55th Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels - Day 1
by Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofía 27 Mar 21:39 GMT
27 March - 4 April 2026
55th Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels - Day 1 © Laura Guerra / Trofeo Princesa Sofía
The British team on Black Seal, owned by Richard Thompson (Cape 31); the Spanish boat Stella, skippered by Violeta Álvarez (6 Metres); and the British boat True Story, owned by Martin Payne (Dragon), lead the One Design classes at the 55th Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels following the first of three scheduled days of racing, running until next Sunday at the Real Club Náutico de Palma.
The Cape 31, 6 Metre Open and Dragon fleets opened their programme with two races marked by changeable conditions. The first was held in light north-westerly winds. The Race Committee attempted a second start on the same course, but a shift to the east accompanied by a lull forced the fleet to wait on the race course. Finally, with the wind settling from the east and gusts of up to 14 knots, the second race of the day was completed.
In the Cape 31 class, Black Seal 2, skippered by Britain's Richard Thompson, leads the standings after finishing third and first. The team's mainsail trimmer, Mateo Majdalani, highlighted the competitiveness on the water: "It's been a good day. We finished third and first in very close and competitive races. It's always good to take part in events in other classes and we enjoy sharing the course with other fleets."
In the 6 Metre class, Violeta Álvarez's Stella tops the provisional standings after winning both races. Her crew member Rodrigo Sanz assessed the day and the Committee's work: "It's been an entertaining day, with all sorts of wind conditions. We managed two firsts after a first race with light wind and a significant lull. The committee waited very well until the wind picked up again."
The lead in the Dragon class goes to the British boat True Story, skippered by Martin Payne, who is returning to this regatta with his own boat after many years: "I competed here in 1999 and hadn't been back as an owner since then, so it's nice to be back."
The One Design classes will race until Sunday, whilst tomorrow, Saturday, the ORC cruiser fleet will join the action, the only one competing on a time-compensated basis within the non-Olympic categories. With 31 boats from five countries, it will be the largest fleet in this group and has up to four races scheduled between Saturday and Sunday.
The three One Design classes and the ORC cruisers are based at the Real Club Náutico de Palma, where the prize-giving ceremony for all non-Olympic classes will be held on Sunday 29 March.
The Hansa 303 adapted sailing class completed their second day of competition in Port d'Andratx with four races, which proved very productive for the reigning world champion, Poland's Piotr Cichocki. With three race wins and a second-place finish, he has taken the lead in the standings and is three points ahead of the Portuguese sailor João Pinto, the world runner-up. Local sailor Pau Toni Homar rounds off the provisional podium, with two days remaining until the conclusion of the Mallorcan regatta for this inclusive sailing category.
The 55th Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels is organised by Bahía Activa — the foundation formed by the Real Club Náutico de Palma, the Club Nàutic Arenal, the Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa and the Balearic Sailing Federation — and is supported by World Sailing.
The event is co-financed by the Balearic Islands Government's Sustainable Tourism Tax fund and sponsored by the Mallorca Responsible Tourism Foundation. It also forms part of the 2026 Sailing Grand Slam, alongside the Semaine Olympique Française, Dutch Water Week, Kieler Woche and the Long Beach & San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta.
Find out more at www.trofeoprincesasofia.org