TOMORROW THE BEST REGATTA OF THE MEDITERRANEAN STARTS:
THE COPA DEL REY – AGUA BRAVA
[ 7-27-2003 / 16:46 ]

In this new edition of the Copa del Rey – Agua Brava, there are a lot of conjectures about the favourites. In these previous days before the competition and with the first trainings and preparations, everybody see some possibility to win the Copa del Rey – Agua Brava 2003.

In IMS 500, the Caixa Galicia shows its recent supremacy, and in the regattas of this year has almost reached a triumph by participation. For this Copa, the Caixa Galicia will be under the command of Roberto Bermúdez and Dee Smith. However, in these days of regattas this boat will be “controlled” by its twin boat: the “X-Sport Subaru”, other Gran Soleil 56, that will be sailed by an Italian team and commanded by two assiduous at the Copa, the duo Benussi-Cassinari. This fight can benefit the choices of the “Bribón” of the HM The King and José Cusí, who finally, has reached a great preparation to sail the waters of the Palma de Mallorca Bay. After them, the “Azur de Puig” of the HM Princess Cristina and José María Torcida; the CAM of Fernando Leon and the participation of Prince Felipe; the “Olympus” of Alessandro Pirera and Tommaso Chieffi and the “Banco Espirito Santo” of José Luis Doreste and Laureano Wizner, assure the fight. If the weather conditions allows it, this situation can give choices to the small GS 42 “Balearia” of Toño Gorostegui to reach some triumph in some partial regatta. The new “Codorniu”, a JV-51 will participate for the first time in the competition and is commanded by Manuel Doreste and Jordi Tarré at the helm.

In IMS 600, the things are not so different. Seconds are very valuable and tenths of seconds are capital in the ratings before the Copa del Rey – Agua Brava. Massive arrivals to buoy, with more than 15 boats in a mere 15 seconds, or the exhausting spinnaker lowers in the peaks, will be some of the exciting moments of the different beams in this regatta. There is a very long list of favourites, from the new designs of Marcelino Botín, the G.S. 42: “Zurich”, “Wind”, “Jazztel”, “Italtel”; the “Aifos”(a new Farr 42); “Forum Filatélico” (a B&C 41), and the Rodman 42, the winners of the last Copa del Rey “Telefónica Movistar”, “Husa Hoteles”, “Sandokán”; and finally, the great machine, the “Siemens Mobile”, a Frers 42 recently launched. All of them have small differences of 5 seconds in the ratings, and this promises spectacular arrivals. The small JV 37, “Ono” and “Manatura” are the new unities that have arrived to Palma, having the “responsibility” of defending the lower budgets of the group.

The Copa del Rey – Agua Brava is organized as every year for the last 22 by the Real Club Náutico of Palma which, the last Wednesday, officially opened the extension of its new installations with the presence of the HM the Kings Juan Carlos and Sofia, with all the expectations focused upon the next edition of the America´s Cup and the potential hosting of this major event in Palma de Mallorca.