Please select your home edition
Edition
SOUTHERN-SPARS-AGLAIA-SPARS_728X90 TOP

Swans excel at another stunning edition of Copa del Rey MAPFRE in Mallorca

by ClubSwan Racing 5 Aug 23:20 PDT 31 July - 5 August 2023

The 41st edition of the classic Copa del Rey MAPFRE regatta came to a competitive and enthralling conclusion today, with the last of six days of racing producing worthy winners in the ClubSwan 50 and ClubSwan 42 one-design classes, as well as the mixed ORC 1 and 2 rating classes each with significant Swan yacht entries.

With two races in Saturday's finale out on the Bay of Palma, there had again been all to play for, an increasingly common experience in this closely contested 2023 ClubSwan Racing season. The hard-earned results saw the winners rewarded at the celebratory Prize-Giving Party put on by the Real Club Náutico de Palma.

In the ClubSwan 50 class the top four had started the final day separated by only four points with Marcus Brennecke's Hatari (GER) leading the way and aiming for a repeat of her victory in The Nations Trophy back in June — and with a 2-2 scoreline it was mission accomplished ahead of Sonke Meier Sawatzki's Niramo (GER) and Andrea Lacorte's Vitamina (ITA).

A delighted Brennecke said: "It was a hard day because Vitamina won the first race — we were second and just three points ahead. In the second race they came out ahead and we had to fight to come back. We sailed very well, it wasn't easy, but we did well. We have a good team".

Meanwhile in the ClubSwan 42 class Pedro Vaquer Comas and his Nadir (ESP) team were able to post a 1-3 in the final races to confirm a close victory over their season long rival Jose Maria Meseguer's Pez de Abril, who had been early leaders in the class.

"This year it has been very challenging and all the boats are very good and every boat can win, so we have to sail well to win," said Pedro Vaquer.

"In each competition we see a higher level. Each time it is more difficult. Here it was very competitive. Pez de Abril started very strong, but so did the others. Today we won the first race, but if Pez de Abril had won the second and we finished fifth, they would have taken the title. I am very proud of my crew, we have been doing well for a year and a half, I cannot ask for more".

The results also had an impact on the season-long Nations League inter-country competition, with Hatari and Niramo's 1-2 in the ClubSwan 50 class delivering a win to Germany, while Nadir and Pez de Abril's identical scoreline in the ClubSwan 42 class saw Spain take second place ahead of Italy.

Overall in the 2023 Nations League Hatari is tied in the lead of the ClubSwan 50s on 30 points with Vitamina, and Nadir reaffirmed her top spot.

In the Majorica ORC 1 and 2 classes, ClubSwan 42s had led both rating groups going into the final day with Javier Sanz and Christian Plump's Palibex-Elena Nova able to take a third successive race win to claim victory ahead of the TP52 Aifos skippered by Spain's King Don Felipe.

Meanwhile Teatro del Soho Caixabank had continued her domination of ORC2 with an unbeaten string of nine bullets throughout the regatta to finish ahead of another ClubSwan 42, Basilio Marquinez's Seabery Dralion.

The Copa del Rey MAPFRE regatta week had started with typically reliable winds off the Mallorcan capital. In the ClubSwan 50 class Graeme Peterson's Moonlight (MON) and Hendrik Brandis' Earlybird (GER) — racing with Brazilian Olympic legend Robert Scheidt aboard as tactician — made the early running both with a win and second place on the opening day, before Cuordileone (ITA), helmed by Howard Spencer for this event, took the top spot mid-week with a 2-1-2-2 scoreline, a performance she could not maintain through the finals, finishing sixth.

The ClubSwan 42 class had seen Pez de Abril lead the way with five wins in six races in the first half of the regatta. However, the Copa del Rey MAPFRE is divided into three days of qualifying races, and three of finals, with each yacht taking its overall qualifying finishing position as the first race result in the finals. In what is a bitter-sweet experience it gives teams with a poor performance a second chance, but can also remove a substantial points advantage from leaders at the half-way stage.

So it was that Pez de Abril saw their 14-point lead in the ClubSwan 42 class reduced to one in front of Selene-Alifax, with both ultimately overhauled by Nadir. Meanwhile Teatro del Soho Caixabank lost a 21-point advantage in ORC2, though were able to continue their winning streak into the finals for a deserved win.

