Puerto Portals kicks off the eighth edition of the Dragon Winter Series

Starting today, November 15, the Puerto Portals Yacht Club is organizing the VIII edition of the Puerto Portals Dragon Winter Series, which will run from November 2024 to February 2025. The event will gather 21 Dragon class boats from six countries (Australia, Austria, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Sweden), supported by the National Dragon Class Association, the Balearic Sailing Federation, and the International Dragon Association.

The General Director of Puerto Portals emphasizes the significance of this class at the port: "The Dragon class is experiencing a very important moment of energy. Currently, in Europe, there might be about 2,000 Dragon licenses, of which 600 are active. A part of the fleet comes to Puerto Portals every year. For us, it is a very important class because the average age and social standing of the participants fits very well with the profile of the port," he explains.

He also highlights that this event is a step towards organizing the Dragon Gold Cup in 2026, a top-level competition that will attract numerous teams: "We are at an important moment because in 2026 we will organize the Dragon Gold Cup, a Coefficient 0 regatta, equivalent to a European or world championship, where we can host 90 or 100 boats. This is going to lead to a boom in participants in next year's Winter Series."

Irala considers the participation of 21 boats in the Winter Series "adequate" given the limited space due to port adaptation works. "The space we have is limited and this season we have decided to change the location of the boats to a more technical area to facilitate docking and launching, and to be closer to the Village and the Race Office. Everything is going to be more concentrated in this area, where we have already finished the construction," adds the General Director of Portals.

He also values the economic impact of the winter regattas: "It is very beneficial for us that the regattas are concentrated from October to March because it is our low season and it allows us to offer space and moorings in the port while we help the environment and the municipality of Calvià through an increase in economic activity that translates into car rentals, stays in hotels and apartments, and restaurant businesses."

The competition dates are: November 15-17, December 13-15, January 24-26, and February 21-23. The program includes a total of 24 races, with up to two daily rounds, on a windward-leeward course in the Bay of Palma. The organization offers prizes for the top three finishers in the general category and for the best in the Corinthian division.

The three boats that made the podium in the last edition of the Puerto Portals Dragon Winter Series have already confirmed their return to Mallorca to compete for the title in the eighth season. The “Yeah Nah”, winner of the last two editions, faces the challenge of maintaining its dominance against last year’s main rivals, the Mallorcan “Mr. Nova” and the Swedish “Miss Behavior”. The Australian team of “Yeah Nah”, captained by Jan Eckert, stood out for its great consistency. It managed to win eight of the 23 races held, showing a great ability to adapt to the changing conditions of the Bay of Palma.