Soto 40s at the 34th Copa del Rey MAPFRE - Practice Race
by Soto40 Media 4 Aug 2015 05:19 UTC
3-8 August 2015
Soto 40 at the Copa del Rey MAPFRE © Nico Martinez / MartinezStudio
It started on Monday with southerly winds between 8-15 knots. The challenge of reaching the top of the podium of the 34th edition of the Copa del Rey with the practice race (non-scoring) in which six Soto40 are competing: Acuario II, Bigamist, Glen Ellen 22, Koyama, Noticia IV and UON.
The TP52 Super Series and Soto 40 will join the other fleets and the competition will gather for the first time 136 boats on the race course, a record in the 34 years of history of the race. The competition program has two windward/leeward races for all classes, with the first start scheduled at 13h00.
"To be a separate class in Copa del Rey MAPFRE is an important milestone for the class," says Pablo Ferrer, secretary of the European fleet. "It involves international exposure and more media impact, and it shows that the owners are still eager to compete in major events. We have gathered a good group of teams from Spain, Portugal, UK and France, and also one from Chile, which ensures a very competitive edition.The class has done a good job keeping the equality of the fleet, and it is quite common to see older boats at the front of the fleet, as it happened last year in the world championship in Valencia, where a boat from 2008 led the race for several days."
Horacio Pavez, owner of the Acuario II told us: "The crew has been sailing in different classes. The expectations are high as in 2013 we finished in third position in this event. Beyond that, we are truly grateful for having the opportunity to come here. We have been in Palma for four days, in which we have been sailing. We will try to represent the best we can the South American fleet of the class."
The competition will start on Tuesday, August 4th until Saturday 8th, with up to ten windward/leeward races scheduled.
The 34th Copa del Rey MAPFRE is organized by Real Club Náutico de Palma and will be held from August 3rd to the 8th, 2015.
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www.regatacopadelrey.com