Get ready to mark your calendars for the highly anticipated kickoff of the 53rd edition of the Trofeo Princesa Sofia! Beginning tomorrow and running until April 6th, this prestigious event will see 1,100 sailors from 75 different nations competing across 10 classes. Set against the stunning backdrop of Palma’s coastline, the regatta will unfold across 7 courses.
The Club in Arenal hosts all the doublehanded boats: 470, 49er, FX, and Nacra 17. On the other side of the beach, the Club in Can Pastilla is hosting the ILCAs and the IQFoils, while the kiters are in between, and launch directly from the beach.
For 49er, FX, and Nacra 17 fans, we’ve compiled some useful information, numbers, and scheduling details to keep you in the loop during the event.
Here’s what you need to know:
The target for the 49er, FX, and Nacra 17 classes is to complete 15 races each before the Medal Races on April 6th.
The 49ers will feature three fleets. The 49erFX class will be split into two fleets, whereas the Nacra 17 will compete as a single fleet for the duration of the regatta. In the Final Series, the top 25 boats will advance to the gold fleet in both the 49er and FX classes, with the remaining boats competing in the silver fleet (and bronze for the 49er).
Who’s here?
The full entry list can be found here
The absence of several prominent figures in the classes is notable in this regatta. Logan Dunning Beck and Oscar Gunn, recovering from an injury sustained just before the Worlds in Lanzarote, have had to halt their Olympic campaign for Paris 2024.
In addition, Bart Lambriex and Floris Van De Werken are also absent from the competition. They have chosen to focus purely on the Olympics this summer and are already training in Marseille.
Furthermore, the reigning FX World Champions, Annette Duetz and Odile Van Aanholt, will be missing from the action. Rumor has it that Odile’s sister, Philippine Van Aanholt, a former Olympic sailor, is tying the knot, keeping them away from the event…
Adding to the roster of absentees are the Polish FX team, who fell ill shortly before the competition and had to return home to recuperate for the upcoming event in Hyères, as well as Tamara Echegoyen with crew Paula Barcelò.
On a brighter note, the return of the Fantela Brothers brings optimism to the mix. Despite missing out on the Worlds due to illness, they are back in action and promising an exciting comeback!
While some are absent, others have emerged to capture attention. James Grummett and Rhos Hawes, a British duo who surprised many (including themselves) with a fourth-place finish in Lanzarote after only three months of sailing together, are ones to watch closely in this event.
As usual, the Germans have come in a pack! With 20 German teams split between 49er and FX, (13 teams in the 49er and 7 in the FX), the pressure to qualify the country in the last chance regatta and to be selected as the team to go to the Paris Olympics is higher than ever.
In the FX class, all eyes are on the USA team selection for the Olympics, with Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea currently leading the trials. Will they secure their ticket to Paris, or will Paris Henken and Anna Tobias pull off a game-changing performance to shake up the standings?
Wile this event marks the end of the selection rocess for FX, it’s the first event out of two in the Nacra 17 which will serve as a trial, with the second event being the Worlds in La Grande Motte.
The Numbers:
How to follow the race:
Additionally, you can find more information on www.trofeoprincesasofia.org the official organizer website.
The updated Notice board can be found here
