All set for a pre-Olympic Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca

The first major regatta of Olympic classes prior to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will bring together more than 800 boats and 1,100 sailors representing 75 countries from the 29th of March to the 6th of April in the Bay of Palma.

During the presentation of the competition, the director of the regatta, Javier Zaynoun, stressed that the Trofeo Princesa Sofía has established itself as "one of the most prestigious Olympic sailing regattas in the world". This success has been achieved, he said, thanks to the excellent wind conditions in the Bay of Palma, the good weather in Mallorca, the passion of the organizing team, and the support of institutions, sponsors and collaborators, and has turned the regatta into "one of the great banners of the Mallorca brand around the world".

"In an Olympic year, the Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by Iberostar will be the focus of all eyes," Zaynoun emphasized: "In the final stretch to Paris 2024, the great Mallorcan regatta is the first event where the ten Olympic classes that will compete in Marseille in August will meet. For some teams, the Sofia Iberostar is a selection regatta, and for others it will serve as a test to measure their form and fine-tune their equipment in preparation for the Olympic Games".

With just over a week to go until the start of the competition, 1,100 sailors and more than 800 boats of 75 nationalities have confirmed their participation, which will turn the Bay of Palma into the world center of Olympic sailing.

The director of the Sofia, called on residents and visitors "to come to the sea during the event, to contemplate the spectacle of top-level sailing", in the surroundings of the three regatta venues: the Club Náutico Arenal, the Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa and the Balneario 14, where the Formula Kite, the flying kites, will be located.

Before hosting the future Olympic champions, the Bay of Palma will be the venue for the 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by Iberostar ORC and Monotype Trophy, from the 22nd to the 24th of April. An international fleet of fifty boats in the ORC, J/70, J/80, Dragon and 6 Metre categories will compete based at the Real Club Náutico de Palma.  

The Council of Tourism of the Consell de Mallorca, José Marcial Rodríguez, justified the institutional support for an event like the Sofía: "We support the capacity that this type of event gives us to convert the tourist activity of this island into part of the solution, and not part of the problem".

The Minister of the Sea and Water Cycle of the Balearic Islands Government, Juan Manuel Lafuente, spoke along the same lines: "It is an honor as a representative of the Government to be here and to show the Government's support for this international event".

The 53 Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofía Mallorca by Iberostar is jointly organised by the Club Nàutic S'Arenal, the Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, the Real Club Náutico de Palma, the Real Federación Española de Vela and the Federación Balear de Vela, with the support of World Sailing and the main Balearic public institutions.