Mapfre King's Cup heats up with over 50 boats registered

Four months before the start of its 43rd edition, which will also host the ORC European Championship, the MAPFRE King's Cup already has 55 boats from 14 nationalities on its entry list. With the deadline for reduced entry fees open until May 30, teams are advancing their logistical planning for one of the most numerous editions in history.

The "Teatro Soho-Altavista," by Javier Banderas and Toni Guiu (Benalmádena), will again compete for victory with the same unit with which it won its eighth trophy for Benalmádena in 2024.

Competitiveness will be at its peak in ORC 0, with a dozen TP52s competing almost in real time, although the classification will be decided by corrected time. The presence of the "Aifos," which as usual is expected to be commanded by King Don Felipe, stands out, along with teams like the "Urbania," from Tomás Gasset (Marina Vela Barcelona), which arrives with a new TP52 from Argentina. Its first test will be the Sandberg PalmaVela 2025, where it will optimize its performance both in La Larga and in the Multiclass.

Other high-level TP52s registered include the "Gladiator" (Tommy Langley, GBR), "Arobas 2" (Gérard Logel, FRA), "Musica" (Ruedi Huber, SUI), "Vudú" (Mauro Gestri, ITA) and the Brazilians "Crioula" (Eduardo Plasencia) and Alizée (Mauro Dottori).

Eleven teams are already on the ORC A list, where the "Swan 42 Elena Nova" (RCNP), by Christian Plump, will defend its 2024 and 2023 title against a strong fleet of Swan 45s. Among its rivals will be the "From Now On" (Fernando Chain, ARG), "Thetis" and "Farewell Ange" (YC Costa Smeralda and YC San Remo, ITA), as well as the "Aceites Abril" (RCN Vigo) of the Pérez Canal brothers. Also the "DK46 HM Hospitals-Hyatt" (CN Balis) of Óscar Chávez, with Olympic champion Fernando León at the helm.

The most international class to date, with 15 teams from 9 countries, has as its main reference the "Katara" (YC Argentino) of Julián Somodi, who dominated firmly in 2024. Although no other team from last year's podium has registered yet. In the coming weeks, the registration is expected to reach tough competition with the Italian and Spanish fleets.

With 15 teams registered, the ORC C fleet seeks new podium contenders. For now, the "Wanderlust" (CN Ciudadela/RCNP), by Josep Pons, is the only one from last edition's podium already registered to try to improve on third place.

The Club Swan 50 and Club Swan 42 fleets, regulars at the Copa del Rey MAPFRE, will have around 15 units on the racecourse. "Earlybird" (Hendrik Brandis, GER) will try to repeat victory in ClubSwan 50, while in ClubSwan 42, the Murcian "Pez de Abril" (José María Meseguer) will face, among others, the Mallorcan Nadir (CVP Andratx) of Pedro Vaquer, already registered.

The 2024 title is in the hands of "Citanias" (Patricia Suárez, RCN Vigo), whose skipper is immersed in her 49er FX Olympic campaign towards Los Angeles 2028, so her possible participation is doubtful. As of today, three teams have registered (two Spanish and one Brazilian), with expectations to exceed a dozen participants.

The MAPFRE King's Cup 2025 will begin on July 26 with the opening of the race office for the delivery of documentation and to complete all registration requirements, while Sunday the 27th will be the day of the traditional ribbon cutting by authorities and sponsors, symbolizing the start of the regatta. Monday the 28th will be the official training race day and Tuesday the 29th will be the day of the first races with a top-level fleet and growing interest in all classes, the 43rd edition of the MAPFRE King's Cup promises to be one of the most exciting and competitive in its history with the ORC European Championship at stake.