The coastal race of the 44 Copa del Rey Mapfre shook up the rankings. The Hispania, with Don Felipe on board, secured a fifth place that puts it second in ORC 0, tied on points with the leader.
The bay of Palma hosted the second day of the 44 Copa del Rey Mapfre on Wednesday, with the four ORC divisions competing in a coastal format. The Race Committee set a course of just over 30 nautical miles for the ORC 0 and A classes, and 25 for the ORC B and C classes. The Embat blew again, although more gently, but with enough intensity to complete the programme in all classes except for the women's, which was left one race short of closing its calendar.
The Hispania, the boat of King Don Felipe, finished fifth in the coastal race of the Abanca ORC 0 class, a result that allows it to return to the Real Club Náutico de Palma occupying the second place overall, tied on points with Kilara II and just two behind the leader, the Italian Vudu.
The victory in the ORC 0 coastal race went to the Wallyrocket 51 Kilara II, owned by Swiss Jeremy Weir, who completed the course in just over three hours and 55 minutes. It won by more than five minutes over the Brazilian Caballo Loco and by seven over the Italian Vudu. This triumph allows Mauro Gestri's boat to take the lead provisionally.
“At the beginning we were among the top two or three, but we managed to gain ground at Illetas, that made the difference. Ours is a new boat and this is its fourth regatta; it's the first time we've won,” explained Jamie Scott-Hopkins, owner of the Kilara II.
In the Sail Racing ORC A class, the Nola of Taavet Hinrikus won the coastal race and took the lead from the Rán of Swedish Niklas Zennström, who finished fourth and is now third. The Estonian Carkeek 40 took four hours and 20 minutes for the course, winning by six minutes over Elena Nova and by just under seven over HM Hospitales Hydra.
“The first beat was a bit complicated; we didn't know if the right or left would be better, but I told Hugo (Rocha, the tactician), who made the decision, that if the right worked, it would be big, and it was. We were pleased to see that most were going left, and as is often the case in Palma, it's hard to cross because the wind starts to pick up on that side,” detailed Aksel Magdahl, navigator of the Nola.
In Uber ORC B, the coastal race also caused a change of leader. The victory went to the PG390 Katara of Argentine Julián Somodi, but the most benefited was the Máximo of Maribel Cadenas, who secured a valuable second place and is the new leader of the category, with half a point advantage over Teatro del Soho San Miguel of Javier Banderas.
“Today went well, to be honest. The team was very tactical, very precise, the maneuvers went perfectly and we were able to hold off these XR-41s with two super professional teams. So very happy about everything. We started with ten knots and then it dropped to eight and seven knots at the end. Palma is always my place, but now it is also within the championship,” celebrated Somodi.
In Azulmarino ORC C, the coastal race was won by the Vrolijk 37 Project Work of Cantabrian Antonio Porres, allowing him to rise to third place provisionally. The new leader is the Earlybird of Hendrik Brandis, who is tied on ten points with the second-placed boat.
The competition will resume this Thursday with the third day, where the Embat is expected to be a key player again in the bay of Palma. Fans can follow the races from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, where the teams are concentrated and where the awards ceremony will be held at the end of each day.
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