Consistency eludes many top contenders today at 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofía

The light sea-breeze condition on the Bay Of Palma today proved especially testing for the giant fleet at the 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by Iberostar and even many of the event leaders struggled to record consistently top finishes as the winds moved around in direction and pressure over the fourth day of racing.

Italy’s World and Olympic Nacra 17 champion helm Ruggero Tita harbours a dream of this summer first retaining the gold medal he and indefatigable crew Caterina Banti won in Tokyo 2021 and then, only a few weeks later, steering Italy’s America’s Cup challenger Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the 37^th America’s Cup off Barcelona.

Dividing his time between Olympics and Cup has been a challenge, not least as the levels in the mixed foiling multihull goes up and up. And as one of the young gun challengers, alongside Marco Gradoni, pressing Francesco Bruni and Jimmy Spithill to keep improving, Tita has high hopes he could get the nod as a Cup helm ideally with a second gold medal in his locker. Could both happen?

“Life is beautiful, let’s see, let’s go step by step.” Smiles Tita in the Nacra 17 boatpark at CN Arenal, “The Games are before and so we are really focused on them. We know that winning again will really depend on the conditions we will find there but for sure as soon as it is foiling we are happy. In this light winds sailing like today we are not so good, but we are getting better.”

 

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Consolidating
Winners overall of the Trofeo Princesa Sofía top award two years ago, and triumphant in the Nacra 17 class in 2018 the Italian duo today consolidated their overall lead over three races in a tricky, light sea breeze which was unsettled in terms of direction and pressure.

All of the top teams recorded a big score today, the leaders finishing 19^th in the third race to hold a seven points margin over GBR’s European Champions, John Gimson and Anna Burnet. Top scorers of the day were the French duo Billy Besson and Noa Ancian. With a second and first they are now five points behind Tim Mourniac and Lou Berthomieu with whom they are reported to be neck and neck in the selection for the last remaining spot on France’s team for their home, Marseille Olympics.

53 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by Iberostar. © Sailing Energy / Princesa Sofía Mallorca
04 April, 2024

Poles pressing for skiff selection

This regatta is a selection event for Poland’s Olympic team too and Lukasz Przybytek and Jacek Piasecki are strengthening their claim to their nation’s 49er spot with a strong performance so far. Ninth at Tokyo 2021 the duo are tied with Spain’s Diego Botín and Florian Trittel.

 

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“Our race course was close to the shore and the left side paid all the time. We got good starts and made four solid races. Last time here we just missed the Medal race so this time we are aiming to make it and then who knows. This and Hyeres are our final trial events but we got a seventh at the worlds but when it’s not based on points then it is always hard to say.” Said Piasecki.

While the Polish pair rose to the top of the Men’s Skiff with one more day of Gold fleet racing to go before Saturday’s Medal Races, Norway’s new European Champions, Helene Naess and Marie Ronnigen extended their cushion in the lead of the Women’s Skiff, the FX. They count a 3,1,5 from their four races today.

“We had three good ones that one very bad race when the wind disappeared and we ended up on the wrong side of the course. But we are still leading so that is fine. We have been here 11 times now and have been second here before so here is hoping….this is a good regatta for our preparations.” Enthused Naess.

 

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The 53 Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofía Mallorca by Iberostar, the first scoring event for the Sailing World Cup 2024, is jointly organised by the Club Nàutic S’Arenal, the Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, the Real Club Náutico de Palma, the Real Federación Española de Vela and the Federación Balear de Vela, with the support of World Sailing and the main Balearic public institutions.

More information, at www.trofeoprincesasofia.org.

Credits: Trofeo Princesa Sofia Press Release