21st Sandberg PalmaVela Day 1 - Magic Carpet E wins two from two on her debut
by Alejandro Varela 1 May 19:35 BST
30 April - 4 May 2025
21st Sandberg PalmaVela - Magic Carpet E © María Muiña
The Maxi class officially opened racing today at the 21st Sandberg PalmaVela, completing two W/L races in which the newest elite 100-footer, Magic Carpet E, dominated with two clear victories in what was its first-ever races.
Racing began on schedule at 13:00 with a steady 12-knot easterly breeze on Course Charlie, the furthest from the Real Club Náutico de Palma.
Magic Carpet E won both races—respectively eight and nine nautical miles long. They won by two minutes and four minutes. Among its 28-strong crew are renowned round-the-world and Olympic sailors.
"The boat is performing well—better than expected for windward-leeward races, I'd say—so we're happy," commented Olympic gold medallist and round-the-world skipper Xabi Fernández. "The crew worked well and the first day went smoothly with two wins. There's still a lot to learn about the boat, but overall, we're really pleased."
With a fourth and a second place, Tilakkhana II —a Wallycento skippered by French sailor Pascale Decaux with a crew which has the highest proportion women in the Maxi fleet— sits second overall. Third place goes to the German Wally 80 Rose, owned by Sven Wackerhagen and helmed by Benjamin Potter.
The Maxi fleet is scheduled to sail two more windward/leeward races tomorrow.
Everyone Joins the Action Tomorrow
From Friday through Sunday, the final day of competition, all 11 classes of the 21st Sandberg PalmaVela will be in action. Over 100 boats of various sizes will race across three courses set in the Bay of Palma.
Joining the Maxis will be the 6 Metre class, Spirit of Tradition classics, ORC divisions 0 through 5, Sportboats, and two-handed ORC A2 divisions 0-3 and 4-5, who will compete in coastal races.
Mediterranean Sailing Circuit 2025 Starts
With the start of ORC racing, the new Mediterranean Sailing Circuit 2025 also gets under way. A joint initiative by the yacht clubs of Palma, Barcelona, and Valencia, the circuit aims to encourage cross-regional participation in ORC events. The three events included are PalmaVela, the Conde de Godó Trophy in Barcelona, and the SM La Reina Trophy in Valencia.
The action continues tomorrow, with the first warning signal scheduled for 13:00.
Results after Day 1: (top three)
Maxi
1. Magic Carpet E, Sir Lindsay Owen Jones - 1 + 1 = 2pts
2. Tilakkhana II, Pascale Decaux - 4 + 2 = 6pts
3. Rose, Benjamin Potter - 2 + 5 = 7pts
Find out more at www.palmavela.com