The Princesa Sofía Trophy for cruisers and monotypes crowns its winners

The competition organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma has brought together 50 boats that have completed 23 races in three days sailing in the bay of Palma.

"January" (ORC A2), by Luis Bustillo; "Viking IX" (ORC 2), by Erik Tejedor; "Merengue V" (ORC 3), by Xisco Pou; "Micanga" (ORC 4), by Mateo Grimalt; "Patakín" (J70), by Luis Albert Segura; Ben Kolff's "Doniger" (Dragon) and Violeta Álvarez's "Stella" (6M) were yesterday proclaimed champions of the 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofía by Iberostar in the cruiser and monotype classes, a regatta organised by the Real Club Náutico de Palma which has brought together 50 boats representing seven countries and which has served as a preamble to the great Olympic class competition which the Arenal and Can Pastilla yacht clubs will be hosting from next weekend.

The Trofeo Princesa Sofía by Iberostar for cruisers and monotypes consisted of three days of competition. The conditions, although changeable and even difficult at times, have not prevented the development of a full programme of races that has added 23 races and has included two coastal races for the ORC fleets. The north-easterly wind has blown regularly throughout the last day, with winds ranging between 12 and 18 knots. This stable weather has allowed the Race Committee to recover the Dragon class race that had been left pending the previous day.

Equality has been the dominant tone in the one-design categories, which compete in real time. The "Patakín" obtained a six-point advantage over its closest rival, the "Elvis", owned by the Swede Filip Engelbert. The victory in Dragon was decided by only two points, with Javier Chacártegui's "Dr. Chacártegui" in second place. The same happened in 6M, where the victory of Stella over Jan Ekert's "Ginkgotoo" was decided by two points.

 In ORC A2 (two crew), "Enero" won the two coastal courses sailed between Friday and yesterday, and gave Eduardo Horrach's "Azuree" no chance. “Viking IX" (ORC2) was also far superior to its rivals, with three partial victories in as many races and a four-point lead over Juan José Torres' "Histolab". In ORC 3, the "Merengue" has not won any partial but, nevertheless, has managed to win by three points over Jaume Morell's "Mestral Fast", while in ORC 4, where the smaller cruisers compete, the "Micanga" has finished tied on five points with Juan Escandell's "Tres Mares", and has won the championship thanks to its victory in the last race.

Luis Bustillo, owner of "Enero", was very satisfied with the result of the competition and explained that the key to the victory was consistency: "We have not failed in any race and we have kept calm at all times, which has allowed us to maintain the lead from the first day. Perhaps another reason for this victory is the fun we had sailing and the good work of my crew member, Pedro Marí".

“Patakín" decided not to take part in the last race, when she was already guaranteed first place, so as not to interfere in the fight for the other two steps on the podium. "Sailing in Palma is a pleasure; not only because of the good conditions, but also because of the magnificent work of the Race Committee".

Helena Alegre, crew member of "Merengue V", winner of the ORC 3 class, highlighted the diversity of conditions that the Bay of Palma has offered since last Friday, with "very different" winds, and considered that the keys to the victory of the boat led by Xisco Pou were "consistency" and "regularity".