New winners in “La Larga” of PalmaVela

Sailing next to the uninhabited 6 km-long island of Sa Dragonera, southwest coast of Mallorca © María Muiña / PalmaVela

The offshore race organised by the Real Club Náutico de Palma has almost ended with only one boat yet to finish.

In the early hours of the morning, the first double-handed crew team arrived in Palma. At 2:00 am, the Valencian team "Brujo" skippered and owned by Alberto de Castro, crossed the finish line after sailing the 200 nautical miles of the PalmaVela Offshore Race in 36 hours and 32 minutes. The first team in both real and compensated time, were thus confirmed as winners of the A2 (0-3) class, with a more spacious arrival for the rest of the fleet.

It was nearly 5:00 am when Tito Moure's "Smerit" claimed a new podium position in "La Larga", improving on their result in 2022, with second place this year. Third place went to "Libélula", a Swan 65 from 1974, owned by Plácido Arango, and skippered by Borja Pella. The oldest boat in the class finished in 43 hours and 27 minutes.

The first boats in the ORC 1 class crossed the finish line at approximately 4:00 am, within a margin of 12 minutes, and after 39 hours of racing. Once compensation had been applied, the winner of "La Larga" 2023 went to the RCM Sotogrande skippered by Gabriel Medem, "Aviador". The team managed to gain an advantage of 21 minutes over the Catalan team, Joaquín Verona's "Intrigue." The podium was completed by Dutchman Frans van Dijk's "Caveman IV," representative of the RCN de Palma, after 39 hours and one minute of racing.

Four hours later the Race Committee boat was to be heard once again on the Bay of Palma, opposite the Palacio de Congresos, signalling the arrival of new teams as they crossed the finish line of the offshore race of PalmaVela. This time, the boats were mainly from the ORC 2-4 class.

Huge smiles on board Toni Marqués' "S'Avenc" from the RCN de Palma, who claimed the final victory with half an hour's advantage over their fellow club companions, "Histolab," a First 40.7 from 1997, skippered by José Juan Torres. The Marqués team sailed for the first time in 2022 and have clocked up their first victory in this year's event. Bulgarian team "Raffica" added an international flavour to the podium, finishing at around 9:00 am after 43 hours and 37 minutes.

The last teams to finish were also the class with just two crew members, the A2 (4-5). At 10:20 am, Juan Lallemand and the CN Altea's "Guaguanco IV" were the winners in real and compensated time after nearly 45 hours of racing between Mallorca, Aire Island (in southeast Menorca) and returning to Palma between Cabrera and Mallorca. Shortly afterwards, owner and skipper, Eduardo Horrach's "Azuree", from the RCN de Palma, finished in second place.

Currently the podium is due to be completed by the Real Club Náutico de Palma's "Meerblick Fun" winners of the last edition of the race. At 18:00h on Monday they were the only team yet to finish "La Larga" of PalmaVela 2023.

In the IRC class, as was to be expected, victory was confirmed for "I love Poland" over Ermanno Traverso's "Stormvogel with a difference of 16 hours and 40 minutes.

Prize-giving on Tuesday 2nd May

The Offshore Race prize-giving ceremony will be held tomorrow at 19:00h in the Real Club Náutico de Palma.

Official presentation of the 19th edition of PalmaVela on Wednesday 3rd May

At 13:00h on Wednesday 3rd May, the 19th edition of PalmaVela will be officially presented to the press. The multi-class event will be held from 4th to 7th May on the Bay of Palma, with the participation of over one hundred boats.

Find out more at www.palmavela.com.