Palma is gearing up for its biggest sailing week of the year. From Saturday, August 1 through Saturday, August 8, the 44th Copa del Rey Mapfre will bring together more than 100 boats from some 20 countries in the bay, with King Felipe VI a regular presence at the regatta, where he will compete at the helm of the Hispania (winner of the 2025 edition under the name Vesper).
The nearly 1,000 sailors participating this year make this 44th edition one of the most competitive. Weather forecasts point to a week marked by the typical summer thermal wind known as the “embat.” It begins to pick up around midday (noon or early afternoon) as the land heats up and subsides at sunset, with an average speed of 10 to 12 knots—perfect for the fleet’s technical races.
On the occasion of the great nautical event of the Mediterranean, Nautik will host an exclusive welcome cocktail on August 1st, bringing together entrepreneurs, executives, opinion leaders and friends of the magazine at a privileged enclave in Mallorca. The gathering will mark the starting gun for one of the most anticipated weeks of the summer on the island, becoming the meeting point where the worlds of business, lifestyle and yachting come together.
The evening will be sponsored by QUALITY CENTER LAND ROVER, a brand that shares with Nautik values such as excellence, innovation, a spirit of adventure and a passion for living unique experiences. Its presence as main partner will reinforce the premium character of the event, offering guests the chance to discover the Land Rover universe up close in a setting where design, networking and lifestyle will be the great protagonists.
The cocktail will take place at Saltao de Mar, Azotea Grupo’s new restaurant in Mallorca — a space that fuses Peruvian cuisine with Mediterranean essence and has become one of the season’s most notable gastronomic openings.
More than a social event, this gathering aims to become the great unofficial welcome to regatta week, bringing together a carefully curated selection of guests for an evening where personal connections, meaningful conversations and the celebration of the Mediterranean lifestyle will mark the beginning of a few unique days on the island.
For its part, the Copa del Rey Mapfre organizing committee has released the details of the tournament’s official schedule. Here are the events no one should miss.
Saturday, August 1. Kickoff. The day begins with the official presentation and the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony in the Sala Magna of the Real Club Náutico de Palma, the event that marks the official start of the regatta.
Sunday, August 2. Movie night at the club. At 8:30 p.m., the main terrace of the Real Club Náutico de Palma will host the premiere of the documentary *Cáscara de Nuez*, directed by Miguel Ángel Tobías. The film chronicles the journey of thirteen people (eleven of whom had no prior sailing experience and did not know each other) across 3,700 miles of the Atlantic.
Monday, August 3. Welcome cocktail party. Shipowners, sponsors, guests, and members of the media gather in the gardens of the Hotel de Mar Gran Meliá, with the Bay of Palma as a backdrop.
From Tuesday, August 4, through Friday, August 7. The regattas will take place on these days:
- They start at 11:00.
- The teams compete for every mile and every race as they vie for the title in three one-design classes (ClubSwan 50, ClubSwan 42, and Women’s Cup Class) and six handicap classes (five ORC classes and the Maxi class).
- The race course is located in the bay itself and can be viewed from shore, although visibility for each race depends on where the organizers set the course for that day. In any case, the higher the vantage point, the better the view.
Thursday, August 6. Blanco by Mapfre Cocktail Party. A classic event on the terrace and by the pool at the Real Club Náutico de Palma, featuring a live concert with the identity of the guest artist kept secret until the very last moment.
Saturday, August 8. Awards ceremony. The Almudaina Palace hosts the closing ceremony of the 44th edition, presided over by Felipe VI.