"As ever, the Copa del Rey MAPFRE has delivered another spectacular week of racing courtesy of the Real Club Náutico de Palma," said Federico Michetti, Head of Sports Activities at Nautor Swan.

"All the owners and crews in both the one-design and rating fleets have had a week to remember, and it has been great to celebrate with the winners across the whole fleet. Thank you once again Palma."

The 2023 ClubSwan Racing season continues with the Menorca ClubSwan 50 Europeans and ClubSwan 36 Europeans which will take place simultaneously in Mahon and in Puntaldia, Sardinia, respectively from 12 to 16 September. The season will conclude in spectacular fashion at the Marina di Scarlino with the Swan One Design Worlds and Swan Mediterranean Regatta from October 10 to 14.

Quick Links:

Related Articles

Take a look at Swan 108 Fancy interiors
Designed by Misa Poggi in collaboration with the owner We are glad to share with you the interiors pictures for Swan 108 Fancy, designed by Misa Poggi in collaboration with the owner. Posted on 22 Oct
Spirit of Helsinki triumphs in Ocean Globe Race
Swan 651 Spirit of Helsinki triumphs in the Ocean Globe Race! A monumental day for Nautor Swan as the Finnish yacht, Spirit of Helsinki, crosses the finish line, marking a victorious end to one of the world's most challenging sailing adventures. Posted on 20 Oct
ClubSwan Racing signs off 2023 season on a high
Cuordileone, G Spot and Mela are the 2023 one-design World Champions "This has been a ClubSwan Racing season to be treasured and remembered for the friendly competition we have seen across seven racing events, and the strong camaraderie that has grown between the owners and crews across the Swan range. " Posted on 14 Oct
ClubSwan Racing gets ready to close 2023 season
The Nautor Swan Experience gathering in Scarlino will celebrate the entire Swan world The 2023 ClubSwan Racing season is set to sign-off in style with the Swan One Design Worlds and the first edition of the Swan Med Regatta - The Tuscany Challenge held simultaneously in the magnificent surroundings of Scarlino. Posted on 5 Oct
A new Maxi joins the Swan family...
An overview of behind the scenes at Nautor This year's Swan Maxi Talk was held at the prestigious YC de Monaco with an interesting panel that included Nautor Swan President Leonardo Ferragamo as well as CEO Giovanni Pomati, CTOO Michelangelo Casadei, and Head of Product Marketing Vanni Galgani. Posted on 30 Sep
Nautor Swan European Boat Show Season Grand Finale
Swan 108, representing Nautor's new Swan Maxi Era, will star at her Worldwide Première The grand finale of the European boat show season is happening at the Monaco Yacht Show, where the Swan 108, representing Nautor's new Swan Maxi Era, will star at her Worldwide Première to wow visitors with her beauty, elegance and quality. Posted on 22 Sep
Swan 80 - A pure maxi below 24 m length
New model an evolution of the successful Swan 78 The Swan 80 is a further evolution of Nautor's long experience in large yacht production, and directly follows on from the highly successful best- in-class Swan 78. Posted on 16 Sep
Swan Shadow division welcomes Swan OverShadow
The elegance and style of Nautor Swan's has been perfectly reinterpreted by Jarkko Jämsén Nautor Swan continues the expansion in its motor yacht division by presenting Swan OverShadow, the 13+ meter power yacht redefining the concept of enjoying life at sea. Posted on 15 Sep
Swan 51 - the journey continues
Introduction of new elements never seen on a Swan before The first Swan 51 represented a landmark in the inspirational evolution of the Nautor Swan brand. Launched in 1981 the model marked the first collaboration between Swan and the celebrated naval architect German Frers. Posted on 15 Sep
Swan Arrow - a lounge at sea
A sporty and elegant yacht, designed by Jarkko Jamsén Leonardo Ferragamo, Chairman of Nautor Group, had been thinking of entering the power segment for a long time, but he wanted a debut with a product able to make a difference, in an already crowded segment. Posted on 14 Sep
Hyde Sails 2022 One Design FOOTERUpffront 2020 Foredeck Club SW FOOTERZhik 2023 Black Friday FOOTER