The second stage of the 61st Gran Día de la Vela – Bufete Frau kicks off

Club Nàutic S’Arenal (CNA) resumed activity on Thursday, August 28th, with the start of the second block of the 61st edition of the Gran Día de la Vela – Bufete Frau, one of the flagship regattas of the Balearic sporting calendar, bringing together hundreds of boats in the waters of Palma and Llucmajor Bay.

In this new phase, races have begun for the Optimist Sub13 and Sub16, ILCA 4, and 420 classes, with more than 300 registered sailors from eight autonomous communities, ranging from young talents to established athletes. The competition will continue until Sunday, August 31, when the traditional trophy ceremony will take place.

Local protagonists featured in the regatta’s visuals

Among the participants are Mallorca natives Martina Gomila Darder and Neus Fernández Darder, current 420 World Champions in the absolute category. They have also been chosen as the official faces of this 61st edition. “It is an honor to be the image of this regatta, which represents the values CNA has instilled in us since we were young. Seeing ourselves throughout the club is recognition not only for our titles, but also for teamwork and unity,” explain Gomila and Fernández.

A day marked by instability

CNA deployed two racecourses, each with their respective committees, buoys, and more than 70 people working on land and sea to ensure safety and organizational quality. Nevertheless, the first day was affected by unstable weather. A swell with waves over a meter and variable winds, ranging from over 15 knots with gusts up to 19 down to below 6 knots, prevented completion of the planned program. Finally, two races were held for the yellow and blue Optimist groups, one race for the red Optimist and ILCA 4 group, and two races for the 420 class.

Meeting with the media

CNA hosted its traditional media lunch, attended by sponsors, journalists, and members of the club’s board: President José Ramón Picó, Commodore Mariano Cazador, and Manager Ferrán Muniesa.

During the meeting, sponsor Toni Frau highlighted: “We are thrilled with the participation of more than 500 boats, a number that confirms the consolidation of the Gran Día de la Vela on the national scene. The ten classes competing throughout this event reflect the diversity of our sport, with disciplines such as Optimist, ILCA, 420, Techno293, iQFoil, ORC Cruiser, and Vela Latina, among others.”

A trophy with history and more activities

Thanks to the collaboration of the Llucmajor Town Hall, the overall winner will have their name inscribed on the Trofeo Rei en Jaume III Ciutat de Llucmajor, linked to CNA’s longest-running regatta.

The sporting program includes races for Optimist, ILCA, 420, Techno293, and iQFoil, as well as ORC Cruiser and Vela Latina regattas.

Additionally, the event features parallel activities, including the XXII Travesía Sa Milla CNA – Cala Blava, an open water swimming event to be held on August 30 at Es Caló beach (9:30 a.m.). Proceeds will go to the association ELA Balears.

Full Results: https://www.grandiadelavela.com/es/default/races/race-resultsall