A competitive edge for the ORC 0 Class in the Copa del Rey

The 42nd Copa del Rey MAPFRE is just one month away, and following the final team registration deadline on 15th June, the different classes are beginning to denominate the favourites.

“Aifos” will be looking for a second title as a team, and their first Cup win with their skipper, H.M King Felipe, whilst Javier Banderas’ “Teatro Soho-Altavista” winner of the ORC2 class in 2023, takes a leap in the class with Toni Guiu’s TP52.

The other great favourite is Tomas Gasset’s “Urbania,” who are looking to endorse their title from the last edition of PalmaVela as they line up against the rest of the fleet, which includes French team Gerard Logel’s IRC 52 “Arobas,” Alfred Paulsen’s German team “Enma” (Swan 60) and Lothar Geilen’s “Segelbar” (Solaris 50).

The ORC 0 class is sponsored by “Watches of Switzerland” who lend their name to the class, the biggest boats in the event, and with 120 teams entered.

Javier Banderas, co-skipper and sailor on board “Teatro Soho-Altavista,” looked back at the last 27 editions of the competition,

“We have been competing in the Copa del Rey MAPFRE since 1997 and have raced in all kinds of boats and classes, both in real and compensated time. This year we are moving from ORC 2 to ORC 0, which is a challenge for us, as it is the first time competing in this group.” Banderas also respectfully referred to the high level of the class by adding, “We hope the change will be a good one, and we can get back on the podium.”

Skipper of “Urbania” Tomas Gasset described the 42nd edition of the event,

“It is the climax of the season, and all the teams work hard to get to Mallorca in the best possible shape. This year the ORC 0 class presents one of its most exciting and competitive editions in recent years.”

Gasset highlighted, “the level of the fleet and its crews is extremely high, so we are in for a really good show.” The Urbania skipper, concluded by saying, “we have worked very hard and with great humility to consolidate a sound team and are getting ready to fight and be up at the front.”

Admiral Jaime Rodríguez-Toubes from the Spanish Navy’s “Aifos” explained,

“We will continue in the ORC class with the same boat as in previous seasons and even with the same sails, yet even higher spirits.” Rodríguez-Toubes added, “We hope that we will be able to race with the same crew as last year.”

Manu Fraga, director of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE, spoke of the competitive edge of the Watches of Switzerland ORC 0 class,

“We believe that this class will be one where podium positions are not decided until the very last race.” He concluded by mentioning the spectacular show of big boat sailing, “Along with the ClubSwan 50 they will be the largest boats in the event, which also adds extra excitement for spectators, particularly at the race starts and with the very close, impressive manoeuvres made by boats of this size.”