XXI Copa del Rey of Vintage Yachts at Club Maritimo de Mahon - Day 1
by Vela Clásica de Menorca / Jose Luís Miró 27 Aug 18:08 UTC
26-30 August 2025
CHINOOK-NY48 on XXI Copa del Rey of Vintage Yachts of Vintage Yachts Day 1 © SailingShots by María Muiña
The opening day of the XXI Copa del Rey of Vintage Yachts could not take place due to adverse weather conditions. The near total absence of wind, combined with rough seas and the presence of haze, forced the Race Committee to cancel the 22-mile coastal race scheduled for Wednesday in the waters of Mahón.
Although the Epoca Gaff Rig class was given a start, the lack of wind and disorganized seas made it impossible for the fleet to make progress. "After just fifteen minutes we saw that the boats could not advance and, with the same conditions across the racecourse, we decided to suspend the race and send the fleet back to port," explained Ariane Mainemare, Principal Race Officer.
Sailors themselves agreed on the difficulty of the day. Gabriel Catalá, crew member of Celeste di Mare (Spirit of Tradition class), described the sailing as "very uncomfortable" due to the combination of cross seas and flat calm. Meanwhile, Paul Hartek, from Spartan, one of the four Big Boats in competition, described the situation as "very difficult for everyone" given the "fatal mix of too many waves and too little wind."
The suspension leaves the first of the four scheduled racing days without results. This year's event brings together 49 yachts from 11 countries, divided into five categories: Big Boats, Epoca Gaff Rig, Epoca Bermudian, Classics, and Spirit of Tradition. A benchmark regatta for classic sailing in the Mediterranean, the competition counts towards the Trofeo Clásicos Mare Nostrum - Spanish Cup of Classic Sailing (RFEV) and the Mediterranean Champions Cup of the Vintage & Classic Yacht Club.
In the meantime, the fleet remains moored at the Muelle de Levante in Maó, where the public can admire up close these jewels of maritime heritage, a true floating museum of sailing history. If conditions improve, racing is scheduled to resume tomorrow, Thursday, at 12:30 p.m., with a coastal course that will be defined according to the wind.
SailingShots by María Muiña will be capturing every day of the Classic Sailing in Menorca, and here we share some of the best images from her gallery.