36th Palamós International Optimist Trophy enters a new era
by Jaume Soler 12 Feb 04:42 AEDT
12-15 February 2026
Registration day, training sessions, and preparation at CN Costa Brava–Vela Palamós © Adrià Morata
The 36th Palamós International Optimist Trophy - 19 Nations Cup begins a new chapter with several changes compared to recent editions.
After reaching record-breaking numbers over the past decade, with up to 550 participants, the Club Nàutic Costa Brava/Vela Palamós has decided to take a new direction. The regatta will be held from February 12 to 15 in the waters of the Bay of Palamós (Girona).
There are two major new developments. Firstly, the event base will return to the facilities of CN Costa Brava after more than two decades during which all activity took place at Platja Gran, a setup that allowed for a very large number of participants. Secondly, with the return to the port facilities, the number of entries has been limited to 360 boats, which is the maximum capacity in relation to available space.
This reduction will also improve agility and mobility on the water. Until now, there were three daily starts of 110 boats across five groups. From this year onwards, there will be three starts of 90 boats divided into four groups, facilitating logistics both for the fleet and for the Race Committees, which will have greater room for maneuver.
Despite the reduction in the number of participants, the number of competing nations remains strong, with sailors arriving from around the world. The 22 participating countries are: Germany, Andorra, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Spain, the United States, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine.
Anna Cuxart, Director of the Palamós International Optimist Trophy, explains: "The number of participants has been limited to 360 in order to adapt the competition format to the one the fleet will encounter at the World and European Championships. This had been one of the recurring requests from coaches in recent editions".
The 2025 edition was won by Italy's Jesper Karlsen, while Spain claimed the Nations Cup. Among the Spanish entries, crews from the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, the Valencian Community and the Basque Country stand out. Among the favorites are Dani Capa (CN S'Estanyol) from the Balearic Islands, winner of the Trofeo Ciutat de Palma, and Nicolás Bestard (RCM Abra-RS Club) from the Basque Country, runner-up at the Torrevieja Optimist Trophy. Both are competing in the Optimist Excellence Cup Circuit, of which the Palamós International Optimist Trophy is the fifth and penultimate event.
The CN Costa Brava/Vela Palamós team, coached by Alex Collins, will be made up of Gabriella Lugo, Tomàs Ballester, Hans Guiu and Llorenç Sayeras.
Champions with history
Regarding past champions of the Palamós International Optimist Trophy, the only sailor to win the event twice in its 36 editions is Latvia's Martin Atilla, who claimed victory in 2018 and 2019. Distinguished winners include Tokyo 2020 Olympic medalist Joan Cardona, champion in 2012; 29er World Champion Carlos Robles, winner in 2010; and Nacra 15 World Champion Daniel García de la Casa, who won in 2022.
All races will be held on a single racecourse. It is a format similar to the Christmas Race - which uses two courses - but given the high number of boats and the fact that the competitors are minors, safety measures will be particularly reinforced.
Sustainable regatta
The Palamós Optimist Trophy, as with the Christmas Race, is a CLEAN REGATTA recognized by the international association Sailors for the Sea.
The Vela Escolar program has also been registered with Sailors for the Sea as an educational sustainability project. The Palamós International Optimist Trophy is officially listed as a Clean Regatta on the Sailors for the Sea website and has committed to implementing a series of measures to make the event more sustainable.
For several years now, the Palamós International Optimist Trophy has been an environmentally conscious regatta. Various sustainability initiatives will be implemented, including PaperLess, Be One With the Sea, No Plastics, Green Regatta, and Sailors for the Sea programs.
In recent editions, single-use plastic has been completely eliminated, with a strong commitment to reusable bottles and refill stations placed throughout the club facilities.
More information here