The most wide-open podium in the 43 Copa del Rey MAPFRE will be the ABANCA ORC 0 Class
by Copa del Rey MAPFRE 24 Jul 09:09 UTC
26 July - 2 August 2025
ORC 0 Class at the 43rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE © María Muiña / Copa del Rey MAPFRE
The ORC European Championship will test both Javier Banderas, onboard Teatro del Soho San Miguel, and HRH King Felipe, onboard Aifos. Neither will have an easy path in this 43rd edition as they defend their 2024 champion and runner-up titles, respectively, against a formidable fleet in the ABANCA ORC 0 class.
The Real Club Náutico de Palma will host no fewer than eleven TP52s, joined by three ClubSwan 50s, two 46-footers, and a 45-footer. It's an exceptionally high-level fleet in which the TP52s will aim for flawless starts to dominate from the first beat, while the rest will rely on their rating to seize any opportunities that emerge behind the "wall" of 52-footers during the windward-leeward races in the Bay of Palma.
Familiar Rivals
The main challengers to Teatro del Soho San Miguel, owned by Javier Banderas with Daniel Cuevas at the helm, and the Spanish Navy's Aifos, led by Admiral Jaime Rodríguez-Toubes, include both new additions and old acquaintances from past seasons. Among them, Tomás Gasset's Urbania, arrives after an excellent performance at the Trofeo de la Reina in Valencia, finishing just behind the Mediterranean's standout team this season: Mauro Gestri's Italian Vudu, winner of both the Sandberg PalmaVela in May and the Trofeo de la Reina.
Also joining the fleet is Arobas2, owned by Frenchman Gérard Logel, who achieved a respectable fourth in the 42nd Copa del Rey MAPFRE.
"We're defending the 2024 title against a powerful fleet of eleven TP52s. We'll do our best to be up to the challenge, and I have great confidence in our crew, we're like a family. That's one of the keys to our team," stated Javier Banderas, owner of Teatro del Soho San Miguel.
New Brazilian and American Rivals
Several strong non-European teams have also joined the battle for the Copa del Rey MAPFRE podium. These include Brazilians Alizée by Caballo Loco, owned by Mauro Dottori and Eduardo Plass' Crioula IV. Also, representing the New York Yacht Club, David Team's Vesper has joined the fleet.
Also making its debut in Palma is Bonfiglio Mariotti's Italian Blue, a regular on the Adriatic circuit who is a contender for the continental title.
The Main Favourite
One team not to lose sight of is French Spirit of Malouen XI, skippered in this edition by Stéphane Névé. The team arrives in Palma fresh off a second-place finish at the TP52 World Championship, missing the title by just one point. Racing as Paprec at the 52 Super Series in Cascais earlier this July, the team also won the Sandberg PalmaVela in 2021 and now arrives at the Copa del Rey MAPFRE in top form.
The full list of entries for the ABANCA ORC 0 class is available at www.regatacopadelrey.com