Gaastra PalmaVela 2015 - The Spanish Cup of disabled sailing

by Real Club Náutico Palma on 27 Apr 2015 Gaastra PalmaVela 2015 will score as the Spanish Cup of Disabled Sailing for the 2.4, Hansa 303 individual and Hansa 303 double classes. 29 boats have registered to compete for the three different titles at stake.

Adapted Sailing has been an important part of Gaastra PalmaVela’s DNA since 2006. This year, the Real Club Náutico de Palma has reaffirmed its commitment to this sailing specialty, by including the Spanish Cup for Disabled Sailing 2015 within the sporting programme of Gaastra PalmaVela for three different classes: 2.4, Hansa 303 individual and Hansa 303 double.

“We have been including disabled sailing in Gaastra Palmavela for many years, and in this year’s edition we wanted to go one step further and organise a national competition as part of our event”, explains Manu Fraga, Sporting Director for the Real Club Náutico de Palma and organiser of the Gaastra PalmaVela.

29 boats from 11 clubs have registered to compete for the three titles in a maximum of four races, to be held between Saturday second and Sunday 3rd May.

2.4mR
The 2.4mR is an individual 4.16-metre sailboat designed as a smaller version (on a 1:5 scale) of the 12-Metre America’s Cup boats which competed from the mid XX-century onwards. The 2.4mR made its debut as a Paralympic sailing class in Sydney 2000.

Nine teams will compete at the Gaastra PalmaVela for the Spanish Cup of Disabled Sailing 2.4, including seven Spanish and two Portuguese sailors. Among the fleet is the defender of the Spanish Cup title, and three-time National champion in the category, Rafa Andarias, from C.N. Javea.

Hansa 303
The Hansa 303 is a 3.03-metre monohull, recognised as a class by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) since 2005. It is a light boat weighing just 85 kilos, and can be sailed by one or two people.

20 Hansa 303s have registered for participation in Gaastra PalmaVela 2015, and will be divided into two classes: individual (13) y double (7). In the individual category winner of the 2014 edition, Violeta del Reino, and the defender of the Spanish Cup title, Toni Ferra, will both be competing, the latter also claimed the double title alongside Isaías Iglesias, who will also be present this year in Palma. The three sail for the CVP Andratx.

RCNP, a committed club
“Disabled sport is a part of our social commitment and responsibility”, explains Manu Fraga. “The Real Club Náutico de Palma has its own sailing and canoeing programme from the beginners to the competitive level. We also collaborate with the Handisport Foundation and have the quality infrastructure and accessible facilities, as well as state-of-the-art material, which enable the practice of disabled sailing at all levels”.

Five boats from the RCNP will be on the water during the Gaastra PalmaVela 2015 sailing in the Hansa 303 category.

The support and commitment of the Real Club Náutico de Palma for disabled sailing means the Hansa 303 and 2.4 are a part of the fleet of 129 boats and 17 classes that will enjoy the great festival of Gaastra PalmaVela 2015.

“A few years ago adapted sport underwent a great change in its conception, from being a specific and outside competition for the disabled, to being a competition which strives for consistent achievement and improved results, and in which sportsmen and women use a series of adapted materials and regulations”, adds the RCNP Sporting Director. “The key word here is ‘inclusive’; the participants sail and race with their material under the same conditions as any of the other boats. The only thing we have to pay attention to is the duration of the races”.

The Gaastra PalmaVela Regatta 2015 will be held in the Bay of Palma between 30th April and 3rd May.