Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca, Olympic Sailing's 'happy place'
by Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofía 15 Feb 00:42 NZDT
28 March - 5 April 2025
Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca trophy © Sailing Energy / Trofeo Sofía Mallorca
Since it started out in 1968 as a Dragon class regatta organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma, the Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca has continued to evolve, incorporating new classes, formats and organizers to become the most unmissable event on the itineraries of the best sailors of each Olympic quadrennial.
The Sofia and its participants is a very special event which reaches its 54th anniversary at the beginning of next spring.
The Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca will mark its 54th edition from March 28th to April 5th, seeing the bay of Palma become the de facto center of the world Olympic sailing. Its status as a benchmark regatta inked early into the diaries of athletes aspiring to Olympic glory is the result of half a century of work, commitment and dedication by its organizers, as well as the loyalty of international sailors who return to Mallorca year after year to enjoy an event in which they say always feel at home in their 'happy place'.
In its current format, the giant regatta is open to the ten medal disciplines that will compete in Los Angeles 2028, and is held under the joint organization of the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP), the Club Nàutic S'Arenal (CNA), the Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa (CMSAP), the Real Federación Española de Vela (RFEV) and the Federación Balear de Vela (FBV). But its origins are due to a club and a class.
"The event was born in 1968 on the initiative of the RCNP for the Dragon class, which was an Olympic mixed discipline," explains Manu Fraga, manager of the Palma club. "In 1974, H.R.H. Princess Sofia asked to expand the fleet by incorporating the Finn, 470, Soling -participants in the Olympic cycle of Montreal 1976-, Snipe, 420 and Europa classes. To make this possible, we began to collaborate with the CNA, the CMSAP and the Club de Mar Mallorca (CMM). That edition turned it into the multi-class regatta it is today, and was won by a 470, the oldest boat on the current Olympic medal roster which is still competing at the Sofia".
Just as the 470 is still part of the Sofia fleet, the founding club maintains its relationship with the regatta, as Fraga points out: "In all these years, the Trofeo Princesa Sofia has evolved and consolidated itself as one of the most important regattas in the international calendar. And the RCNP's commitment to this event has been a constant for more than half a century, demonstrating our passion for sailing and our ability to organize top-level events. We have witnessed how this regatta has boosted the development of the sport of sailing in our country and has contributed to position Mallorca as a world reference in nautical competitions".
A trophy plinth inscribed with the names of dozens of legends
The base of the trophy engraved with the names of the overall winner includes renowned athletes who stood out among the best of their era; many of them would go on to become Olympic champions. The last single-class edition, in 1973, was won by the then Prince Juan Carlos, who formed a crew with Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba and Félix Gancedo. Since its transformation into a multi-class regatta, the trophy has gone to many legends of the sport: names like Marit Bouwmeester (2014 champion in Laser Radial), Sir Ben Ainslie (2011 in the Finn), Alessandra Sensini (2010 in the RS:X), Blanca Manchón (2009 in the RS: X), Theresa Zabell and Begoña Vía-Dufresne (1995 in the 470), Natalia Vía-Dufresne (1992 in the Europe), Jordi Calafat and Kiko Sánchez Luna (1989 in the 470), Luis Doreste (1979 in Europe and 1985 with Roberto Molina in 470), Toño Gorostegui and Pedro Millet (1976 in 470),... Or Santiago Lange, who won the 1986 and 1987 editions together with Miguel Saubidet in the Snipe class.
"To get to Europe was a lot, and to be able to win a regatta like this was impressive for us," recalls the Argentine star Lange. "The Snipe was not Olympic then, but I keep those victories in my memory as one of those historic moments in my sporting career."
Having participated in "about 36 editions", Lange is something of an authoritative voice to explain the constant appeal of Olympic sailing at the Mallorcan regatta: "The Sofia is special because it always took care of the sailors, always wanted to grow, and that is very noticeable. For those of us who found it difficult to get to Europe, the Sofia always opened its doors wide to us. In its beginnings, with the Navy ships that took our boats for free, accommodation and food came with the registration,... It was always noticeable that the important thing for the organization was that the participants enjoyed themselves. To that we of course sail on the wonderful bay of Palma and the social spirit that Spain has. It is an incredible tournament, and it is no coincidence that it is becoming more and more important in the Olympic calendar".
The feeling is mutual, as Jaime Carbonell points out from the Princess Sofia Trophy Mallorca: "Every year we feel the affection of the participants, their coaches and the federations of the different countries that visit us, who understand and value the effort and dedication invested by so many people who feel part of the regatta. That the Sofia is known as 'the sailors regatta' is the best proof of a requited love".
The 54 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca is part of the Sailing Grand Slam 2025 along with the Semaine Olympique Française, the Dutch Water Week, the Kieler Woche and the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta.
More information at www.trofeoprincesasofia.org and at www.sailinggrandslam.com.