Balearia ORC 3, a compact class for the smaller boats in the Copa del Rey MAPFRE
by Copa del Rey MAPFRE 16 Jul 2024 10:13 PDT
27 July - 3 August 2024
ORC 3s sailing on the Bay of Palma during the last edition of the regatta © María Muiña / Copa del Rey MAPFRE
The restructuring of all the ORC divisions for the 42nd edition of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE has been in view of the 43rd edition of the competition, which will be hosting the European Championships 2025.
It has led to the Balearia ORC 3 class being a condensation on the one hand, of all the middle-speed boats from last year's edition of the event (the fastest boats have been moved into the Altavista ORC 2 class), and on the other, the fastest teams from the now extinct ORC 4 class, which has now been amalgamated into the current Balearia ORC 3 division.
"It is the fleet with the greatest representation of national teams among all the ORC classes, and it clearly represents the nature of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE and the possibility for both professional and amateur teams to race in the same event," explained Manu Fraga, the event director.
"Along with the Altavista ORC 2 class, the Balearia ORC 3 is a truthful reflection of the situation of competitive sailing in Spain. The most numerous are the fleets which participate in their local club regattas."
The 42nd edition of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE presents this new configuration of the class, and several teams are clear favourites for a podium finish. The prize-giving event will be celebrated on Saturday 3rd August at Ses Voltes, located below the Cathedral of Palma.
Certain teams are worthy of mention including Federico Linares' "Brujo," a GS 37B that will aim to start at the front of the fleet alongside Pohlmann Gaby's Cape 31 "Meerblick," sailing for the Real Club Náutico de Palma, or Miguel Ángel Molares' Vrolijk 37 "Peneque pro" from Almería, Manuel Sanz's Salona 37 "Varicentro D6" from Punta Umbría, and Rafael Sanz's X-37 "Vergara" from Puerto Sherry.
The aforementioned teams are a priori the fastest boats sailing in the fleet, and likely to be the main candidates for the 42nd Copa del Rey MAPFRE title. Others such as Arturo Montes's "Ibarra Befesa" from Punta Umbría, which in 2023 achieved a podium position, will need to face the faster boats and negotiate well on the racecourse.
17 teams and 3 nationalities
The Balearia ORC 3 class has the largest representation of boats from Spain, which will race alongside two Germans and one Italian team, and where the crews include a more amateur component than the other classes.