Exciting start to the 41st Copa del Rey MAPFRE Final Series

The bay of Palma changed its face on the first day of the Final Series of the 41st Copa del Rey MAPFRE. An onshore wind that reached speeds of over 20 knots caused breakages and scrambled the rankings, which show new leaders in four of the eight categories.

The first day of the Final Series presented unprecedented conditions so far this week, with wind intensities in the region of 20 knots and a north-easterly component, known as Gregal. A different scenario that required different skills, caused quite a few incidents and shook up the provisional results. In the Majorica ORC classes, with two races, the best of the Preliminary Series were able to defend their leadership; the monotypes, with three, had new names at the top of their classifications.

The day's Majorica ORC 1 started with the news of the dismasting of "Estrella Damm". The mast of Nacho Montes' Ker 46 broke off before the start of the race, fortunately without damage to the crew, who were able to recover the rig and return to port. Christian Plump and Javier Sanz's "Palibex - Elena Nova" defended their lead thanks to the best card of the day (2+1), and is four points ahead of the French "Daguet3 - Corum" (1+3). The "Aifos" skippered by King Felipe signed a third and a fourth, and holds provisional third place.

In Majorica ORC 2, Javier Banderas' "Teatro del Soho Caixabank" extended its winning streak, and after its spectacular full of victories in the Preliminary Series, started the Finals with two new goals. It leads by four points over Basilio Marquínez's "Seabery Dralion".

There were also no changes at the front of Majorica ORC 3, which maintains the same teams in the first four positions. Italian Vincenzo de Blasio's "Scugnizza" continues to lead, with two new first places and now leads Alexandre Laplaza Assesors' "Laplaza Assesors" by four points.     

In Majorica ORC 4, the class that completed the most evenly matched Preliminary Series, the British Scott Beattie's "Just the Job" continues to lead, now followed by Gonzalo Calvo's "Lassal", two points behind. Both have a first and a second.

 The ClubSwan 50 took to the water led by Leonardo Ferragamo's "Cuordileone", but the day's discreet performance (7+8) sent the Italian boat to provisional fifth place. German Marcus Brennecke's "Hatari" (fourth in the Preliminary Series) became the new leader after winning the two races of the day with authority (by 13 and 18 seconds), presenting his credentials to revalidate the title won in 2022.

There was also a change at the front of the ClubSwan 42, which is now also led by the 2022 champion. Pedro Vaquer's "Nadir" won both races and leads the provisional standings by five points against the boat that started from pole position, José María Meseguer's "Pez de Abril", which failed to replicate its performance in the Preliminary Series and scored 7+2.

The Mallorca Sotheby's Women's Cup Finals started with drama for Patricia Suárez's "Citanias", the best qualified yacht from the qualifying round, which broke its rudder and had to retire to port. In a series with no discards, she was mathematically out of options. Adding up the three partial results of the day, María Bover's "Team RCNP Balearia" (1+2+1) and Nuria Sánchez's "Dorsia Covirán" (2+1+3) are tied at the top of the table.

The Herbalife J70 class also shows a change of leader and a tie at the top of the provisional rankings, this time between Luis Bugallo's "Usana-Les Roches" (2+1+1) and Luis Albert's "Patakín" (1+2+2).

The competition continues this Friday, with a new ration of windward-leeward races: two for the Majorica ORC and three for the one-designs. The first start of the day is scheduled for 13:00.