A Spectacular ORC European Championship and historic women’s participation

A record-breaking regatta of champions, milestones, and firsts

The 43rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE, held from July 26 to August 2, 2025 in Palma de Mallorca, delivered not only thrilling competition on the Bay of Palma but also historic milestones on land. This year’s edition serving as the ORC European Championship, united 125 teams from 29 nations, cementing its status as one of Europe’s most prestigious and inclusive regattas.

Women leading the way

This year’s regatta marked a turning point in gender representation, with over 200 women from 29 countries competing—making it the highest female participation in event history since the Puro Beach Women’s Cup launched in 2019.

Female sailors raced across all five classes, proving that women are not only present but competitive at the highest level. Among them:

• The youngest sailor in the entire fleet was 7-year-old Julie-Jet De Ridder, crewing aboard Checkmate in the Ubico ORC B class.
• The coolest competitor was 68-year-old Petra Sieber from Switzerland, sailing on TP52 Musica in ABANCA ORC 0.

Another historic moment:
For the first time, the Spanish Navy (Armada Española) entered a yacht in the Balearia Women’s Cup, skippered by Esther Gómez Díez de la Cortina. The all-female military crew was selected by the Consejo Superior del Deporte Militar, representing both sporting excellence and institutional progress.

Close battles and championship glory in Palma

The 2025 ORC European Championship, staged within the 43rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE, delivered a week of racing as tight as it was unforgettable. From precision tactics to photo-finish battles, Palma once again proved why it’s one of the world’s premier sailing stages.

Day 1 set the tone with light, variable winds demanding precision from the outset. Single windward–leeward races in each class saw BLUE (ITA), MORGAN V (ESP), GUARDAMAGO 3 (ITA), and EARLY BIRD (GER) claim early leads.

The pressure ratcheted up on Day 2, when the fleet tackled a tactical short offshore race of 38–57 nautical miles. Changing breezes shuffled the standings: CRIOULA IV (BRA) rose in ORC 0, ELENA NOVA (GER) topped ORC A, while GUARDAMAGO (ORC B) and EARLY BIRD (ORC C) consolidated their advantage.

By Day 3, with four races completed, the leaderboard remained fluid. BLUE led ORC 0, PEZ DE ABRIL (ESP) moved into first in ORC A, TECHNONICOL (EST) emerged as a threat in ORC B, and EARLY BIRD still held sway in ORC C.

The penultimate day brought Palma’s famed summer conditions — steady breeze, flat seas — allowing three full races. It was a day of bold moves: VESPER (USA) surged into the ORC 0 lead, NADIR (ESP) topped ORC A, GUARDAMAGO maintained control of ORC B, and EARLY BIRD still commanded ORC C. But the margins were razor-thin.

On the final day, everything was on the line. Two decisive windward–leeward races reshaped the championship landscape. In ORC 0, VESPER sealed the title with cool consistency. ORC A saw ESTRELLA DAMM (ESP) overtake NADIR in a thrilling comeback. ORC B glory went to TECHNONICOL, and in ORC C, NUNOTO CAFIVER (ESP) stormed to victory — earning not just their class title but also the award for best overall performance across all ORC divisions.

From light-air tactics to full-throttle sprints, the 2025 ORC Europeans in Palma showcased the very essence of high-level yacht racing: skill, strategy, and the sheer thrill of competition that isn’t decided until the final crossing of the line.

ORC European Championship winners crowned in each of the four main ORC divisions:

• ABANCA ORC 0: Vesper (USA)
• Sail Racing ORC A: Estrella Damm (ESP)
• Ubico ORC B: Technonicol (EST)
• Uber ORC C: Nunoto Cafiver (ESP), which also won Overall Regatta Champion

In the Corinthian division, top honours went to:

• Alitán 4 (ESP, RCN Dénia) – ORC B
• Nemox Isen (ESP) – ORC C

Royal presence: King Felipe VI aboard AIFOS

As in past editions, King Felipe VI raced aboard the TP52 Aifos in ORC 0, finishing 6th overall and leading the top Spanish team in the class. 

His daughter, Princess Leonor, attended the awards ceremony and took time to speak with several female competitors, further reinforcing the royal family’s strong support for the sport.

