2015 Copa del Rey MAPFRE – Busy day 4

by Regata Copa del Rey on 7 Aug 2015 The competition program of the 34 Copa del Rey MAPFRE is progressing at a good pace. Today the wind tested the Race Committee’s ability, but it finally blew with enough strength and all classes managed to fulfil the scheduled program. H.R.H. The King competed in the coastal race in BMW ORC 1 on board 'Aifos'. The Real Club Náutico de Palma will host tonight the traditional Owners’ Dinner- BMW White Party.

Today it was a busy day on the 34 Copa del Rey MAPFRE. The BMW ORC 1 and BMW ORC 2 sailed a coastal race, and the other classes two windward/leeward races. The Air Europa X-35 and Herbalife J80 returned to the RCNP with eight races sailed in their scoreboard, therefore the teams from both classes can discard their worst result of the week. The wind finished blowing stronger than in the three previous days reaching up to 17 knots, although it delayed the first start for several classes.

The leaders at the end of the fourth day are: American 'Ran V' (Gaastra IRC 0), Japanese 'Mamma Aiuto' (Rías Baixas IRC 1), German 'Platoon' (TP52 Super Series), Portuguese 'Bigamist' (Singular Kitchen Soto 40), German' Elena Nova' (BMW ORC 1), and Spaniards 'L`Immens' (BMW ORC 2), 'Red Eléctrica de España' (Air Europa X-35) and 'Ono Polaroid Tressis' (Herbalife J80).

Gaastra IRC 0
It’s been the fourth consecutive perfect day for George Sakellaris’ 'Ran V', the only team in the Copa del Rey MAPFRE to have seven victories out of seven possible. The Maxi 72 dominated their rivals again in the two windward/leeward races held today, and walks steadily towards defending his title. There is a bigger dispute in the fight for second place though, between Stanislav Orlov’s Russian 'Arctic Energy' and Joern Larsen’s Maltese 'L4', tied on 20 points after four days.

Rías Baixas IRC 1
Two boats shared the victories today in the class Rías Baixas IRC 1. William Coates` US 'Otra Vez' took the first race of the day, getting one point closer to the leader, Japanese 'Mamma Aiuto', second on that race. In the following race, Vicente Garcia’s Spanish 'Plis Play' crossed the line in first place and also beat their rivals after the corrected time was applied, achieving its second victory of the week. 'Mamma Aiuto' is still leading the provisional overall, now three points ahead of 'Otra Vez'.

TP52 Super Series
Harm Muller-Spreer’s 'Platoon' was the big star of the day in the class TP52 Super Series. The German team won both races sailed today and rises first to the top of the provisional overall, tied on 14 points with the leaders until this morning Alberto Roemmers’ 'Azzurra', who today scored a third and a fourth. Third after five races is Michele Ivaldi’s Russian 'Bronenosec' (4-2 today).

Singular Kitchen Soto 40
Portuguese 'Bigamist' recovered today the lead he had until yesterday. The boat skippered by Afonso Domingos added a second and a third today, enough to overtake Jose Maria Torcida’s 'Noticia IV' (6-5 today), with an advantage of two points. Third and tied on 18 points with the Spanish team is Juan Eduardo Reid’s Chilean 'Mitsubishi', winner of the second race of the day. José Caldeira’s 'UON' won the first race, but remains fifth overall.

BMW ORC 1
The coastal regatta for the BMW ORC 1 class sailed a distance of 23.55 nautical miles. The start was on time at 13h05 with southerly breeze of approximately ten knots of wind speed. The fastest to complete it was Hendrik Brandis’ Swan 45 `Earlybird`, who sailed it in three hours, 36 minutes and 12 seconds. The German boat is in third overall, behind Edward Leask’s 'Magical Mystery Tour' (fourth today) and Christian Plump’s 'Elena Nova', still leading the overall despite his fifth place today.

After its debut yesterday at the helm of 'Aifos' H.R.H. King Felipe VI returned to the Spanish Navy boat to compete in the coastal race. The Corel 45 completed the course in three hours, 47 minutes and 37 seconds, finishing in 22nd place. 'Aifos' is 20th overall in the BMW ORC 1 class.

BMW ORC 2
The BMW ORC 2 class sailed as well a coastal race but with a distance of 21.97 nautical miles. The fastest to complete it was Jose Ballester’s Rodman 42 'Maverta”, who finished it in 3 hours, 46 minutes and 45 seconds. Behind him was Pedro Campos’ Sinergia 40 'Movistar' and José Coello’s 'Elite Sails'. Alex Laplaza’s 'L`Immens' is still leading the provisional overall after seven races, although he finished fourth in today`s race.

Air Europa X-35
The Air Europa X-35 class has already completed eight races, therefore all teams returned this afternoon to the RCNP discarding their worst result of the week. An excellent day confirms the winning streak of 'Red Eléctrica de España' skippered by Alberto Viejo, who added a second and a first to his scoreboard. He can now enjoy a cushion of 12 points over his nearest rival, Alessandro Solerio’s 'Lelagain' (3-7 today). Third is now Paolo Sena’s 'Spirit of Nerina' (5-2).

Herbalife J80
Also the Herbalife J80 class reached the height of eight races, and each of its 11 teams will discard their worst result. Today’s victories went to Marc de Antonio’s 'Bribón-Movistar' and Javier Padron’s 'Marbella Team'. Daniel de la Pedraja’s 'Ono Polaroid Tressis' had his worst day of the week (8-5), although this doesn’t prevent him from keeping the overall lead, now eight points ahead of t 'Marbella Team' (3- 1) and 11 on José María Van der Ploeg’s 'Nautica Watches' (6-3).

Tonight, The BMW White Party
The Real Club Náutico de Palma hosts tonight the most important event in the social agenda of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE, a must in the summer of Mallorca. The Owners’ Dinner-BMW White Party gathers the owners of all competing boats with dignitaries and a representation of Palma’s society in an evening that promises many surprises.

Tomorrow, the fifth
All classes will sail tomorrow windward/leeward races in the fifth day of competition. The first start of the day is scheduled at 13h00. The first race of the day will allow discards in all classes except for the TP52 Super Series, the only class which doesn’t apply discards in this edition, which could overturn some classifications.

On shore, the focus will be once again in the Crew Village and the Restaurant El Náutico, both in the morning as when the competitors return to the RCNP.

The tribute to Portuguese Pedro Mendonça, owner of “Bigamist”, who passed away this year, will be the emotional moment of the day.

The 34 Copa del Rey MAPFRE is organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and is held until Saturday, August 8th.