Eleven women's teams will compete for the 39 Copa del Rey MAPFRE
by 39 Copa del Rey MAPFRE 30 Jul 2021 14:31 BST
31 July - 7 August 2021
J80 fleet - Copa del Rey MAPFRE © María Muiña/Copa del Rey MAPFRE
The Copa del Rey MAPFRE continues to place a focus on women's sailing. The Mallorca Sotheby's Women's Cup class will bring together eleven teams that compete against each other on equally matched One-Design J/80s on the bay of Palma.
The winner in 2019, Helena Alegre, returns to defend the title but is again up against several very good teams including Decoexa, skippered by Olatz Muñoz the current J/80 female world champions.
The first exclusively female class in the history of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE was incorporated into the regatta in 2019. Back then 12 teams competed in the Purobeach Women's Cup on board the One-Design boat Viper 640, completing six races after which Federación Balear [Balearic Sailing Federation], skippered by Helena Alegre, was the first winner in the history of the event.
For this 39th edition, the Copa del Rey MAPFRE welcomes again the Mallorca Sotheby's Women's Cup class, this time onboard J/80s. Eleven teams have confirmed their participation this year.
Quantity and quality
A glance at the list of registered boats confirms the interest in the class and the quality of the fleet. Teams from the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Basque Country, Catalonia, Galicia and the Region of Valencia will compete, including world class J/80 sailors.
Helena Alegre highlights the quality of the fleet and predicts an intense fight for victory. The Mallorcan skipper is aware that it will not be easy for her and her team to defend the title: "'Dorsia' is very strong and they beat us at the II International Women's Sailing Cup held last May in Getxo; Olatz Muñoz's Decoexa was third in that regatta and has just won the J80 World Championship in Denmark; María Sánchez (Grupo Norte) was second in the Worlds; María Bover (#CompromisoRNCP) is always a rival to consider; I am also sure that the boat of the Balearic Sailing Federation (Herbalife Nutrition), with Marina Gallego at the helm, will put a strong fight... The truth is that the level of the fleet is really high ".
New crew
Helena Alegre will sail on AGD Desamiantados. After their success in 2019, she worked on a campaign for 2020 that could not go forwards because of the Covid pandemic, the crew ultimately going their separate ways.. This year, she will defend the title with new teammates. "I sail with two Finnish women, a South African and a Mallorcan girls a crew that the only thing in common with the one we set up in 2019 is that once again I have never sailed with any of them before."
The J/80s have been on the water since yesterday in order to start the set-up for the first day of competition, Monday August 2. "My goal is the victory, of course, but above all I want to enjoy the experience and learning as much as possible from my colleagues, who are really great sailors."
The Mallorca Sotheby's Women's Cup class will sail a maximum of 15 W/L races from Monday, August 2, and until Saturday, August 7.
The 39 Copa del Rey MAPFRE is organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP) and the Real Federación Española de Vela (RFEV), with the sponsorship of MAPFRE, the institutional support of the Balearic Islands Government, the City Hall of Palma, the Balearic Islands Port Authority and the Balearic Sailing Federation.
For more information visit www.regatacopadelrey.com.