Final countdown for the 74th Optimist's Ciutat de Palma Trophy

The regatta organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma will gather 364 sailors from 28 countries from tommorrow, Wednesday December 3rd, to Sunday 7th. Jaime Martínez, mayor of Palma: "We reiterate our support to the club to face projects such as the future Local Sailing School together"

The Council Hall of the Town Hall of Palma has hosted today, December 2nd, the presentation of the 74th ABANCA Ciutat de Palma Trophy, the oldest regatta of the Balearics and an international reference for the Optimist class. The Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP) has shared the details of an edition that will have 364 boats coming from 28 countries, a number that marks the active limit fixed by the organization to attend the fleet.

The event has had the presence of the mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez; the first mayor-tennant, Javi Bonet; the president of the Real Club Náutico de Palma, Rafael Gil; the director of the ABANCA area in the Balearics, Jesús Jiménez, and a great representation of the nautical and maritime sector of Mallorca: Antoni Mercant, general director of Maritime transport; Pedro Vidal, autonomic secretary of culture and sports; Javier Núñez de Prado, head of the Navy Sector of the Balearics; Catalina Darder, president of the Balearic Sailing Federation; José Ramón Picó, president of the Club Nàutic S’Arenal, Jesús Coll, manager of the Real Asamblea de Capitanes de Yate; José Escalas, maritime captain of Mallorca, and Domingo Bonnín, president dof the Federation of Fishermen’s Guilds of the Balearic Islands.

During the presentation, the president of the RCNP has pointed out the coincidence between this edition of the Ciutat de Palma and the new institutional horizon that opens for the club after the recent sentence that guarantees its contuinity. “As sailors, we know we have decisive moments that mark the path of a journey. Today we find ourselves before one of those moments: the ABANCA Ciutat de Palma Trophy is the inaugural corner towards the future; a future with which we keeps our historical commitment with sport and with the city that receives us”. Gil has thanked, as well, the institutional support of the Consistory and the sponsorship of ABANCA: “This support has a particular value, because it helps us shape  to an essential function of our club, which is no other than boosting the sport, the nautical activities and the sea culture”.

Jaime Martínez, mayor of Palma, has referred to the Ciutat de Palma of sailing, whose first editon was in 1950, as as "event of great historical value” and has remarked that the recent naming of the Superior Tribunal of Justice of the Balearics, which recognizes the right of the Real Club Náutico de Palma to preserve its facilities, "adds stability and allows planifying the future with guarantees".

“From the Town Hall -the mayor has added- we reiterate our support to face together the projects that come, like the future Local Sailing School and the strategic initiatives linked to the Innovation District and the blue economy. The club carries out an essential role in the sports and social projection of Palma, and we thanks its labour and the one of all those who make a competition that, edition after edition, reinforces the role of our city in the national and international field, possible.”

On his behalf, Jesús Jiménez, director of the area of ABANCA in the Balearics, has pointed out that the Galician signature feels "deeply committed" with the sea world and the base sport. “The Bay of Palma -he has added- is  a unique space for the sports practice and an economic engine that gives visibility to the city and to the Balearics. The date of this edition reinforces our motivation to keep the professional level that characterizes this organization”.

Manu Fraga, director of the RCNP, has explained that the organization has reached the maximum seating capacity expected and that some international teams have been training for two weeks in Palma to prepare the regatta: "We do not have more space for boats, proof that we have a very prestigious event”. The Ciutat de Palma will officially start tommorrow, December 3rd, with the opening of the regattas office, and will continue on days 4 and 5 with the qualifying series, and on the 6th and 7th with the finale phase.

Fraga has added that this year's edition is, "without a doubt", the most international of history, with the presence of 28 nations, after the incorporation of iconic countries up to date, amongst them; Peru, India, Brasil, Dubai and Uruguay, which join the European teams that compete every season, taking advantage of the good conditions that the Bay offers at winter.

The trophy reunites in Palma some of the most highlighted sailors of the world in Optimist, between them Spain champions and world and European medallists. In the departure starting line there will be the current champion of Spain Pablo López, the champion of Europe, Lluc Bestard, the sixth European qualified Daniel Capa, the British Charlie Holland and Jonny Rogers (representatives of England in the 2025's world champs) and the Slovanian Mihael Zobec, silver in 2025's World champs. Jan Palou, top 20 of the world's ranking and the world champion by teams; Stijn Oosterhaven (top 12 European), and Annieska Madonnich (top 10 European) will also participate.