Three champions return to Palma to compete in one of the most competitive editions of the Mapfre King’s Cup. The 44th edition of this sporting event, which will be held from August 1 to 8 in Palma Bay, will bring together three boats that already know what it means to win the main regatta in the Mediterranean. The return of past winners to the Abanca ORC 0 class adds sporting appeal to a competition that continues to consolidate itself as one of the leading international showcases for top-level sailing.
After the close of the first registration period and the completion of the six participating classes, attention now turns to a category that promises to feature some of the week’s most demanding battles. Among the three champions now returning as contenders are the Hispania, the Spanish Navy’s new training ship; the Blue Carbon, a project led by Catalan owner Toni Guiu; and the German Red Bandit, winner of the 2022 edition.
The case of Hispania is especially significant. The yacht won the King’s Cup in 2025 under the name Vesper and is now set to compete in its first major international event since joining the Spanish Navy as a training and institutional representation platform. In addition, King Felipe VI is expected to rejoin the crew during the competition.
Competing alongside it will be Blue Carbon, successor to the project that triumphed in 2024 under the colors of Teatro del Soho-Mahou San Miguel. The team is embarking on a new sporting chapter this season with an X-Yachts 41R, which has already demonstrated its potential after its recent triumph at the Sandberg PalmaVela.
The third contender in the race will be the Red Bandit, owned by German businessman Carl-Peter Forster, one of the top international contenders in the TP52 class. Its return to Palma comes after finishing in the top ten at the last ORC World Championship, a testament to the high level of competition it will once again face in the Balearic waters.
Beyond the symbolism of bringing three legendary winners to the same starting line, the category is set to feature an especially demanding competition. Among the main contenders are the Italian yacht Blue, runner-up in last year’s edition, and the Maltese yacht Vudu, the current ORC world vice-champion and one of the strongest entries on the international circuit.
The list of candidates also includes Tomás Gasset‘s Vithas-Urbania, which enters the race with the momentum of a consistent season, having finished second in the Trofeu Conde de Godó and delivered an exceptional performance at the World Championships. Rounding out the group of favorites are the Brazilian Caballo Loco and the French Guénifey.
For the Royal Yacht Club of Palma, the regatta’s organizer, this concentration of talent confirms the status of the Mapfre King’s Cup as a flagship event on the international calendar. “The fact that three previous winners are competing in the Abanca ORC 0 class speaks for itself about the prestige of the competition and the sporting success of winning in Palma Bay,” says the club’s general manager, Manu Fraga.
The simultaneous presence of former champions, projects backed by some of Europe’s most competitive organizations, and boats coming off excellent results on the international circuit points to one of the most open and demanding editions in recent years, further consolidating Palma’s role as one of the Mediterranean’s premier centers for competitive sailing.
