Palma.— Present at the ceremony held at the club’s Sala Magna were several distinguished guests from the nautical world including, the club’s Commodore Joan Bonet, Gabriel Dolç and Juan Antonio Cardona, presidents of s’Arenal’s and San Antonio de la Playa yacht clubs, where several teams have been training ahead of the competition and Fernando Ortíz, Balearics nautical trade chief.
Race manager Ferran Muniesa, who this week was praised by the British teams set to take part in the event, presented the event, also attended by two Balearic government officials, Fernando Gilet from the Sports and Culture department and Francisco Javier Morente Sports director for the region. With less than 72 hours before the start of the event, the fourth of five ISAF Sailing World Cup regattas where the world’s top competitors will race in one Paralympic and ten Olympic events, Muniesa expressed his belief this will be a year to remember.
"This year’s participation numbers speak for themselves. Almost 900 sailors have already registered and few competitions in the world can match what Palma and the Trofeo Princesa Sofia can offer.
"The world’s best will be here. Sailing heroes they are and we should be proud to welcome them.
"They are true examples of athletes who know how to overcome difficult situations," Muniesa added.
The race manager also explained that this year’s competition brings "more than sports to the region" explaining that "all businesses around the island will benefit with the hosting of another regatta of this magnitude. The different competition categories will be spread between s’Arenal’s club (Finn, 470 male and female, 49er, 49er FX) and San Antonio’s (Laser, Laser Radical, RS:X- windsurf with a lighter and faster board- male and female and Nacra 17, the new Olympic catamaran mixed competition).
This year’s competition can also be followed online via the race’s website.
Muniesa confirmed yesterday organisers have set up a web cam device so that fans can follow the race live and in 3D.
A message posted this week on the race’s website encouraged visitors not to miss the opportunity and show their support for the event.
"It is a unique race, almost magical.
"The Bay of Palma provides perfect conditions for sailing, together with the warm welcome from the people of Majorca, help to make it a competition especially appreciated by those who take part. A race that nobody wants to miss and we all dream to win some day."
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