Lack of wind forces cancellation of the first day of the Copa del Rey Repsol de Barcos de Época

The Race Committee did start the first race, but it had to be canceled after fifteen minutes due to a drop in wind intensity.

The start of the XXI Copa del Rey Repsol de Barcos de Época will have to wait. Unstable weather, marked by an almost complete lack of wind, haze, and high humidity, prevented the 22 mile coastal race scheduled for Wednesday, August 27th, from taking place in the waters of Mahón.

The Race Committee did give the start for the Época Cangreja class, but conditions deteriorated within minutes. “We decided to cancel after fifteen minutes because the boats had barely moved. The almost total lack of wind was compounded by a very choppy sea,” explained Ariane Mainemare, the regatta’s principal officer. “Conditions did not improve in the starting area, and reports from other points on the race course showed very little wind, so in the end we opted to send the fleet back to port,” she added.

This decision meant that the first of the four scheduled days concluded without any races. Most of the fleet agreed that, under these conditions and with no indication of improvement, returning to the dock was the most logical option, hoping for better weather tomorrow. Gabriel Catalá, crew member of Celeste di Mare, a participant in the Espíritu de Tradición class, noted that the large cross waves that had formed overnight contrasted sharply with the almost total lack of wind, making navigation “very, very uncomfortable.” Paul Hartek, from Team Spartan, one of the four Big Boats in competition, also emphasized the problematic combination of “too many waves with too little wind,” calling it “very difficult conditions for everyone.” “I hope tomorrow improves, although I see it as unlikely. Hopefully we can finish the race,” he added.

This edition of the Copa del Rey Repsol for Vintage Boats brings together 49 vessels from 11 countries, divided into five categories: Big Boats, Época Cangreja, Época Bermudiana, Clásicos, and Espíritu de Tradición. Considered one of the major events for classic sailing in the Mediterranean, the regatta counts towards the Trofeo Clásicos Mare Nostrum – Copa de España de Vela Clásica (RFEV) and the Mediterranean Champions Cup of the Vintage & Classic Yacht Club.

The fleet will remain moored at Muelle de Levante, visible to the public visiting the port of Mahón, where these historic boats, true gems of naval heritage, can be seen up close. If the wind permits, the competition will resume today, Thursday, August 28, from 12:30 p.m. with a coastal course, whose configuration will depend on weather conditions.