The King’s Cup Repsol to Celebrate its 20th Anniversary with a Legendary Fleet

The King’s Cup Repsol for Vintage Yachts is preparing to host one of the most attended editions in its history this coming August.

Two months before the competition begins, Spain's largest classic yacht event already has pre-registrations for 36 boats representing eight nations for its 20th anniversary. The final number of participants could exceed fifty, surpassing the records of recent years.

The regatta, organized by the Club Marítimo de Mahón with the sponsorship of Repsol and the institutional collaboration of the Consell Insular de Menorca and the Ayuntamiento de Mahón, remains a key event in the classic and vintage sailing calendar in Spain and a must-see within The Mediterranean Champions Cup circuit, where the world's best-preserved recreational heritage boats are showcased and compete.

The regatta will take place from August 27 to 31 and will include one day of measurements and four days of competition, one more than usual. This extension of the program was first applied last year at the request of the owners, who found their stay in Menorca too short.

The Mahón harbor offers one of the most spectacular maritime landscapes in the Mediterranean and proximity to a reliable and very attractive regatta field for classic boats, with the Isla del Aire as a natural marker to the south or magnificent views along the course if the wind directs the fleet north. The finish line inside the port, visible to anyone on the waterfront, is another unique feature that makes the King’s Cup a "special and much-loved regatta by the participants," according to Nacho Marra, director of the Club Marítimo de Mahón and the event's chief technical officer.

“We have a city with a long maritime tradition, which is highly appreciated by the owners of these boats, who serve as custodians of a heritage that would have mostly disappeared without them. Added to this is our organizational experience and the fact that the boats are moored in a freely accessible part of the port. This allows us to offer a floating exhibition open to the public and promote direct interaction between the city and the crews,” explains Marra, convinced that the clearest proof that the Club Marítimo has been "doing things right" for 20 years is the loyalty of the owners. Indeed, the history of participants shows that many yachts have repeatedly taken part in the King’s Cup over its two-decade history.

The yachts Mariska (1908), Comet (1946), and Argos (1964) will defend the titles they won in the 2023 edition. Other notable entries include Hallowe’en (1926), Lady Anne (1912), Chinook (1916), Manitou (1937), and Serenade (1938).

For the third year, the King’s Cup is part of The Mediterranean Champions Cup circuit, alongside Les Régates Royales, Vele d’Epoca di Imperia, Argentario Sailing Week, Les Voiles d’Antibes, and the Illes Balears Clàssics of the Club de Mar Mallorca. As with most of these events, the fleet is divided into five categories according to the rules of the International Mediterranean Committee. Boats built before 1950 are considered vintage and grouped by their rigging: Gaff (trapezoidal) or Bermudian (triangular). From that date until the late 1970s, boats fall into the classic division. The Spirit of Tradition and the Big Boats, large-length sailboats, complete the fleet.