The Club Nàutic Portitxol hosted a highly attended 47th edition of its historic regatta, bringing together 180 young sailors from Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza in the Bay of Palma.
DID YOU LIKE THIS CONTENT? WELL... YOU HAVE ALL OF OUR FULL PROGRAMS HERE!The Club Nàutic Portitxol held this past weekend, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th of June, the 47th edition of the Trofeo Mamá Optimist S.M. La Reina, one of the most emblematic and traditional grassroots sailing events in the Balearic Islands. The event gathered 180 entrants in the waters of the Bay of Palma and crowned Maria de Lluc Bestard, from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, as overall winner, and Stepan Plotnikov, from the Club de Regatas Puerto Portals, as winner in the Optimist D category.
The 47th Trofeo Mamá Optimist S.M. La Reina took place in the Bay of Palma, organized by the Club Nàutic Portitxol under the auspices of the Federación Balear de Vela, once again confirming the large-scale, family-oriented and developmental nature of an event that, year after year, serves as a first competition experience for many young sailors.
The fleet consisted of 130 Optimist boats and 50 Optimist D boats, the beginner class for the youngest participants. To ensure smooth racing, the 130 Optimists were split into two groups, yellow and blue, of 65 boats each. Both groups completed a total of six races over two days, with three races per day. The Optimist D class completed four races in total, two per day, in an especially meaningful edition for many children experiencing their first regatta.
From a sporting perspective, Maria de Lluc Bestard, representing the Real Club Náutico de Palma, delivered a strong performance to win the overall category, leading a podium dominated by sailors from her club. Second place went to Jan Palou, also from the same club, while Pedro Burgués completed the podium in third place.
In Optimist D, the beginner category, victory went to Stepan Plotnikov of the Club de Regatas Puerto Portals, one of the most educational classes of the event. Second place went to Miguel Pablo Ferra from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, and third place to Carlota de Orbaneja de Leyva from the Club Marítimo de Mahón.
The event featured participants from all Mallorca clubs with Optimist racing teams, as well as the Club Nàutic Ciutadella and the Club Marítimo de Mahón, representing Menorca. For the first time, sailors from Es Nàutic de Sant Antoni also participated, expanding the territorial reach of a regatta that continues to grow within the Balearic sailing calendar.
The competition took place on a single race course set in the Bay of Palma. Race management was led by Toni Fornés, sailing coordinator at the Club Nàutic Portitxol, who made his debut as race officer at such an important event for the club. He was supported by the club’s sailing team, as well as students in training from the FP vocational program in Natural Environment and Leisure Guide at Santa Mónica and at IES Bendinat.
“For me, this is not my first Mamá Optimist, but it is the first time with such a responsibility. It is a regatta with a lot of history, which pushes you to give everything: to innovate, involve new sponsors, maintain the tradition, and ensure there are trophies for all participants...,” explained Toni Fornés.
He also highlighted the social atmosphere outside the water, noting the first “Mamá Optimist dinner,” aimed at strengthening bonds among organizers, staff, and coaches.
Omar Calzón, technical director of the Club Nàutic Portitxol and head of race safety, emphasized the special significance of this edition, especially as the club approaches the 50th anniversary of the regatta and benefits from a 15-year concession from the Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares, reinforcing its commitment to grassroots sport.
He also praised the club’s internal organization, highlighting the smooth execution of the event.
Both days of racing ran smoothly with no protests. Saturday offered ideal conditions in the Bay of Palma with a classic southwest sea breeze of 8–12 knots and flat water. Sunday started with a light onshore breeze, later shifting with significant wind shifts of 15–20 degrees during the final race. Safety and short time on the water for the children were prioritized at all times.
The prize-giving ceremony was once again one of the highlights of the regatta, with attendance from Javier Sanz (president of the Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares), Cati Darder (president of the Federación Balear de Vela), Antònia Paniza (president of the ABCIO), and José Manuel Santander (president of the Club Nàutic Portitxol), along with the club’s board.
The 47th edition of the Trofeo Mamá Optimist S.M. La Reina once again demonstrated the importance of this regatta in Balearic youth sailing. A historic event closely tied to the Club Nàutic Portitxol, combining competition, training, community, and support for new generations of sailors.
The next edition is already scheduled for the 12th and 13th of June 2027, with plans to continue growing, add a pre-event training clinic, and strengthen its national and potentially international profile.
The Club Nàutic Portitxol thanks all collaborators and sponsors who made this edition possible.
Full results of the XLVII Trofeo Mamá Optimist S.M. La Reina can be found on the official website of the Federación Balear de Vela: https://www.federacionbalearvela.org/es/default/results/resultsall/return/event/text/xlvii-trofeo-mama-optimist-s-m-reina-2026.
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