(Palma Mallorca, Spain)- Twenty J/80 teams will compete for the fifth
consecutive year in the Copa del Rey Regatta in Palma Mallorca. The
J/80’s debuted at the regatta in Palma in 2011 and since then, the class
has been a fixture on the pontoons of the Real Club Nautico de Palma
during each edition.The list of teams includes many that sailed in the recent J/80 World Championships in Kiel, Germany. Top amongst those teams will be several podium finishers at past World Championships. Any one of these teams have the potential to win the regatta, including Marc de Antonio’s BRIBON MOVISTAR; José Maria Van der Ploeg’s NAUTICA WATCHES (winner in 2011, second in 2012 and third in 2014); Carlos Martinez’s AKEWUELE (winner in 2012, second in 2014 and third in 2013); and Javier Aguado’s OXITAL/ PEUGEOT (second in 2011).
After demonstrating excellent performance in the cold waters off Kiel, where he led the provisional standings during the first four days of racing, there is no question that de Antonio’s BRIBON MOVISTAR do not want to become the bridesmaid again and are hoping to improve on their fourth place in the 2014 Copa del Rey regatta. He knows his rivals will not make that achievement easy, “the conditions in the Bay of Palma will be totally different from the Worlds in Kiel and the level of competition is extremely high," says de Antonio.
In addition to the strong Spanish teams in attendance, four teams have traveled from Italy to participate in the awesome, sun-soaked sailing offered by the Bay of Palma. Leading the way for the Italians is Massimo Rama’s JENIALE and he is joined by Giacomo Loro’s MARY J, Nicola Savoini’s NITE and Lorenzo Cerretelli’s NOVITAHOME.COM. The two candidates for “longest distance” traveled would have to be Sweden’s Thomas Rudewald sailing PALOMA BLANCA as well as Argentina’s Luis Rosad skippering WUAKI.TV.
The regatta program provides for a maximum of 12 windward/leeward races between Monday, August 3, and Saturday, August 8th. For more Copa del Rey sailing information
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