Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE included by ISAF

by Event Media on 16 Nov 2008 The 40th edition of the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE, the most international Olympic classes regatta in Spain, will be part of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, a new circuit formed by the seven most important Olympic classes events in the world.

This is one of the main novelties of the Majorcan regatta, together with the inclusion of the new Olympic classes, which was presented at the Barcelona International Boat show, also celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The act was presided over by the Councillor of Sports and Youth of the Govern de les Illes Balears and the president of the Consortium Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia, Mateu Cañellas; the general manager of tourism promotion of the Tourism regional Ministry, Joan Sastre; the general manager of the sea of the Environment Regional Ministry, Tomeu Calafell and the president of the Executive Committee of the Consortium Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia, Jaume Carbonell, among others.

'The ISAF has chosen the Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE for the ISAF Sailing World Cup, as one of the best seven Olympic classes regattas in the world and one of the most important European event, and the only Spanish one', announced Carbonell during the presentation. 'We are very proud because we have been working hard for a very long time to become part of this prestigious group', he added. In fact, the International Federation has presented Jaime Enseñat- president of the Organising Committee during 35 years – with the ISAF Silver medal. He is the only Majorcan who has been awarded this distinction.

An event that, in the words of the Sports councillor, 'is a blend of the essence of Majorca: the sea, sailing, sport and the enthusiasm of having an event of international scope'.

The Trofeo S.AR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE, sponsored for fourth consecutive year by the leading Spanish insurance company, will be held in Majorca from 4 to 10 April 2009.

Organised by four Clubs of the bay of Palma (Club Nàutic S’Arenal, Real Club Náutico de Palma, Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa and Escuela Nacional de Vela Calanova), along with the Real Federación Española de Vela and the Federación Balear de Vela, together with the Govern de les Illes Balears, the Consell de Mallorca and Palma and Llucmajor city councils, the event brings together every year around 1,000 boats and approximately 1,500 competitors representing more than 45 nations, with the participation of Olympic , World and European champions.

This will be the first year of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, formed by the seven most important regattas: Sail Melbourne (Australia, December), Rolex Miami OCR (US, January), Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE (Majorca, Spain, April), Semaine Olimpique Française-SOF (Hyères, April), Delta Lloyd Regatta (Netherlands, May), Kiel Week (Germany, June) and Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta (Weymouth, Great Britain, in the sailing venue of the London 2012 Olympics in September).

The 40 Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE will welcome the new Olympic women’s keelboat (match racing) in replacement of the Yngling with Real Club Náutico de Palma as venue. Also for the first time, the regatta will be open to events chosen for the 2012 Paralympics Sailing Competition and will be based in Escuela Nacional de Vela Calanova.

These new events will join the 470 men and women, RS:X men and women, Laser Standard and Radial, Finn and 49er.

There will be ISAF Sailing World Cup series standings as well as ISAF Nations SWC standings, another new incentive for the Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE.

Besides the organisers already mentioned, the collaborators of the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia – MAPFRE are the Ports Authority, Ports de les Illes Balears, the coastal department of the Ministry of Environment and companies Ultramar Express and Acciona.

www.trofeoprincesasofia-mapfre.org