Palma (Spain),
Over one hundred teams and twenty nationalities have confirmed their participation in the twentieth edition of PalmaVela, to be held at the Real Club Náutico de Palma from 26^th April to 5^th May. The event will include three acts: the Offshore Race, the opening event of the 52 Super Series 2024 and the traditional multiclass PalmaVela regatta.
PalmaVela 2024 will be remembered for the three competitions that will make up its 20^th anniversary: the first great regatta in the Mediterranean calendar.
Since the first edition in 2004, the essence of Palmavela has always been its multiclass nature, ranging from the ORC in their compensated time categories, to the small and large monohulls (such as the 52 Super Series in this year’s event), along with the Maxis, classical and traditional yachts. The Offshore Race, which was incorporated in 2021 means teams also compete offshore through the Balearic archipelago, both with crew and A2 format.
“The registration period has been going really well”, confirmed Manu Fraga, the Regatta director. “There are now 107 boats registered in all the fleets, including the ten from the 52 Super Series, and even though there are still three weeks until the inscription date expires on 28th March, it is promising to be one of the largest editions in the 20 years of history, with a very high registration rate.”
The perfect setting
With three weeks to go until the registration period expires, there are already close to thirty teams confirmed to participate in the Offshore Race, meaning that the fourth edition of the event promises to better the record participation of 35 teams in last year’s race.
The setting and spectacular backdrop for the PalmaVela offshore race is perhaps one of the most attractive in the Mediterranean due to the great variety of sailing conditions to be found on the predetermined routes: approximately 350 nautical miles for the biggest boats in the fleet, and 225 nautical miles for the smaller length boats.
Both routes take the fleets through the islands of the Balearic archipelago and are designed for their meteorological conditions, racing between the islands of Ibiza, Formentera, Menorca and the islands off Aire, Dragonera and Mallorca, with departure and arrival of the fleet in the Bay of Palma.
The 52 Super Series joins PalmaVela
While the Offshore Race fleet are still arriving in the Bay of Palma on Sunday 28th April, the yearly circuit of the 52 Super Series will initiate its season in the PalmaVela Sailing Week. Ten professional teams onboard the most modernTP52s in the world, will bring the Bay of Palma to life for five intense days of competition, up until Thursday 2^nd May.
The multiclass fleet – the final climax
From Thursday 2nd May onwards, coinciding with the end of the first event in the 52 Super Series, the traditional multiclass PalmaVela regatta will see big boats such as the Maxis sharing the waters of the bay with the ORC, 6-metre, Dragon and J/70 classes, as well as the beautiful fleet of classic boats.
