Top ranked Irish Olympic sailor Annalise Murphy is back in European action on Saturday as part of a four boat Irish team competing at the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre, to be sailed in the Bay of Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
It's another important marker on the road to the London Olympics in 100 days time and Annalise will be anxious to put in a strong performance against her arch rivals, current world champion Marit Boumeester of Holland and Evi Van Acker of Belgium.
900 sailors from 53 nations will take part at the 43 Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre, to be sailed in the Bay of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, from 31 March to 7 April.
Competing alongside Annalise is also London qualified Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern in the 49er dinghy as well as 470 pairing Ger Owens and Scott Flannigan and Laser singlehander James Espey, both still seeking a last chance of Olympic qualification.
The opening of a free access village for all sailing enthusiasts to follow the racing and as meeting point for all sailors and participants, located at leisure centre Pabisa Beach Club in Playa de Palma and the extension of the racing programme with an official training day are the main novelties presented today at the main sponsor's headquarters in Palma.
The presentation act has been presided over by Javier Morente, Sports General Manager of the Govern de les Illes Balears; Fernando Gilet, Sports and Cultures councillor of Palma City Council; Rafael Lleonard, Vice president of the Federación Balear de Vela; Gabriel Dolç, president of Club Nàutic S'Arenal; Javier Sanz, president of Real Club Náutico de Palma; Juan Antonio Cardona, president of Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa; José Antonio Continente; regional manager of Mapfre in Baleares, and Ferran Muniesa, general manager of the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mapfre.
A tasting of the new Sofia Mapfre
"We have already introduced some novelties in this edition that will mark the future of the regatta", explained during the presentation act the spokesperson of the Sofia Mapfre. The new regatta's social centre and the inclusion of the official training day are the first changes put to the test this year and that will serve as a tasting of the new Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mapfre we will be seeing from 2013, with its inclusion in the renewed ISAF Sailing World Cup.
This Olympic and Paralympic sailing circuit was formed up to now by five European events, one in the US and another one in Australia. With the objective of having a more global concept, the International Sailing Federation has extended it to Asia and Africa and has cut down to two the European events included. After a fierce battle against strong European candidates, the Sofia Mapfre and the Semaine Olimpique Française were selected as the two European venues of the new 2013 and 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup.
In words of the Sofia Mapfre general manager, this selection confirms the regatta is part of the world elite: "We continue to be a point of reference. Our regatta, because the Sofia is our regatta, it belongs to all of us, is one of the top five regattas in the world. We must be proud of this achievement, attained thanks to everyone: the organising clubs, our sponsors and the media for your coverage".
"I would like to congratulate publicly all those who participated in the Sofia Mapfre bid for the ISAF Sailing World Cup and thank the support of Mapfre, a company that has just very well deservedly been selected as best sponsor company of the year by the Real Federación Española de Vela", added Muniesa.
"We are very proud to sponsor this regatta because it exalts the values of effort, preparation, acknowledgment of work well done, the will to succeed and perseverance which are also linked to Mapfre, and this is why we will continue to and guarantee our support for many years", stated José Antonio Continente.
An edition marked by London 2012
The 43 Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre, first European stop of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, will be covered with Olympic colours. After last year's long sailing season which started in spring and ended at the ISAF World Championships in Perth (Australia), the Mallorca regatta marks the beginning of the countdown to the Olympics. For many it is the first big event of the season in which the progress made by sailors and their rivals during the winter trainings will be put to the test.
The fact of being an Olympic year is shown by the number of International Olympic teams training since January in Mallorca as winter training base. Club Nàutic S'Arenal has hosted 314 sailors and 37 technical staff from 31 nations from all around the world in its Arenal Training Camps.
Nine classes in action
Nine classes (49er, 470 M, 470 W, Finn, Laser Standard, Laser Radial, Star, Women Match Racing and 2.4mR) will meet in Mallorca over Easter at the first European stop of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, following the regattas in Melbourne and Miami.
The Laser Standard and Laser Radial fleets will be based at Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa. Club Nàutic S'Arenal will be the venue for the 470 M, 470 W, 49er and Finn. Real Club Náutico de Palma will be host to Olympic keelboat classes Star and Women's Match Racing while Paralympic class 2.4mR will be based at Escuela de Vela Calanova.
New social events programme
The 43 Trofeo Sofia Mapfre also presents a new social events programme to take place at the new village located at Pabisa Beach Club. The closing event scheduled on Friday 6 is the big party of this edition but it will also be accompanied by other smaller events. For instance, on the last day, there will be the unique opportunity to follow the Medal Races live from this exclusive leisure premises located on the seafront, halfway between Club Nàutic S'Arenal and Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, two of the Organising Clubs together with Real Club Náutico de Palma and Escuela de Vela Calanova.
