33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE - Day 1

Day 1 of the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE © Maria Muina

The bay of Palma has confirmed its excellent reputation as a race course on the opening day of the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE. The wind conditions allowed the teams to sail the two races scheduled for all classes. The first leaders of the week are Americans "Shockwave" and"Quantum Racing", Italian "Hurakan", Russian "Tsaar Peter", and the Spanish "Rats on Fire", "Movistar", "Puerto Deportivo Benalmádena" and"Herbalife". The regatta will keep going until next Saturday.

The wind arrived on time for its appointment at the Bay of Palma, and the fleet was able to fulfill the program sailing two races in its debut in the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE. Finally 117 boats crossed the starting line at 13h00. The wind blew from the south with a speed of approximately 8-12 knots.

Gaastra IRC 0

The Mini Maxi fleet started the week with a good feeling for the American teams on their arrival in Europe. George Sakellaris' "Shockwave" opened their scorer with a victory and was second in the next race, returning to the Real Club Náutico de Palma as the first leader of the week. It's followed by Andres Soriano's British "Alegre", winner in 2013, who made it up for his last position in the first race of the day with a win in the second one. Third is another American, Hap Fauth's "Bella Mente" (2-4).

Gaastra IRC 1

Giuseppe Parodi's Italian TP52 "Hurakan" leads the class after a third and a first place today. Behind it's French "@robas" (2-3) and "Team Vision Future",winner of the first race and fifth in the second.

Gazprom Swan 60

Today was the debut of the Gazprom Swan 60 class in the Mediterranean. In the fight for the world crown, the defending champions, Russian Vladimir Liubomirov's "Bronenosec", began winning the first race, but a fourth place in the next race relegated him to the second place in the provisional overall; behind Sergey Borodinov's "Tsaar Peter", who finished third and first. Chinese "Windward" (4-3) is third.

Barclays 52 Super Series

Doug De Vos' "Quantum Racing", the defending champion in the Copa del Rey MAPFRE, starts leading the championship. The American boat skippered by Ed Baird, current world champion in its class, has been the most consistent of the fleet, finishing second and first, and leads by five points over its archrival "Rán"(1-7) and "Azzurra" (3-5), both with eight points.

BMW ORC 1

In the most crowded class, BMW ORC 1, today was a favourable day for the Swan 45, which have taken the top four positions. Rafael Carbonell's "Rats on Fire", skippered by Manuel Doreste, reminded their rivals his status as defending champions, and if in 2013 led with an iron fist from the second day of the competition, this year starts the week with both victories of the day. It's followed by Dutch RW Bol's "No Limits" (3-3) and German Christian Plump's"Elena Nova" (5-2).

BMW ORC 2

Enrique Terol and Pedro Campos' "Movistar" also begins defending the title with authority. If in 2013 the Galician boat won six out of ten possible victories, in the start of the 2014 edition already has two victories. In both races was followed by Joan Cabrer's "Airlan Aermec", second ahead of Lluis Blanchar and Carles Rodríguez's "Varador 2000".

Nespresso X-35

The Nespresso X-35 one-designs start the week showing how equal is the fleet. Italian Alessandro Sollerio's "Lelagain" won the first race of the day and José Luis Maldonado's "Fyord - Valencia Luxury" won the next one. But the first leader is Javier Banderas' "Puerto Deportivo Benalmádena" skippered by Dani Cuevas, who was the most regular after a third and a second place.

Herbalife J80

Magnificent duel in the one-design class Herbalife J80 with two boats tied at the top of the classification. "Herbalife" skippered by Javier Padrón returned to shore as the first leader, followed by José María Van der Ploeg's "Factor Energía". Both alternated in the first two positions (2-1 for the leader and 1-2 for its rival). Third is Carlos Martinez's "Movistar" (3-5).

Social meeting point

First day of competition and already many familiar faces who did not want to miss this event at the Real Club Náutico de Palma. Steven Van Zandt, legendary guitarist of Bruce Springsteen and actor in The Sopranos, visited this afternoon the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE. Also the Spanish entrepreneur and writer Fiona Ferrer, who didn't missed the Nespresso Brunch this morning.

After the racing day, the sailors' tent hosted several tastings enlivened by the music of DJ Alex Caro and Sote de Lino, and saxophonist Toni Rios, in collaboration with Pachá.

Tomorrow the yacht club expects the visit of the President of the Balearic Government, Jose Ramon Bauza and former tennis player Carlos Moya, captain of the Spanish Davis Cup team.

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