El Jaleo wins the 2026 Armada Cup
by Ane Muñoz 23 Jul 04:56 PDT
18-23 July 2026
El Jaleo, representing the Real Club Marítimo del Abra-Real Sporting Club and skippered by Gonzalo Chávarri, has claimed overall victory in the 7th edition of the Armada Cup - Plymouth - Donostia / San Sebastián - Memorial Vicente Munilla, after completing the 460-nautical-mile offshore race between Plymouth (United Kingdom) and Donostia / San Sebastián.
Second place overall went to Camborio Uno, from the Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián and skippered by Edurne Berrueta, while third place was secured by PH3, representing the Dutch club KR&ZV De Maas and owned by Austin Van't Wout, which was also the first yacht to cross the finish line. The top ten was completed by Lalanda Handia (C.N. Hondarribia), Sagartxo IV (RCNSS), Kunana (RCMA-RSC), Estrella Polar (C.N. Zumaia), Krill (RCNSS), Mirua (RCNSS) and Andarax Bi (RCMA-RSC).
In Division 1, victory went to El Jaleo, ahead of PH3 and Sagartxo IV, skippered by Pablo Munilla. In Division 2, Camborio Uno (RCNSS) took the win, followed by Lalanda Handia, skippered by Xabier Mendiguren (CNH), and Kunana, skippered by Borja Gómez (RCMA-RSC).
A race of two very different halves
The race got under way on Saturday 18 July from Plymouth in favourable conditions, with southwesterly winds of 8-12 knots, forcing the fleet to begin on an upwind course. During the crossing of the English Channel, the wind gradually shifted to the west and northwest, increasing from the initial 7-8 knots to around 12 knots off the French coast.
The conditions changed dramatically after rounding the Chaussée de Sein and entering the Bay of Biscay. The toughest part of the race came after passing the tip of Brittany, where competitors encountered northeasterly winds of 25 to 35 knots that persisted for more than 30 hours. Although the fleet was sailing on favourable downwind angles, the conditions remained extremely uncomfortable, with boats taking the seas abeam and frequently shipping large amounts of water on deck.
The final miles provided one last twist. During the final two to three miles before reaching Donostia / San Sebastián, the weather changed abruptly compared with the previous conditions, allowing some boats to complete the final stretch considerably faster than others.
All competing yachts crossed the finish line within just 24 hours of one another, with arrivals concentrated between 20 and 21 July. Passage times ranged between two and three days, a remarkably close spread for an offshore race of this distance. The Port of Donostia welcomed each arrival with an enthusiastic atmosphere, as organisers and spectators gathered on the dock to greet every crew.
Tribute to the participating fleet
Before the prize-giving ceremony, an official salute and tribute to all participating yachts is scheduled for Thursday, 23 July at 6:30 p.m. in the Bay of Donostia / San Sebastián. The event will feature the Spanish Navy vessel Carnota, youth sailors from the Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián and the local Gipuzkoa sailing fleet, in a reception open to the entire local sailing community. Spectators will be able to follow the ceremony from the Paseo Nuevo, near the Aquarium.
The Armada Cup 2026 Prize Giving Ceremony will take place on 25 July at 7:00 p.m. at Donostia / San Sebastián City Hall, where the venue and dates for the 2028 Armada Cup will also be officially announced.
The Armada Cup - Plymouth - Donostia / San Sebastián is organised by the Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián and the Royal Western Yacht Club of England. The San Sebastián International Regatta - Memorial Vicente Munilla acts as co-organiser, while the event receives institutional support from the Donostia / San Sebastián City Council, Donostia Kirola, Euskadi Marinas (EKP) and the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa.
Overall Classification: (top ten)
1. Jaleo — Gonzalo Chávarri Lezama — R.C.M. del Abra R.S.C.
2. Camborio Uno — Edurne Berrueta Gamboa — R.C.N. San Sebastián
3. PH3 — Austin Van't Wout — KR&ZV De Maas
4. Lalanda Handia — Xabier Mendiguren Múgica — C.N. Hondarribia
5. Sagartxo IV — Pablo Munilla Ereña — R.C.N. San Sebastián
6. Kunana — Borja Gómez Gómez de Cadiñanos — R.C.M. del Abra R.S.C.
7. Estrella Polar — Imanol Letamendia Inda — C.N. Zumaia
8. Krill — Santiago Orlando Olaso — R.C.N. San Sebastián
9. Mirua — José Luis Artola Garmendia — R.C.N. San Sebastián
10. Andarax Bi — Juan Antonio Valdivia Soto — R.C.M. del Abra R.S.C.
Division 1
1. Jaleo — Gonzalo Chávarri Lezama — R.C.M. del Abra R.S.C.
2. PH3 — Austin Van't Wout — KR&ZV De Maas
3. Sagartxo IV — Pablo Munilla Ereña — R.C.N. San Sebastián
4. Krill — Santiago Orlando Olaso — R.C.N. San Sebastián
5. Mirua — José Luis Artola Garmendia — R.C.N. San Sebastián
6. Portu Tercero — Antonio Tena Núñez — C.M. Canido
7. Demi Plie — Stuart Scarbrough — Royal Western Yacht Club
Division 2
1. Camborio Uno — Edurne Berrueta Gamboa — R.C.N. San Sebastián
2. Lalanda Handia — Xabier Mendiguren Múgica — C.N. Hondarribia
3. Kunana — Borja Gómez Gómez de Cadiñanos — R.C.M. del Abra R.S.C.
4. Estrella Polar — Imanol Letamendia Inda — C.N. Zumaia
5. Andarax Bi — Juan Antonio Valdivia Soto — R.C.M. del Abra R.S.C.