is open to the sailing classes (equipment) chosen for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions.

With entries still open in some classes, the 45th edition of this World Cup event – Trofeo Princesa Sofia – already has 623 boats entered which add to a total of 882 sailors from 55 nations. High participation in classes Laser, Finn and Nacra 17. With 70 boats entered, the Nacra 17 fleet, the new mixed multihull class, is a big surprise.

Furthermore, all Olympic classes will be present this year in the bay of Palma, as it happened last year following some editions in which some class was missing due to a clash in the calendar with its Class event. The 2.4mR Paralympic class will also come again to Mallorca with a new venue at Real Club Náutico de Palma.

“We are very satisfied with the number and quality of entries received this year at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia,” explains Ferran Muniesa, Race Manager. “We have gone through very tough weeks following the loss of our main sponsor, to whom we are grateful for their six-year sponsorship. The number of participants gives us the energy to continue working to deliver one of the best editions ever and confirms we are the favourite event for all sailors.”

“I would like to thank all the team and the Organizing Clubs, Arenal, Can Pastilla and Palma, for the enormous effort they are undertaking despite the forced budget restrictions, to make sure the Princesa Sofia continues to be one of the best events in the world,” adds Muniesa.

As in previous years, a large number of International teams are already training in the bay of Palma with view to the Trofeo Princesa Sofia. German, Polish, British and Danish teams, among others, have chosen Mallorca as winter training venue before the start of the European sailing season. Within this training programme, the Arenal Training Camps Trophy was held from 13th to 16th March.

Much of the focus in 2014 will be on the ISAF Sailing World Championships to be held in Santander in September, an event to decide half of the nation slots for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Event website: http://www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/