Balearic female sailing gathers in the 43rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE’s Women’s Cup Class

The Copa del Rey MAPFRE’s Women’s Cup Class will weigh anchors with an impressive fleet of 14 female crews, consolidating the event as a referent in the regattas’ calendar year by year. From Galicia to the Canary Islands, going through Valencia, Catalonia and the Balearics, the autonomic representation is strong, and this year, the competition takes an international flavor with a team originary from Río de Janeiro, Brazil.

From the 14 registered teams, 8 are from the following Balearic clubs and entities: Real Club Náutico de Palma, Reial Club Nàutic del Port de Pollença, Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, Balearic Regatas Naval Commission and the Balearic Sailing Federation.

The regattas’ area of the Women's Cup, the closest one to land with Palma’s cathedral as the background, swears being a scenery of intense tacks and gybes. Between the candidates to take the champion trophy, it’s important to highlight María Bover’s ‘Balearia’, a skipper that has already experienced twice what it is like to receive the award from King Don Felipe’s hands.

But it won’t be easy for her to achieve her third Copa del Rey MAPFRE. She will face ‘Dorsia’, the classic teams from Alicante led by Nuria Sánchez, always a rival to take into account in the national circuit.

From Pollença two important teams arrive: the team of Galician Pilar Casares and the ‘Tantive IV’, from Balearic Helena Alegre, winner of the first Women’s Cup edition. And we cannot lose Blanca Cabot’s CMSAP’s team out of sight, who already proved their strength achieving a bronze in the 2018’s 420 European.

The Defense Ministry’s Military Superior Council deserves a special mention. With the military doctor skipper, Esther Gómez Díez de la Cortina, from Melilla, and accompanied by other officers, will try to get to the podium of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE.

The Galician fleet will be well represented by Elena Raga, an experienced sailor who already conquered the  Príncipe de Asturias Trophy’s Ladies Cup, in Baiona. Her arrival to Palma swears a passionate combat with a great Mediterranean fleet, such as the Valencian ‘Solgreen’, that has just achieved their classification for the Woman’s SLC European League, that will take place in Germany at the end of August.

Catalan sailing adds two great talents: the ‘Olimpias’, from CN Vilanova, skippered by Carla Munet, champion of Europe Juvenile in 49er FX class, and the olympic sailors in the 2016 JJ.OO. of Rio in 470 class, Barbara Cornulleda, who will defend the colors of the CN de El Balís.

The Balearic Sailing Federation is not left behind, registering two teams led by young promises of insular sailing: Gabriela Morell, with a solid journey in ILCA class, and Neus Fernández, in 420 class.

From the Canary Islands, Isabel Fernández Peña, from Gran Canaria, one of the usual skippers of the Iberdrola League in female sailing.

The international touch is put by Brazilian Christina Frediani Barbosa, sailor from Río de Janeiro and trained in Snipe’s class, who repeats participation with the intention to improved her 2024’s ninth place.

The departure line of the first regatta of the Women’s Cup will be on Wednesday, July 30th, a day after Europe’s ORC Championship starts, with almost 120 cruisers more ready in the 43rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE.