The fastest ORC yachts fine-tune their sails for the Sandberg PalmaVela
by Sandberg PalmaVela 8 Apr 04:24 PDT
30 April - 4 May 2025
Sandberg PalmaVela © Jacobo Bastos / PalmVela
The second act of the Sandberg PalmaVela is gearing up with the much-anticipated multi-class regatta, taking over from 'La Larga', the spectacular offshore race of PalmaVela that kicks off the 21st edition of this landmark event — one that promises to make history both in the quality and quantity of its entries.
With over 50 boats set to sail 'La Larga' starting April 26th, the Bay of Palma will come alive from May 1st as it welcomes close to 120 teams ready to battle it out in the multi-class showdown. The objective is clear: to claim the Sandberg PalmaVela, the first major trophy of the 2025 European sailing season.
While the big boats will certainly turn heads, the spotlight will firmly be on the ORC fleets, which are in for a high-stakes week of racing with a clear target in sight: the ORC European Championship, to be held this summer during the 43 Copa del Rey MAPFRE.
ORC0: TP52s lead the new class
The newly formed ORC0 class, created to level the playing field among high-performance yachts chasing international glory, is now offering a proper platform for TP52s to shine under time correction. Leading the charge is the brand-new Urbania, freshly imported from Argentina. The team, led by Tomás Gasset, is aiming not just to defend their 2024 title, but also to position themselves as serious contenders for the European crown.
Urbania will be squaring off against familiar rivals like Aifos, the Spanish Navy's entry. "We're sailing a boat that's over 20 years old, but it's been impeccably maintained by the Balearic Naval Sailing Commission," says skipper Ricardo Maldonado. "Combined with the consistency and quality of our crew, led by Admiral Jaime Rodríguez-Toubes, these are our key strengths in chasing another podium finish."
Also in the mix is Blue Carbon, helmed by Toni Guiu, who shares: "We're wrapping up a full refit. As we speak, we're stepping the mast to get her back in the water as soon as possible and head to Palma in peak condition. Once there, we'll measure up against the newer boats and fine-tune for the Europeans."
In addition to these three TP52s, the class welcomes new contenders like Aquis Granus IV (Lutra 52) from Germany's Christian Fimmers and the British Expression of London skippered by Robert Lennox. Another one to watch will be Gretia, a German ICE 52 designed by the prestigious Italian studio Felci, with real potential to shake things up under corrected time.
ORC1: Open, competitive and diverse
In ORC1, Elena Nova, a Swan 42 skippered by Christian Plump, enters as the team to beat after a standout 2024 season, capped by their win at the 42 Copa del Rey MAPFRE. But the fleet is deeper and more competitive than ever.
Among their main rivals is HM Hospitales-Hyatt, a DK 46 owned by Óscar Chaves and featuring Olympic gold medalist Fernando León, a regular on the podium.
Also joining the fray is RAM, a Fast+ 40 helmed by Sweden's Niklas Zennström. Thanks to her speed, she could very well challenge the dominance of the traditional Swan 42s and 45-footers in this class. In total, over a dozen boats will fight for a place on the Sandberg PalmaVela podium in ORC1.
Sandberg PalmaVela continues its rise
With 162 boats registered between La Larga and the multi-class regatta, the 21st edition of Sandberg PalmaVela confirms its position as one of the premier fixtures on the international sailing calendar.
Palma and the Real Club Náutico de Palma continue to establish themselves as global sailing hubs from the very start of the season, setting the stage for an electrifying spring and summer that will culminate with the European Championship at the upcoming Copa del Rey MAPFRE. Once again, the RCNP docks will be a melting pot of languages, flags, and world-class sailing talent.
Event website: www.palmavela.com