The 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE pays tribute to Manuel 'Noluco' Doreste and Javier Vallejo

Both sailors, who recently passed away, were leading figures in Spanish sailing and shared countless campaigns with many crews over the past decades.

The 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE got underway on Tuesday, August 4th, with an emotional tribute to sailors Manuel "Noluco" Doreste and Javier Vallejo, who recently passed away. His Majesty King Felipe VI also joined the ceremony.

The King, who is competing aboard Hispania, arrived at the Real Club Náutico de Palma at 10:30 a.m., where he was welcomed by the club's president, Rafael Gil. They then proceeded to the main terrace, where the tribute was held in honour of two of Spain's most respected sailing figures: Canary Islander Manuel "Noluco" Doreste, a member of the renowned Doreste Blanco sailing family, and Andalusian sailor Javier Vallejo.

King Felipe joined the gathered spectators in paying tribute to both sailors. The ceremony brought together fellow competitors, family members, friends and Olympic medallists, including Theresa Zabell, Luis Doreste, "Noluco's" brother, and Domingo Manrique, who remembered the two men through an emotional video featuring memorable moments both on and off the water. A warm and prolonged round of applause brought the tribute to a close.

Javier Vallejo was a member of the Spanish Olympic sailing team at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, where King Felipe served as Spain's flag bearer. He later joined the Spanish America's Cup team.

Manuel "Noluco" Doreste enjoyed an outstanding career, winning numerous world titles in both dinghy and offshore sailing. He represented Spain at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games alongside Domingo Manrique and Juan Luis Wood. Alongside his sporting achievements, he also pursued a distinguished professional career as an anaesthesiologist. Following the ceremony, the King headed to Hispania with his crew to prepare for the opening day of racing, scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. in the Bay of Palma.