The 21st Copa del Rey Repsol de Barcos de Época kicks off with almost fifty entries

The regatta of the Club Marítimo de Mahón brings together nearly fifty classic and vintage boats in one of its busiest editions in recent years.

The 21st Copa del Rey Repsol de Barcos de Época, officially presented at noon today, Tuesday, August 25th, at the Club Marítimo de Mahón, will once again turn the island of Menorca into the epicenter of international classic sailing. The regatta, fully established in the calendar of major vintage sailing competitions, will gather from today until August 30th a total of 49 historic and classic boats from 11 countries, with a program of four days of competition at sea and an intensive social agenda on land.

The event, counting 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 most important circuit of classic boats in the Mediterranean, is organized by the Club Marítimo de Mahón (CMM) under delegation from the Real Federación Española de Vela (RFEV) and is primarily sponsored by Repsol, with the collaboration of the Real Asociación Nacional de Cruceros (RANC), the Federación Balear de Vela (FBV), the Consell Insular de Menorca, the Ajuntament de Maó, the Fundació Foment del Turisme de Menorca, and the Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares.

The presentation ceremony was attended by Adolfo Vilafranca, president of the Consell Insular de Menorca; Héctor Pons, alcalde of Mahón; Basilio Ferrer Florit, president of the Club Marítimo de Mahón; Fernando Pérez Gavilán, head of the Marina and Pesca divisions of Repsol in the Balearic Islands; and Ignacio Marra-López, director of the regatta.

The regatta will bring together true legends of the sea representing different eras in sailing history. Among the classes present are the Big Boats (4 boats over 23 meters in length), the Época Cangreja (7 boats launched before 1949 with gaff rigs), the Época Bermudiana (12 boats launched before 1949 with Bermuda rigs), the Clásicos (13 boats built before 1975 in wood or metal), and the Espíritu de Tradición category (13 boats that, despite incorporating modern techniques, maintain a classic design).

International participation is another major highlight of this edition. Owners and crews from Alemania, Mónaco, Reino Unido, Estados Unidos, Irlanda, Países Bajos, Italia, Finlandia, Portugal, Francia, and España will be represented.

The courses will be coastal and defined according to wind conditions, aiming to provide both technical and exciting races. The organization plans to have the finishes in the port of Mahón whenever possible, allowing the public to witness the conclusion of each day’s races up close.

All participating boats will dock at the Muelle de Levante, where they can be admired closely by citizens and visitors. This proximity makes the event not only a sporting regatta but also a cultural opportunity to appreciate the heritage of sailing and the conservation work that keeps these “old ladies of the sea” alive.

The official agenda began on August 26th with the opening of the race office, participant registration, and technical inspections. This afternoon, the skippers’ meeting and welcome cup will take place. Starting tomorrow, August 27th, the sea races will begin, with daily starts scheduled for 12:30 PM. The competition will continue until August 30th, when the final race and awards ceremony will be held at 7:30 PM.