This Thursday the first day of the 20th edition of PalmaVela was held, a test of the Real Club Náutico de Palma that embraces in the same regatta different ways of competing in sailing, and which has had meteorological conditions marked by winds that have reached over 46 kilometers per hour.
The multiclass event, which opens the Mediterranean racing calendar, began this Thursday with the dispute of the first two tests for the Maxi class, which brings together five large lengths: the WallyCento V and Galateia, the Wally Rose, the Farr 30 Leopard 3 and the J Class Svea, almost 44 meters in length and the largest in the fleet.
Leopard 3 (3-2) and V (2-3) have swapped places in the two Windward-Leeward races completed by the Maxis, while Galateia has already shown from the start why it is the defending champion from PalmaVela: he has achieved two victories in two races.
One of the reasons for this great performance could be the modifications it has recently undergone, such as the increase of two tons of water ballast and the weight reduction in the bulb to compensate precisely for this increase.
Another explanation is that it has David Leuschen at the helm and the award-winning Simon Fisher in its ranks. “It has been an exciting first day after a winter in which we have done an important ‘refit’ to the boat,” said the latter, referring to said modifications. “We went out with the plan to warm up and see that everything is correct, but we managed to be competitive and win both rounds,” he added, showing his surprise with the performance shown.
Likewise, he also had good words for the city and the event: “It is the home of this ship and many of the crew have sailed here for many years. It is always nice to sail in a familiar place that always provides really good sailing conditions,” she said.
With this great performance of the Galateia, the Leopard 3 and the V inaugurate this 20th PalmaVela in provisional second and third place, respectively. For its part, in fourth place, four points off the podium, is Svea, from the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS). Tied on points, and closing the overall Maxis ranking, the German Rose appears, built in 2006 and skippered by Ben Potter.
Also this Thursday in Palma, the TP52 fleet has closed its first test of the 2024 season of the 52 Super Series. The Turkish team Provezza started from fifth place overall and caused a surprise by taking the title. The Americans Quantum Racing and Interlodge were second and third.
