The Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca attracts more than 700 entries

Trofeo Princesa Sofia Iberostar © Sailing Energy

With one month to go until the start of the event, 711 crews representing 58 nationalities have now registered to compete in the 51 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca Hempel World Cup Series. Following the recommendation of the IOC, World Sailing and the RFEV, Russian and Belarusian sailors have been excluded.

As the high anticipated start of the regatta looms on the horizon the number of teams registered to compete in the 51 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca Hempel World Cup Series are fully up to the highest expectation of the Organising Committee. At one month before the opening ceremony is due, 711 crews of 58 nationalities have completed their registration to compete on one of the ten participating classes: the women's ILCA 6, FX, IQ Foil Women and Formula Kite Women; the men's ILCA 7, 49er, IQ Foil Men and Formula Kite Men; and the mixed 470 and Nacra 17.

After a two-year hiatus forced by the world health situation, the regatta co-organised by the Club Nàutic S'Arenal, the Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa and the Real Club Náutico de Palma is bouncing back to be as popular as ever.

Following the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) World Sailing (WS) and the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation (RFEV), Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials have been excluded from the regatta, slightly reducing the number of entries in each of the ten classes.

"The figures are a little surprising considering the turmoil of the last years and the fact that this is a post Olympic season but the numbers do confirm our most optimistic estimates," admits Javier Zaynoun, the regatta's director. "The entries are not yet closed, and although some teams have yet to complete the formalities, we can already be sure of an excellent level of participation. The presence of representatives from almost 60 countries, the debut of new classes and the incorporation of the regatta into the Hempel World Cup Series underlines the strength and depth of interest in the Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca".

The number of entries has almost doubled in the last month. At the time of writing, 937 sailors and more than 140 coaches have registered. The ILCA 7 class is close to the 180-boat limit set by the organisers and is the most numerous, followed by ILCA 6 (97), 49er (68), iQFoil Men (65), Formula Kite Men (63), 470 (60), FX (56), iQFoil Women (50), Nacra 17 (42) and Formula Kite Women (35).

The arrivals are on the Bay of Palma

The first athletes have begun to land in Mallorca and the Bay of Palma is beginning see the first signs of Olympic sailing.

"The Spanish and German federations will be working with their entire team in the next few days," explains Zaynoun. "We are also starting to see the presence of sailors from other countries and we can already feel the competition atmosphere in the air".

Activity will continue to increase in intensity until the Mallorca Sailing Center Regatta, a training event prior to the 51 Trofeo Princesa Sofía which will be held between the 10th and 13th of March. A large representation in all classes is expected.

The 51 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca is the first qualifying regatta for the Hempel World Cup Series 2022, organised by World Sailing the International Sailing Federation.

The 51 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca is jointly organised by the Club Nàutic S'Arenal, the Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, the Real Club Náutico de Palma, the Real Federación Española de Vela and the Federación Balear de Vela, with the backing of the main Balearic public institutions.

More information, at www.trofeoprincesasofia.org.