The Crew of ‘Nàutic Café del Mar’ Ready to Face the Copa del Rey MAPFRE

Today, the upper terrace of Es Nàutic’s social headquarters hosted the presentation of the ‘Nautic Café del Mar’ (NCDM) team, which will head to Palma de Mallorca this week for the 42nd edition of the Copa del Rey de Vela. The event, open to the public, featured athletes, coaches, and sponsors.

In recent months, the team has been preparing the sailboat to improve on last year's performance, where NCDM’s crew was the youngest in the entire regatta. The preparation involved making some sail adjustments and optimizing deck maneuverability to gain speed and defend their rating, though some fine-tuning remains.

For a long time, the boat was set up for offshore races, but starting last year, with the goal of the Copa del Rey, its composition had to be changed to improve performance in shorter courses. The addition of new sponsors to the project has been crucial, providing invaluable support for the necessary modifications. This process has been tested in high-level regattas such as the Costa Azahar in Castellón, which NCDM won; the Diana de Oro in Denia, where they secured second place; the S.M La Reina Trophy; and the Tabarca Ciudad de Alicante Trophy.

This year, the Copa del Rey has moved its program up by a week, taking place from July 27 to August 2. The crew consists of coaches Felipe Cornet and Javier Rabelo, and the following ILCA sailors from the Club: Julia Ramón, Laura Cardona, María Torres, Víctor Bonet, Javier Marí, and Jaume Llorens. Thanks to sponsors Neobookings, Rumbo Norte, and Marinepool, the ‘Nautic Café del Mar’ will be able to compete in the Copa del Rey. Alongside the athletes and their coaches, attendees included Enrique Terol, CEO of Rumbo Norte; Roberto de Andrés, manager of Rumbo Norte; Víctor Pont, CTO of Neobookings; Raúl Blanco, COO of Neobookings; Javier Planas, commodore of CNSA; Miguel Costa, board member of CNSA; and Enrique Mas, sports director of CNSA.

The ‘Café del Mar Sailing’ project, which has evolved into ‘Nàutic Café del Mar’ over the years, began in 2003 and has endured thanks to various changes over its 21-year history. It has enjoyed great success and satisfaction, thanks to the involvement of dedicated and knowledgeable technicians, sponsors, and individuals who have contributed dedication, effort, and sacrifice to elevate NCDM’s achievements. The project began with a boat loaned to the club by technician Jordi Hontoria for improvement, a Jeanneau Selection 37 named ‘Caronte’. Significant changes occurred in 2005 with the purchase of the J92S ‘Café del Mar’ and in 2015 with the acquisition of the current ‘Nàutic Café del Mar’, an Espada 34.