Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Dynamic 40 Leaderboard

Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre - The return of Ainslie and Percy

by Lindsey Bell on 2 Apr 2012
Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson, Star. Richard Langdon/Skandia Team GBR
The 43rd Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia – Mapfre will see the return of British sailing’s multiple Olympic gold medallists Ben Ainslie and Iain Percy who will return to competitive action for the first time since the Perth World Championships in December when racing gets underway at the Palma leg of the World Cup circuit on Monday (2 April).

Ainslie, Percy and his Star teammate Andrew Simpson are among the 40 Skandia Team GBR sailors across nine classes who are set compete at this six day regatta (2-7 April), which is the first European World Cup regatta of the 2012 season and has welcomed some 900 sailors from 53 nations.

A back injury to Percy saw a premature halt to his and teammate Andrew Simpson’s Worlds campaign in the Star keelboat class, but a period of rehabilitation during the key winter training months sees him ready to race again, where they will try and defend the pair’s Princess Sofia Trophy title which they won with a day to spare in 2011.

Ainslie, crowned winner of the Finn class at last year’s event held in Palma Bay, has also been recovering from an operation on a long-standing back injury but has been pleased with recent progress and the long-term outlook.

'The last four weeks have seen some great gains in the reduced level of pain and my ability to train hard both on and off the water and it is a huge relief,' reflected the triple Olympic gold medallist.

'I still have some way to go but if I can continue training at this intensity then I am confident that I will be fitter and stronger than I have been for a long time.'


With the exception of Nick Dempsey and Bryony Shaw, who concluded their RS:X Windsurfing World Championships in Cadiz last week, all of Britain’s selected 2012 Olympic crews will be action at the Palma regatta.

Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark will look to complete the loop of podium finishes at the one event which eluded them in their first year of campaigning together in the 470 women’s class, while Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell will be in the fight in the 93-boat 470 men’s fleet.

In the Laser class, Paul Goodison will aim for a second straight World Cup win to add to his victory in Miami in January, as will the Elliot 6m trio of Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Kate Macgregor who will be considered among the medal favourites in the 18-team women’s match racing event.

Skandia Team GBR sailors are also out in force in the three classes where 2012 team selections have still to be made. In the 49er class, Stevie Morrison-Ben Rhodes, John Pink-Rick Peacock, Dylan Fletcher-Alain Sign and Dave Evans-Ed Powys will be among the names to watch, while performance squad sailors Charlotte Dobson and Alison Young will be among those looking to impress in the Laser Radial event.

In the one-person 2.4mR class – the only Paralympic class to be racing in Palma – Skandia Team GBR’s Megan Pascoe and Helena Lucas will look to build on their respective fourth and fifth place finishes at the Miami World Cup event.

'This regatta will provide a good opportunity for sailors to review their progress against their Olympic plans, following spring training,' remarked RYA Olympic Manager Stephen Park.

'With just 117 days remaining until the first race of the Olympics, the number of high quality regattas remaining for sailors to test their performance are few, and we are confident the Princess Sofia Mapfre will live up to expectations and deliver a fantastic ISAF Sailing World Cup regatta.'

The Palma World Cup regatta will run from Monday 2 April with medal racing scheduled for Saturday 7 April.

Team GBR website
http://www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/" target="_blank">Event website

Sea Sure 2025North Sails Loft 57 PodcastCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER

Related Articles

Sam Goodchild in the Course des Caps
The final phase is full of potential pitfalls Sam Goodchild, the British skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance who has been dominating the IMOCA round Britain and Ireland race since the start of the third day, says the goal now is to focus on the complex finishing section.
Posted today at 10:06 pm
29er Europeans at Lake Garda day 2
Light breeze, boat park buzz and big wins off the water >Day 2 brought lighter winds to Lake Garda, but the energy around the event stayed sky-high.
Posted today at 9:32 pm
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 3
French tour de force gives Paprec world championship lead As the Rolex TP52 World Championship passed its midway point today in Cascais, Portugal it is the French underdogs on Paprec, led by ocean racing legend Loïck Peyron, which has taken the overall lead.
Posted today at 7:33 pm
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC One preview
Beyond the French legends there is plenty of international talent with podium potential With 17 editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race to his name, including five class victories along the way and an outright victory in 2015, could anyone bet against Géry Trentesaux doing it again?
Posted today at 6:43 pm
International Moth Worlds begin this weekend
Pre-Worlds are under way at Malcesine From 6 to 13 July 2025, the 2025 Moth World Championship officially gets under way, hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine and preceded by the Pre-Worlds on 4 and 5 July. The event marks the culmination of three weeks entirely dedicated to foiling.
Posted today at 4:44 pm
K-Challenge gives opinion on proposed Protocol
Why the 38th edition could usher in a new era for the America's Cup Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, Co-CEOs of K-Challenge, jointly stated: “The provisional Protocol published on 23 May 2025 by Defender Emirates Team New Zealand is an important step forward for the America's Cup."
Posted today at 3:37 pm
PredictWind to show new race tracker in August
The Ocean Race joins with PredictWind as Official Tracking and Weather Services Supplier The Ocean Race, often described as the toughest test of a team in sport and widely recognised as a leader in impactful ocean health initiatives, and PredictWind, a global leader in marine weather forecasting, are collaborating on a new race tracker.
Posted today at 7:48 am
ORCV Women's Helm Race changes everything
Rachel Mcguigan charged in—eyes up, hands on, no time to waste Some people drift into sailing. Rachel Mcguigan charged in—eyes up, hands on, no time to waste.
Posted today at 7:41 am
2025 Transat Café L'OR is packed with surprises
73 boats sailed by 146 co-skippers will set sail on October 26th 73 boats sailed by 146 co-skippers will set sail on October 26th on the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandy.
Posted today at 7:20 am
The Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue is back at sea
Peter Burling joining the team for the Rolex Fastnet Race After a refit that began in March, the Trimaran SVR-Lazartigue was relaunched this Thursday, July 3. Lined up for the months ahead is an exciting race programme, culminating this year with the Transat Café L'Or in October.
Posted today at 5:14 am