Hispania faces the challenge of following Vesper’s Winning Legacy at the Copa del Rey

The TP52 Hispania, the Spanish Navy’s new training boat, will be one of the major attractions at the 44th Copa del Rey Mapfre. Her debut in the Bay of Palma has generated considerable anticipation and immediately presents the team with a double challenge.

The first is purely sporting. Hispania will line up against one of the regatta’s strongest fleets in the Abanca ORC 0 class, where some of the finest TP52s and grand prix yachts on the international circuit will once again compete for victory. The yacht also carries the added pressure of defending the title, as this very same boat won the 2025 Copa del Rey Mapfre under her previous name, Vesper.

The second challenge is living up to the yacht’s own recent history. Skippered by American sailor David Team, Vesper left a lasting impression in Palma thanks to an outstanding performance that saw her dominate the class and claim overall victory in last year’s edition.

Hispania’s first outings under the Spanish Navy flag have already provided reasons for optimism. On her official debut, she narrowly defeated Vithas-Urbania to win the Conde de Godó Trophy, immediately confirming the potential of a project destined to become one of the leading references in Spanish sailing.

This weekend, Hispania will once again face several of the teams she will meet on the Copa del Rey Mapfre starting line when she competes in the SM La Reina Trophy, providing another valuable opportunity to measure her progress ahead of the summer’s main objective in the Bay of Palma.

Manu Fraga, General Manager of Real Club Náutico de Palma and the Copa del Rey Mapfre, welcomed the arrival of the Spanish Navy project: “The arrival of Hispania is excellent news for the 44th Copa del Rey Mapfre. Seeing a Spanish Navy training yacht competing in the highly competitive Abanca ORC 0 class against some of the world’s best TP52s further enhances both the sporting level and the prestige of our regatta.”

Fraga added: “What makes it even more special is that she returns to the Bay of Palma after winning here last year as Vesper. That creates great expectations among both the competing teams and the public. Having the Spanish Navy on the starting line reinforces the international, sporting and maritime character that has defined the Copa del Rey throughout its 44 editions.”

The respect for Hispania extends throughout the fleet. Málaga sailor Iñaki Castañer, sporting director of the TP52 Vithas-Urbania, believes racing against the new project will be one of the season’s biggest challenges: “We were already aware of her potential after last season and her Copa del Rey Mapfre victory. This year we had the opportunity to race against her at the Conde de Godó Trophy, and she proved to be an exceptionally tough competitor. For me, it also has a special meaning, as this season marks 40 years since I completed my military service with the Spanish Navy Sailing Commission. It’s a real pleasure to compete once again against a yacht carrying the name Hispania, a true symbol of the Navy at that time.”

Catalan sailor Toni Guiu, owner of the TP52 Blue Carbon—winner of the 2024 Copa del Rey Mapfre—shares the same view, believing Hispania’s arrival goes far beyond the sporting aspect: “Hispania is much more than just another boat on the Copa del Rey starting line. It represents a fantastic opportunity for Spain to regain prominence in top-level sailing, something our sport really needs. We need projects capable of developing crews, building experience and competing at the highest international level. Hispania is a major step in that direction.”

Guiu concluded: “As rivals aboard Blue Carbon, racing against a boat of this calibre will be a real challenge. But beyond the competition itself, Spanish sailing as a whole benefits whenever more national projects are fighting for the top positions.”