(Palma de Mallorca, Spain)- 116 boats, 1,000 sailors, 16 represented
countries and 15 divisions make up the impressive line-up of the 2012
Mapfre PalmaVela regatta, the principal opening event for the 2012
sailing season on the Mediterranean. During the four next days, 15
divisions will be competing on four race areas distributed throughout
the bay of Palma, probably one of the world's most famous sailing areas.
The
J/80 fleet will have nineteen teams and will feature the participation
of Olympic champion and winner of the last edition of the Copa del Rey
Audi Mapfre, José María van der Ploeg at the helm of GREAT SAILING as
well as past winner of the PalmaVela, Carlos Martínez sailing MAPFRE.
Sure to give them a good-ole fashioned run-for-the-money will be Gary
Kamins and crew (Jay Lutz) from California YC and Houston, TX.In the ORC fleet will be the J/145 ACE sailed by Fred Stelle that has on-board a great crew, including J/Boats designer Rod Johnstone. Since they're the "small boat" in a big-boat class, life could be interesting chasing down the big-boys when the sea-breeze builds on a choppy, wavy bay off Palma. For more PalmaVela sailing information
