The sixth edition of the Baleària Women’s Cup will take place in the waters of Palma Bay with 15 crews, including the Baleària Team from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, the current champion.
Palma Bay will once again be the stage for the Baleària Women’s Cup, which this year reaches its sixth edition as part of the 44th Copa del Rey Mapfre. The competition, which has established itself as a key event in women’s sailing, will bring together 15 teams from various countries, with international participation exceeding the organisers' expectations.
Among the participants, the Baleària Team from the Real Club Náutico de Palma stands out, defending the title won in 2025. The crew, captained by María Bover, is one of the main favourites, although the presence of high-level foreign teams promises a very competitive event. “Defending the title always brings special motivation. We know that this year the level has risen again with the arrival of very competitive international teams, so we will have to sail at our best from the first match,” Bover stated.
The main novelty of this edition is the significant increase in foreign participation. Alongside the Spanish representation, two Italian teams will compete, the Rudder Rebels and the Italia Team; the British team Merche y Mor; and the Canadian team Magenta Project. The international response has been so high that several teams could not be admitted due to the operational limit of the competition, according to sources from the organisation.
The limitation is determined by the number of available boats: only six units of the BluSail 24 model are used in the rotation system. Expanding the number of participants would have forced a reduction in the number of races for each team, an option that the organisation has ruled out in order to maintain the sporting quality of the championship.
Among the contenders for victory is also the team from the Club Náutico El Balís, led by Bárbara Cornudella. The Catalan crew has been runner-up in the 2024 and 2025 editions and aims to make the definitive leap to the top step of the podium. “Competing again in the Baleària Women’s Cup is a great opportunity for us to continue growing as a team. We know the level will be very high and that the presence of new international crews will make the competition even more demanding,” Cornudella noted.
Another notable participant is the Spanish Navy women's team, which is making its second consecutive appearance. Under the leadership of its skipper, Esther Gómez, the crew aims to establish itself among the references of the class and demonstrate the progress made since its debut in the last edition. “We face the challenge with great enthusiasm and with the goal of measuring ourselves against some of the best sailors on the international scene,” Gómez affirmed.
For Pedro Marí, sports director of the Real Club Náutico de Palma, the evolution of the class confirms the success of the commitment made from the beginning. “The Baleària Women’s Cup has made an extraordinary leap in quality. Each edition raises the sporting level and international interest, and that shows that the format works and that the Copa del Rey Mapfre has also become a benchmark for women’s sailing. This year we will see a very balanced competition, with teams arriving very well prepared and where any detail can make the difference,” Marí assessed.
The competition will take place in Palma Bay, with a fleet format and daily races that adapt to the weather conditions. Organisers hope that the wind, common in the area at this time, will allow the planned programme to be completed. For sailing enthusiasts, the event offers the opportunity to see some of the best sailors in the world in a privileged setting.
The Baleària Women’s Cup has become a showcase for women’s sport in Mallorca, attracting more and more international crews each year and contributing to the island's projection as a top sailing destination. The 2026 edition promises to be the most competitive in history, with a balance of forces that will keep the outcome uncertain until the last day.
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