Copa del Rey MAPFRE at Real Club Náutico de Palma - Overall

Celebrations at 34th Copa del Rey MAPFRE © Nico Martinez / www.MartinezStudio.es

The 34 Copa del Rey MAPFRE finalized today with action, excitement and surprises in the race course of the bay of Palma. Six teams defended their positions at the top of the classification to win and two snatched the title from the leaders in the last race of the championship. Both the team "Movistar" as its skipper have set new records of victories in the Copa del Rey MAPFRE.

The whims of the wind complicated the work of the Race Committee in this final day, but all classes managed to say goodbye to the Bay of Palma competing.

The winners of the 34 Copa del Rey MAPFRE are: Americans "Ran V" (Gaastra IRC 0) and "Quantum Racing" (TP52 Super Series), Japanese "Mamma Aiuto" (Rías Baixas IRC 1), Italian "BMW Sail Racing Academy" (BMW ORC 1), and Spaniards "Noticia IV" (Singular Kitchen Soto 40), "Movistar" (BMW ORC 2), "Red Eléctrica de España" (Air Europa X-35) and "Ono Polaroid Tressis" (Herbalife J80).

Gaastra IRC 0

The Maxi 72 "Ran V" is the only team of the 34 Copa del Rey MAPFRE which has won all the races sailed. The American boat owned and skippered by George Sakellaris, champion of the category in 2014 with "Shockwave," won the ten races sailed, diverting the excitement in the Gaastra IRC 0 class to the fight for second place. Stanislav Orlov's Russian "Arctic Energy", who finally overtook by three points Joern Larsen's Maltese "L4", complete the podium.

Rías Baixas IRC 1

The last day for the Rías Baixas IRC 1 class was bet it all to one card, and the leader was able to play it. Naofumi Kamei's Japanese "Mamma Aiuto", skippered by Manu Weiller, led the scoreboard at the end of each of the five days of competition and they didn't fail today. He was five points ahead to confirm his title, and was enough to finish third in the last race to counteract the effect of the victory in the last race of American "Otra Vez", who finally came in second. Third was Mergui Mikael's Swiss "Team Vision Future".

TP52 Super Series

The battle for the title of TP52 Super Series was resolved in a dramatic finish. Three boats arrived to the last race of the championship within one point, and two of them failed under the pressure of all or nothing. Alberto Roemmers' "Azzurra", docked out this morning as leader, but finished fifth in the last race; while Harm Muller-Spreer's "Platoon" a painful tenth. The final victory went to Doug DeVos' "Quantum Racing", the only one of the three who hadn't been at the top of the scoreboard all week. A perfect championship final (he won both last races) led the team to their third consecutive title for the US team in the Copa del Rey MAPFRE.

Singular Kitchen Soto 40

Luis Martin Cabiedes' "Noticia VI", skippered by Jose Maria Torcida, has been the best team in a very tight week in the Singular Kitchen Soto 40. The Spanish team took today its fourth victory and a fourth place, enough to complete his scoreboard with 21 points and to overtake by three points second-placed Cedric Pouligny' French "Glen Ellen". Afonso Domingos' Portuguese "Bigamist" finished third. The docked out this morning just one point behind the leader but they couldn't manage their options (3-5).

BMW ORC 1

Half a point is what separates the top three finishers in the overall BMW ORC 1. The final day began with tie at the top of the leader board between "Elena Nova" and "Earlybird". "Elena Nova" broke the first tie facing the last race three points over his countryman. But the final battle ended the aspirations of both: "Elena Nova" finished sixth in the last race and its rival third, opening the door to Simone Ferrarese's "BMW Sail Racing Academy", who after starting the day in fourth overall, scored a fourth in the first race and won the last race in order to take the title. The Italian team finished the competition with a total of 38.5 points, ahead of the two Germans, tied on 39 points.

The Spanish Army's Corel 45 "Aifos", skippered by H.R.H. The King four of the six days of competition, finished twentieth in the BMW ORC 1 class with a third as their best result of the week.

BMW ORC 2

It was an exciting championship for José Enrique Terol's "Movistar". The boat skippered by Pedro Campos dragged a UFD (32 points) from the first race of the championship, and wasn't able to access the podium until the discard was applied yesterday, which automatically catapulted him into the lead. A week finishing always in the top 5 allowed the team to set a new record with seven victories in the Copa del Rey MAPFRE (2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015). For Pedro Campos is the record of absolute victories for a skipper with eight victories (1993, 1995, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015). José Coello's "Elite Sails" (nine points) and Alex Laplaza's "L'Immens" (14) complete the podium.

Air Europa X-35

"Red Eléctrica de España" won today its first Copa del Rey MAPFRE in the Air Europa X-35 class. Javier Sanz's boat, skippered by Alberto Viejo, headed to the race course this morning with a 15 point lead at the top of the scoreboard, a position they reached on the second day of competition. A second and a third place in the final two races was the grand finale of a spectacular week in which the local boat took five victories out of 12 possible and never finished passed the fourth place. The team from the RCNP closed its scoreboard 17 points ahead of Alessandro Solerio's "Lelagain", winner of the last edition. Third was Daniel Cuevas' "Grupo Ceres".

Herbalife J80

"Ono Polaroid Tressis" confirmed its victory in the Herbalife J80 class after a great week in which he never got off the podium. There were two races scheduled for today, and after securing the title by finishing second in the first race of the day, the skipper Daniel de la Pedraja decided to return to the RCNP and not take part in the final race. Second was Javier Padron's "Marbella Team", seven points behind the champion and third was Jesus Amaliach's "Herbalife" with four points more.

A week of visits

Throughout the week, the 34 Copa del Rey MAPFRE had an intense program of activities on shore. The Brunch by Iberostar and the Singular Kitchen Show at the Restaurant El Náutico, The Sailor's Party, The Owners' Dinner-BMW White Party and the daily activities at the Crew Village have confirmed the excellent reputation of the regatta's social agenda.

The 34 Copa del Rey MAPFRE received the visits of a great number of dignitaries and guests, highlighting especially the presence of H.R.M. The King, who was accompanied today by H.R.M. Queen Letizia, H.R.H. Princess Leonor and H.R.H. Infanta Sofia. Several familiar faces went by the Real Club Náutico de Palma, celebrities like Norma Duval, Carolina Cerezuela, Jordi Moya, Carla Goyanes, Lorenzo Quinn, Boris Izaguirre, Josep Pedrerol, David Salom, Carmen Jorda, Teresa Baca,...

Presented by H.R.M. The King

The prize giving ceremony of the 34 Copa del Rey MAPFRE will be held in the venue of Ses Voltes at 21h00. One year more, H.R.M. The King will be the one presenting the trophies to the champions.

Seamanship for Jacinto

The Seamanship distinction will open the prize giving ceremony. The regatta and the Real Club Nautico de Palma want to recognize the crucial work performed by the Maritime Rescue Services, the Air Force and the sailboat "Sea Hawk" rescuing Jacinto Rodriguez, owner "Duende 52", after falling overboard on their delivery to Palma.

See full results here