Offshore racing – a new challenge

For the first time in Copa del Rey history, the regatta featured an offshore leg — an extended coastal race lasting between six and twelve hours with course lengths between 38 and 57 nautical miles. This new tactical test added fresh complexity to the competition and proved pivotal in shaping the final standings.

In ORC 0, the TP52 CRIOULA IV (Brazil) engaged in a relentless duel with VESPER (USA) all the way to the finish. CRIOULA IV crossed the line in 6 hours, 32 minutes, and 29 seconds, claiming both line honors and victory on corrected time.

The spirit of Palma – On and off the water

Beyond the racing, the social calendar was as vibrant as ever, with regatta village evenings, networking events, and the grand awards ceremony held at Palacio de la Almudaina. The scene combined competitive pride with Mediterranean elegance—true to the Copa del Rey’s unique character.

Save the date: Copa del Rey MAPFRE 2026

Next year’s edition, the 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE, will take place from August 1–8, 2026 at Real Club Náutico de Palma, Mallorca

Mark your calendars for another unforgettable week of world-class racing in the heart of the Balearics.

INTERVIEWS COPA DEL REY MAPFRE 2025

José María Meseguer, owner of the ClubSwan 42 Pez de Abril 

“Copa del Rey is one of the best regattas in the Mediterranean for me,” says the Swan 42 owner. “First, because
King Felipe sails in it himself. Second, because the level of competition is incredibly high, with world-class sailors on the starting line.
Every year it gets more competitive, and the wind conditions are always fantastic — those Mallorcan breezes almost never fail.
All of that makes the Copa truly stand out.

And sailing on a Swan 42? That’s in a class of its own. It’s so fast, so responsive, and so easy to handle — almost unbeatable.

Jochen Schümann, Olympic Sailor and Tactician on ClubSwan 50 Olymp

“It feels like I’ve been at the Copa del Rey a hundred times — and for good reason. I believe Palma is the best and
most reliable sailing venue there is. You can sail here every day, and you get at least one race in daily, which is just perfect.”

Svantje Michaelis, Bowwoman on Swan 45 Katima

“I love Copa del Rey — it’s such a special event, and the sailing is incredibly fun. I especially loved being part of
an all-female crew in Germany. For many years, I sailed on the yacht Tuttima with 15 women — a truly unique and inspiring project.
That’s why my advice to all women is simple: go for it — and show the guys how it’s done!”

Thomas Zajac, Olympic Sailor  and Main Sheet Trimmer on Swan 45 Katima

“This is my first Copa del Rey, and for me it’s the legendary regatta of the King —
highly competitive and packed with top-level sailors. I’ve raced at the Olympics in Rio and Tokyo,
and in Rio I made it onto the podium in the Nacra 17. I’ll definitely be back.”

Desiree Estevez, first female Argentine sailor at the Puro Beach Women’s Cup,
now with Team Argentina on Swan 45 From Now On

“For me, it’s a pleasure to come all the way from Argentina to sail here, because this is the best
championship in all of Europe. We’ve raced in Porto Cervo, and here there are so many yachts competing across every class.
I’ve been coming for seven years without missing a single edition — it’s incredibly international and always a lot of fun.”

Helena Alegre, First Puro Beach Women’s Cup Winner (2019)

“I think women are entering the cruising and big boat classes more and more, but we still have to keep pushing for the important positions on board — because women are excellent sailors and capable leaders. Since the first Women’s Cup, the numbers show there are more women sailing, but we’re still missing female sailors in the key roles, even though the talent is there.

As for this year, our first day was great, the second day didn’t go so well, and now we’re hoping for a strong finish today.”

Margot Schirmer, Petra Sieber (Switzerland) & Monika Rothlauf (Germany)
sailing on TP52 Musica

Long-time sailing partners, those women have been racing together for 20 years.
This year marks their first Copa del Rey with the TP52 Musica, after previously competing on a Baltic 50.

“As female sailors who have shared so many regattas side by side, it’s a real thrill to race here together.
The variety of teams, the speed of the boats, and the calibre of the international sailors make the Copa very special for us
— especially with such a strong TP52 fleet. We’ll be back!”