The Trofeo Ciutat de Palma crowns its winners

The Catalan sailor Joan Domingo, from the CN Cambrils, has lifted the silver caravel as the winner of the 72 Trofeo Ciutat de Palma, an event in which 330 sailors from 17 countries have competed.

The wind has gone from less to more during Sunday. The competition started shortly after midday with an intensity of just five knots, which increased to 12 knots during the second race of the day. The roles, although fewer in number than on previous days, also tested the sailors' ability to read the race course.

The three groups of this 72nd Trofeo Ciutat de Palma sailed two races on Sunday. Thus, the Silver and Bronze fleets were able to complete eight races in these four days of competition, while the Gold group, where the final triumph contenders sailed, managed to finish nine races.

The first race was sailed in light breeze, which meant that the lighter sailors were, a priori, at a certain advantage. The Danish Carl Thrane took the lead from the second mark and opened a gap over his pursuers that he was able to maintain until he crossed the finish line in first position. Second place went to Mateo Carbonell, from the CN Jávea, and third place to Nikko Palou, from the RCN Palma, who finished third and was the best of the group of favorites.

The last race was very exciting, as the Mallorcan had cut the gap with the leader, the Catalan Joan Domingo, to just three points. In addition, the wind had increased its intensity to 12 knots, so it was expected to be a much faster race.

However, the fight has not been as even as expected, as the representative of the Club Nàutic de Cambrils has been in the lead almost from the starting horn with the intention of securing the final victory in this Trofeo Ciutat de Palma. Joan Domingo has led the fleet in all the buoy passes and has achieved first place in a clear way, while Nikko Palou has started a little behind and has not been able to recover, so he has finished this leg in sixteenth position.

Joan Domingo Cebamamos, of the CN Cambrils, has lifted the exclusive silver caravel as winner of the 72nd Trofeo Ciutat de Palma. The Catalan, who has scored a total of 21 points, has been very consistent throughout the championship, adding three partial victories and has finished all his races in the top ten. Second place went to Nikko Palou, from the RCN Palma, who finished with 32 points, while the absolute podium was completed by another sailor from the CN Cambrils, Íker Múgica, whose second place in the last race ousted the Mallorcan Sean Sadler, from the CN s'Arenal, to fourth place.

Manu Fraga, director of the RCN Palma has taken stock of the competition: "We are very satisfied with this year's edition. We knew weeks ago that it was going to be a success in terms of participation and that it would be of a high level, but in this sport you always depend on the weather. The Bay of Palma has once again demonstrated that it is the best sports center in Mallorca. We were able to race on all four days of competition and in all kinds of conditions. The sailing team has done an excellent job and everyone is very satisfied. The Ciutat de Palma is an inseparable historic and sporting heritage of the Real Club Náutico de Palma that we must preserve".

The awards ceremony was presided over by the President of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens, who was accompanied by the Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, and the President of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation and the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, Javier Sanz, and the President of the RCNP, Rafael Gil.

The event was also attended by the Sailing member of the RCN Palma, Hugo Ramon; the president of the Balearic Sailing Federation, Catalina Darder; the president of the Spanish Association of the International Optimist Class (AECIO), Joaquín Valero; the regional head of Operations of the National Police in the Balearic Islands, Fernando Reboyras; the island director of Tourism, Pedro Mas; the RCNP member Alicia Binimelis, and the head of the Naval Sector of the Balearic Islands, Javier Núñez de Prado Aparicio.