The 22nd edition of the Sandberg PalmaVela concluded without any races on its final day due to adverse weather conditions, thereby confirming the standings from the penultimate day in an event that brought together the elite of international sailing.
The decisive day began with uncertain weather forecasts, forcing the Race Committee to move up the schedule in the hope of taking advantage of a window of wind. However, a storm coming from Ibiza hit the Bay of Palma earlier than expected, preventing any races from taking place.
Chief Official Gaspar Morey explained that the technical team had tried to optimize the schedule: the initial forecast had allowed for a possible morning race, but the early arrival of the storm front thwarted any attempt to hold the race.
‘Rose’ dominates the premier class
In the IMA/IRC category, reserved for the largest boats, the German yacht ‘Rose’, owned by Sven Wackerhagen and skippered by Andreu Juan, claimed victory after a strong performance that included four race wins.
Skipper Jesper Radich highlighted the fleet’s high level of performance and competitiveness against rivals such as ‘Tilakkhana II,’ securing a hard-fought victory in challenging conditions.
‘No Way Back’ and ‘Formula X’ stand out in their respective categories
Pieter Heerema’s TP52 ‘No Way Back’ cemented its lead with an eight-point advantage, demonstrating consistency in one of the most competitive classes on the circuit.
Meanwhile, the Spanish yacht ‘Formula X,’ built by David Green and skippered by Rodrigo Sanz, took first place in the ORC 2 class. The crew celebrated the victory all the more because it marked the boat’s competitive debut, bolstering their hopes for the upcoming Copa del Rey de Vela.
A wide range of winners across the fleet
The diversity of classes once again took center stage at PalmaVela, with many teams standing out:
‘Hyatt Hydra Youth’ (Óscar Chaves) won in ORC 3
‘Just the Job’ (Scott Beattie) won again in ORC 4-5
‘Abracadabra’ (Mark Sadler) took the lead in the ORC Sportboat class
‘Mia Gioia’ and ‘Guaguanco IV’ dominated the ORC A2 class
‘Flight of Durgan’ won the Espíritu de Tradición
‘Jupiter’ and ‘Femme Fatale’ triumphed in the one-design classes
In addition, ‘Ino Veritas’ (ORC 0) and ‘Nola’ (ORC 1) went into the final day with the title already secured.
An edition marked by international participation
The 22nd edition of Sandberg PalmaVela brought together more than 1,400 sailors and nearly 100 boats, competing in 13 classes and representing some 20 nationalities.
The regatta thus solidifies its position as one of the major events on the Mediterranean calendar, standing out both for its high level of competition and the technical complexity of its courses.
