Credits: Trofeo Princesa Sofia
After a week of racing in challenging offshore winds Saturday’s medal showdowns for the 10 Olympic class titles at the 55th Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels look set to be blessed with perfect conditions.
A moderate sea breeze is forecast to build early which, accompanied by warm Spring sunshine, should create a great arena as the regatta showcases the new formats which are expected to be used at the LA2028 Olympic regatta.
As the last chances to qualify for Saturday’s Finals Series played out, Good Friday afternoon on the Bay of Palma offered the best racing conditions so far, hopefully a foretaste of what’s ahead.
While the Kite and iQFOiL medals decider format are largely unchanged, it is still the top ten in each of the dinghy, skiff and multihull classes which go through to contest the Palma titles. But now there are scheduled to be two consecutive medal races with points from the Elimination Series carried forward.
© Sailing Energy / Princesa Sofía Mallorca
American pair Nevin Snow and Ian MacDiarmid lead the 49er fleet after a valuable recovery from an early start in second of the skiffs’ three races today. After having to return across the start line they battled to a 12th which they added to a race win and a fifth to lie just one point up on Germany’s Richard Shultheis and Fabian Rieger.
Asked about the new Finals Series format Snow smiled, “I have not let myself get there, I didn’t want to think about the ten-boat race too early, so I need to go home and figure it out. I am feeling good about it. We are sailing well, we sailed well in training. We need to just stay in the zone and take it as it comes.”
French duo Erwan Fischer and Clément Pequin, the 2024 world champions and last year’s Sofía class winner missed the cut, finishing 13th with a 9,9,12 today while the Netherlands’ triple world champion Bart Lambriex and Floris Van De Werken squeeze in in 9th thanks to a fourth in the last race.
“These guys they will come on strong I’m sure.” Observed Snow, “I don’t think they have been training as much as they used to when they were winning world championships. When they are going for gold medals they will start ratcheting it up. But we are super happy, we have been training hard. We have good boat speed – like I am sure everyone says – and the conditions here have been super shifty. Our speed has improved in all conditions. We are focused on the right details and in terms of big goals to accomplish we are just ticking away at them.”
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Swedes consistency continues
© Sailing Energy / Princesa Sofía Mallorca
Training gains account for a strong, consistent run so far in the Nacra 17 by regatta leaders Emile Järudd and Hanna Jonsson who have overcome a flu virus to build a lead over compatriots and training partners Ida Svensson and Marcus Dackhammer. 2024 Olympic silver medallists Mateo Majdalini and Eugenia Bosco had a collision before the start of the day’s first race which broke their boom. A replacement was brought from shore and the Argentinian pair – who train with both Swedish boats – managed to get into 2nd overall after a redress on shore.
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Jarudd and Jonsson, 2023 world bronze medallists, are going for their first major regatta win together.
“We feel so good, we have kept it simple all week, not least because we have both been sick, we are really happy. Having Swedes top two proves our training is paying off.” enthused Jarudd.
Spain’s top seeds in the 49er FX and the 470 Mixed have their titles within reach. Though just two points separates the top three teams in the Women’s Skiff, local favourites Paula Barcelo and Maria Cantero appeared confident as they spoke to Spanish media.
“The standings are very tight, especially from first to sixth place.” Barceló said, “So any possible points reduction under the new format won’t affect us. There will be two medal races instead of one, scoring single rather than double points. It’s the same format for everyone, so whoever adapts best will come out on top.”
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The 55th Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels is organised by Bahía Activa — the foundation formed by the Real Club Náutico de Palma, the Club Nàutic S’Arenal, the Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa and the Balearic Sailing Federation — and is supported by World Sailing. The event is co-financed by the Balearic Islands Government’s Sustainable Tourism Tax fund and sponsored by the Mallorca Responsible Tourism Foundation.
The 55th Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels is part of the Sailing Grand Slam 2026 alongside the Semaine Olympique Française, Dutch Water Week, Kieler Woche and Long Beach & San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta.
