Mix of Medium and Fast Boats in the Balearia ORC 3 Class of the King's Cup

The restructuring of all ORC divisions for this 42nd edition of the King's Cup MAPFRE, with a view towards the 43rd edition that will host the 2025 European Championship, has resulted in the Balearia ORC 3 class being a condensation.

On one hand, it includes the medium-speed boats from the previous edition (with the faster units moving up to the Altavista ORC 2 class), and on the other hand, it includes the fast boats from the now-defunct ORC 4, which have been integrated into the current Balearia ORC 3 this year.

“It is the fleet with the most national representation of all the ORC classes and is a clear example of the coexistence of professional and amateur crews in the King's Cup MAPFRE,” says Manu Fraga, director of the competition. Along with the Altavista ORC 2 class, Fraga points out that “this class is a true reflection of what happens in Spain. They are the most numerous lengths participating in yacht club regattas.”

With this new class configuration, several teams are presenting themselves at this 42nd King's Cup MAPFRE with clear chances of reaching the podium for the awards ceremony on Saturday, August 3rd at Ses Voltes, under the Palma Cathedral.

Notable units include “Brujo,” owned by the Gaditan Federico Linares, which with its GS 37B will aim to lead the fleet together with the Cape 31 “Meerblick” of Gaby Pohlmann from the Royal Nautical Club of Palma, the Vrolijk 37 from Almeria “Peneque Pro” of Miguel Angel Molares, the Salona 37 from Punta Umbría “Varicentro D6” of Manuel Sanz, or the X-37 from Puerto Sherry “Vergara” of Rafael Sanz. All of these are, in principle, the fastest units in the fleet and possibly the main contenders for the title of this 42nd King's Cup MAPFRE.

Other units, like the boat from Punta Umbría “Ibarra Befesa” of Arturo Montes, which managed to reach the podium in 2023, will have to measure their potential against faster boats that will force them to navigate through the fleet traffic on the racecourse.

17 Units and Three Countries

The Balearia ORC 3 is the class with the greatest predominance of Spanish fleet, with two German units and one Italian unit, and where the crews have a more amateur component than in other classes.