Following a fiercely competitive day, the 25th edition of the Trofeo S.M. La Reina – 36th edition of the Copa Almirante Marcial Sánchez-Barcáiztegui and ORC Sportboat European Championship, organised by the Real Club Náutico de Valencia (RCNV), are set for a thrilling conclusion on Sunday.
Saturday's races were held across the Alpha, Bravo, and Charly courses, with sailors giving their all on the water. The day began with 8-9 knots of wind, increasing to 13 knots from the East.
Milu’4, Este 24 skippered by Andrea Pietrolucci, remains the ORC SportBoat European Championship leader. Lisa R, a Ker 46 owned by Giovanni di Vincenzo, has been dominating the ORC 0 class with an impressive streak, winning all five races. The team has shown exceptional performance throughout the competition, standing as the only boat across all classes to achieve such a feat. In ORC 1, Swan 42 Elena Nova of Christian Plump, continues to hold the lead firmly.
The overall provisional class leaders are Lisa R (Ker 46, ORC 0), Elena Nova (Swan 42, ORC 1), Katara by Ready Set Go (PG390, ORC 2), Mon de L’Ona II (Vroljik 37, ORC 3), Enewtec (First 34.7, ORC 4), Milu’4 (Este 24, ORC Sportboat).
ORC SPORTBOAT Class - MUSTO
Milu’4 (Este 24) of Andrea Pietrolucci, maintained the lead in the ORC Sportboat European Championship with a first and a third place, discarding an eighth place from Thursday to total eight points. Sos Mar Menor (Sonar 23), skippered by José Antonio Anton Olmos, matched this with a second and a first place, also totalling eight points. Emilio Azorfa's Pinto Tercero (GP26), is in third place with 16 points after recording third place and discarding an eighth.
ORC 0 Class - MERCEDES VALDISA
Lisa R (Ker 46), owned by Giovanni di Vincenzo, continued its strong performance, adding three first places on Saturday to the two from Friday, leading with four points after a discard. Aifos (TP52) of the Spanish Navy had a good day with a 2-3-2 series, discarding a fifth place to total ten points in second place. Pablo Garriga's Tenaz (Swan 50) is in third with 11 points after a fifth, a second, and discarding a sixth place.
ORC 1 Class - VARADERO VALENCIA
German Elena Nova (Swan 42) of Christian Plump leads ORC 1 with five points after winning the first and third races on Saturday and discarding a fifth place. Tiburón (DK 46), skippered by Julio Hidalgo, is second with nine points, having recorded two third places and discarding a seventh. Estonian Katarina II (Swan 42) of Aivar Tuulberg is in third with ten points, scoring two seconds and discarding a fourth.
ORC 2 Class - ROYAL BLIS
The Argentinian boat Katara by Ready Set Go (PG390) of Hermógenes and Diego Barcia leads ORC 2 with seven points after a 3-2-1 series on Saturday and discarding a fourth place. Saetta III-ProalVientos.N. (Grand Soleil 40) by Javier Maestre is second with eight points after a 2-1 series, discarding a fifth place. Francisco Javier Sabiote's Ebury - Foster Swiss (Grand Soleil 40), is third with 11 points.
ORC 3 Class - MSC
Mon de L’Ona II (Vrolijk 37) of Ramón Cañellas leads ORC 3 with seven points after a 3-2-2 series, discarding the third place. Andrés Manresa’s Falapouco (JPK 10.80) made a remarkable comeback with three first places on Saturday, totalling ten points. Tanit IV - Medilevel (Grand Soleil 37) of María José Vila is in third with 15 points after recording a 2-1 series on Friday and a 6-6-7 series on Saturday, discarding the seventh place.
ORC 4 Class - OCCIDENT
The defending champion, Ingeniería y Nueva Tecnología 2004's Enewtec (First 34.7), leads ORC 4 Class with four points after winning three races on Saturday and discarding a second place. Lassal (Italia 9.98) by Gonzalo Calvo is second with seven points after two second places and discarding a fifth. Guillermo Ponzinibbio’s Orballo Uno (Dufour 34) is third with 13 points after a 4-2-3 series.
The Trofeo SM La Reina’s racing schedule kicked off on June 28 with a challenging 160-nautical-mile offshore race. The Offshore race was won by M10 ZAS C&R, skippered by José Luis Francés, owned by Carlos and José Francés representing the RCN of Valencia.
The XXV Trofeo S.M. La Reina is part of the Mediterranean Sailing Circuit, along with the PalmaVela Regatta organized by the RCN Palma and the Conde de Godó BMW Sailing Trophy organized by the RCN Barcelona.
The day also featured the traditional Owners' Dinner, where Balearic photographer Nico Martínez received the RCNV Nautical Communication Award, and a tribute was paid to Admiral Marcial Sánchez-Barcaíztegui.