35th Palamós Optimist Trophy hits 550 entries with a record number of participating countries
by Jaume Soler 21 Jan 01:33 NZDT
12-16 February 2025
34th Palamós Optimist Trophy © Alfred Farré
The 35th International Palamós Optimist Trophy-19 Nations Cup, which will be held from the 12th to the 16th of February, closed the registrations a few days ago after the maximum quota of 550 boats was completed. This year it will also have a record 31 participating countries.
The Palamós Optimist Trophy and the Palamós Christmas Race have become a benchmark for the deseasonalisation of nautical-sports tourism in the town and surrounding area, with the arrival of nearly 1000 people, including athletes, trainers and companions.
The Girona regatta has been the largest open water regatta in the world for several years, which makes it an attractive event. In this year's edition, in addition to the Spanish participation, which is traditionally the largest with 175, it is followed in this order by France (109), Switzerland (56), Turkey and the United States (42) and Poland (22). There were also participants from Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Tajikistan, among others.
As for the details of the participation numbers, there will be 364 boys and 186 girls, who will fight together on the same regatta course and in the same conditions to win the absolute trophy and also by male and female categories, as well as in U12 and U13.
The last absolute winner of the Palamós International Optimist Trophy is the reigning Spanish champion and world team champion, the catalan Iker Múgica.
Commitment to sustainability
The Club Nàutic Costa Brava Vela Palamós continues to be committed to the sustainability of the regatta and the environment, maintaining its commitment to the Sailors for the Sea association, with the implementation of actions such as the elimination of plastic materials, allowing participants to refill their water bottles, thus reducing the use of plastic.
The club will also be offering different activities for the public, visits by school children from the city's educational centres, as well as an exhibition of photographs of the Mini Transat regatta, among other events throughout the week of the competition.
Event website: www.palamosoptimisttrophy.org