Copa del Rey Mapfre set to be the ORC World Championship Rematch
by Copa del Rey MAPFRE 2 Jun 08:13 PDT
1-8 August 2026
ORC racing at the Copa del Rey Mapfre © Nico Martínez / Copa del Rey Mapfre
With just two months to go before the start of the 44th Copa del Rey Mapfre, entries have already surpassed 80 teams. The current pace suggests that the Mediterranean's premier offshore sailing event could reach the milestone of 100 competing boats.
The quality of the fleet entered for this year's edition has led many to regard the Copa del Rey Mapfre as a rematch of the recent ORC World Championship held in Sorrento, Italy. Three of the four reigning ORC world champions have already confirmed their participation: Sweden's Rán, owned by Niklas Zennström, in ORC A; Argentina's Katara, owned by Julián Somodi, in ORC B; and Italy's Rober da Mat, owned by Luigi Buzzi, in ORC C. All three will face a strong Spanish fleet in the Bay of Palma.
One of the major attractions in the ORC 0 class will be the Copa del Rey Mapfre debut of the Spanish Navy's new boat Hispania, winner of the Conde de Godó Trophy in Barcelona. For its first appearance in Palma, Hispania will have to take on a powerful TP52 fleet led by Malta's Vudu, owned by Mauro Gesti and current ORC World Championship runner-up; Germany's Red Bandit, owned by Carl-Peter Forster and winner of the Copa del Rey Mapfre in 2022; and Spain's Vhitas Urbania, owned by Tomás Gasset. All are considered strong contenders for overall victory.
One-Design Classes
The ClubSwan 42 class will once again be the flagship one-design division of the regatta. The reigning ClubSwan 42 world champion and winner of the 2024 Copa del Rey Mapfre, Pez de Abril, will face intense competition from around ten Swan 42s, including Nadir, winner of the 2023 edition.
In the Women's Cup, up to 15 Spanish and international teams will return to compete with the aim of dethroning the defending champion, Balearia, skippered by María Bover. The class will also once again feature a crew entered by Spain's Military Sports Council. In its debut appearance at the Palma regatta in 2025, the team, led by Esther Gómez, finished just one point short of a podium position.
Entry Deadline
June 15th is the deadline for the reduced-entry-fee registration period for the 44th Copa del Rey Mapfre. In addition, all teams must complete the registration of their full crew lists by July 24th.
Find out more at www.regatacopadelrey.com