Fierce Competition Ahead in the Sail Racing ORC A Class at the 43 Copa del Rey MAPFRE
by Copa del Rey MAPFRE 17 Jul 03:23 PDT
26 July - 2 August 2025
ORC A Class at the Copa del Rey MAPFRE © Nico Martínez / Copa del Rey MAPFRE
The most international class of the 43 Copa del Rey MAPFRE promises an intense battle for the class title on the Bay of Palma. Among those 33 teams from 15 different countries competing in the Sail Racing ORC A category are the defending champion, the current ClubSwan 42 world champion, and the team with the most overall victories in the history of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE.
The starting grid in the Sail Racing ORC A class will be the most internationally diverse of this 43rd edition of the showcase regatta. With less than two weeks to go until racing begins at the Real Club Náutico de Palma, 33 teams representing 15 nationalities have confirmed their entry, including boats flying the flags of Montenegro, China, Poland, and Luxembourg.
A glance down the entry list reveals the exceptional quality of the fleet, featuring strong contenders such as the Swan 42 Elena Nova skippered by Germany's Christian Plump and the DK46 Hydra HM Hospitales of Andalusian owner Óscar Chaves, who finished first and third respectively in ORC 2 last year. Also competing are the ClubSwan 42s Pez de Abril of José María Meseguer (Murcia) and Nadir of Pedro Vaquer (Balearic Islands), the reigning world champion and runner-up in the ClubSwan 42 one-design class. Italy's Massimo de Campo will also be one to watch with his Swan 42 Selene Alifax, fresh from winning the XXVI Trofeo S.M. La Reina in Valencia.
Other notable entries include the Knierim 49 Desna, skippered by German sailor Johannes Wackerhagen and runner-up at the 2024 European Championship; the DK46 Estrella Damm Sailing Team of Swiss owner Rolf Auf der Maur and Andalusian co-skipper Ignacio Montes who are the most successful team in Copa del Rey MAPFRE history with three overall titles (1998, 2018, 2019); and several powerful Swan 45s, such as From Now On of Argentina's Fernando Chaín and Aceites Abril of Galician brothers Luis and Jorge Pérez Canal.
The Sail Racing ORC A class will bring four new national flags to the roster of countries participating in the 43 Copa del Rey MAPFRE: Windflower (IY 14.98) of Yun Ye will race under the Chinese flag; Vito 2.3 (Ker40) of Munos Antony under Luxembourg; Sailing Factory 2 (Corel 45) of Jacek Chabowski under Poland; and X-Odessa (XP-50) of Vladimir Kushnir under Montenegro.
The Sail Racing ORC A competition will feature up to eight races from July 29 to August 2, including two coastal races. The top-ranked team will be crowned champion of the 43 Copa del Rey MAPFRE in the Sail Racing ORC category and 2025 ORC A European Champion.
The full entry list for the Sail Racing ORC A class is available at www.regatacopadelrey.com