Swell and wind put the PalmaVela fleet to the test

Big, long waves and wind of between 20-25 knots (37 to 46 km/h) throughout the day. These were the ingredients of the first day of the 20th PalmaVela.

The multi-class event that opens the Mediterranean regatta calendar started this Thursday with the first two races for the Maxi class, which in 2024 brings together five large yachts on the starting line: the WallyCento "V" and "Galateia", the Wally "Rose", the Farr 30 "Leopard 3" and the J Class "Svea", the largest of the fleet with a length of almost 44 meters.

While "Leopard 3" (3-2) and "V" (2-3) exchanged places in the two Windward-Leeward races completed by the Maxis, there was no doubt why "Galateia" is the defending PalmaVela champion: two races, two wins.

With David Leuschen at the helm, they have award-winning navigator Simon Fisher in their ranks. "It's been an exciting first day after a winter in which we've done a major refit of the boat," said the Barcelona-based Brit. "We went out on the water with the plan to warm up and check how the changes worked in practice, that everything was OK, but we managed to be competitive and win both legs. It was very tight with V and Leopard. We are happy with the result and we are happy to have completed the races without any problems.

"Leopard 3", a 2007 design optimised last year, and "V" open this 20th PalmaVela in provisional second and third place, respectively.

Four points off the podium in fourth place is "Svea", from the Real Club Náutico Sueco (KSSS). Tied on points with it, the German "Rose", a Wally designed by Farr and built in 2006 and skippered by Ben Potter, closes the Maxis general standings.