Champions Awarded at the Trofeo SM La Reina and ORC Sportboat European Championship 2024

 The 25th edition of the Trofeo S.M. La Reina and the 36th edition of the Copa Almirante Marcial Sánchez-Barcáiztegui, alongside the ORC Sportboat European Championship 2024, hosted from June 28 to July 7 by the Real Club Náutico de Valencia (RCNV) in cooperation with the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC), culminated in celebrating the champions today. Sunday's races were held with a 10-knot easterly wind, providing challenging yet favourable conditions.

Lisa R Dominates ORC 0 Class and Overall

Lisa R, a Ker 46 owned by Giovanni di Vincenzo, competing in ORC 0 - Mercedes Valdisa, emerged as the overall champion, securing six first-place finishes out of seven races and only placing second in the final race. The team’s stellar performance solidified their status as champions in the prestigious regatta.

ORC Sportboat European Championship Title Decided by Tiebreak

José Antonio Anton’s team on Sos Mar Menor (Sonar 23) won the ORC Sportboat European Championship title after a dramatic tiebreak.

Class Winners:

ORC 0 – Mercedes Valdisa: Lisa R (Ker 46) - Giovanni di Vincenzo (ITA)

ORC 1 - Varadero Valencia: Elena Nova (Swan 42) - Christian Plump (GER)

ORC 2 - Royal Blis: Katara by Ready Set Go (PG390) - Hermógenes and Diego Barcia (ARG)

ORC 3 - MSC: Mon de L’Ona II (Vrolijk 37) - Ramón Cañellas (ESP)

ORC 4 - Occident: Enewtec (First 34.7) - Ingeniería y Nueva Tecnología 2004 (ESP)

ORC SportBoat - Musto: Sos Mar Menor (Sonar 23) - José Antonio Anton (ESP)

ORC SPORTBOAT Class - MUSTO

Andrea Pietrolucci’s Milu’4 (Este 24), coming into the final day as the leader, scored 4th in the first race and managed to defend their lead before the final race. Christopher John Hunt’s GP26 Gone 2 Pot won the seventh race, narrowly ahead of Sukru Sanus and Zeynep Abatay's Farr 25 Orient Express 6.5. José Antonio Anton’s Sos Mar Menor (Sonar 23) won the final race, tying with Milu’4 at 15 points, securing the ORC Sportboat European Championship title through a tiebreak. Orient Express 6.5 claimed third place on the podium, narrowly beating Emilio Azofra’s GP26 Pinto Tercero.

Stepping onto the podium, José Antonio Antón, the owner of Sonar 23 Sos Mar Menor, said after winning the ORC Sportboat European Championship title, "Winning in Valencia brings immense joy; it has been a great challenge. We didn't secure the final victory until the last day. It was very tough, but we have very positive feelings about everything we experienced."

"Congratulations to all teams on the 2024 ORC Sportboat European Championship podium! Today's results highlight the incredible precision and competitiveness of the race, with the title being decided by mere seconds. The closeness of the corrected times among the top boats is a testament to the effectiveness of the ORC rating system, ensuring fair and exciting competition," said ORC Chief Measurer Zoran Grubisa.

ORC Sportboat European Championship Top Five standings (with one discard): See the results

1. SOS Mar Menor Sonar 23 - José Antonio Anton (ESP) : 7, 2, 2, 1, 2, 1, 6, 1 (15 points)

2. Milu’4 Este 24 - Andrea Pietrolucci (ITA) – Este 24: 8, 1, 1, 2, 1, 3, 4, 3 (15 points)

3. Orient Express 6.5 Farr 25 - Sukru Sanus and Zeynep Abatay (TUR): 2, 8, 5, 3, 4, 4, 2, 2 (22 points)

4. Pinto Tercero GP26 - Emilio Azofra (ESP) : 1, 4, 4, 4, 3, 8, 3, 4 (23 points)

5. SomVela J80 - Jose Martinez (ESP) : 3, 5, 3, 5, 6, 2, 5, 7 (29 points)

ORC 0 Class - MERCEDES VALDISA

On Sunday, Lisa R (Ker 46) started the day with another first-place finish, maintaining a perfect record. Pablo Garriga’s (Swan 50) Tenaz took second place, and Aifos (TP52) of the Spanish Navy finished third. In the final race, Urbania (TP52) of Tomás Gasset won, while Lisa R placed second and Tenaz third.

Final Standings (with one discard):

1. Lisa R (Ker 46, ITA): 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2 (6 points)

2. Tenaz (Swan 50, ESP): 2, 2, 5, 2, 6 (DNF), 2, 3 (16 points)

3. Aifos (TP52, ESP): 5, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3, 4 (17 points)

ORC 1 Class - VARADERO VALENCIA

Mercedes-Benz Valdisa (B&C 46) of Elisabetta Quartaroli won the first race on Sunday. The team from RCN Barcelona outperformed German Christian Plump’s Elena Nova (Swan 42), who maintained the overall lead. Ulika (Swan 45), skippered by Stefano Masi, took third in the first race. Julio Hidalgo’s Tiburón (DK 46) won the final race, with Elena Nova in second and Estonian Katariina II (Swan 42) of Aivar Tuulberg in third.

Final Standings (with one discard):

1. Elena Nova (Swan 42, GER): 1, 1, 1, 5, 1, 2, 2 (8 points)

2. Katariina II (Swan 42, EST): 3, 2, 2, 4, 2, 5, 3 (16 points)

3. Ulika (Swan 45, ITA): 6, 3, 3, 1, 3, 3, 6 (19 points)

ORC 2 Class - ROYAL BLIS

Katara by Ready Set Go (PG390) of Hermógenes and Diego Barcia dominated ORC 2, winning the sixth race. Ebury - Foster Swiss (A 40) of Francisco Javier Sabiote followed but was penalized with an 11 (DSQ). Emilio Guzmán’s Escuela Taboga (BH41) was corrected to second place.

Final Standings (with one discard):

1. Katara by Ready Set Go (PG390, ARG): 4, 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 1 (9 points)

2. Escuela Taboga (BH 41, ESP): 2, 3, 9, 3, 3, 2, 2 (15 points)

3. Saetta III-Proalvientos.N. (Grand Soleil 40 D, ESP): 3, 2, 2, 5, 1, 6, 4 (17 points)

ORC 3 Class - MSC

Mon de L’Ona II (Vrolijk 37) of Ramón Cañellas won the first race on Sunday, followed by TeamTac (Mumm 30) by Gustavo Gastaldi in second, and Antonio J. Romero’s Nemox-Bnfix (X-35) in third. Mon de L’Ona II scored another first place in the final race to secure the overall win. 

Final Standings (with one discard):

1. Mon de L’Ona II (Vrolijk 37, ESP): 1, 2, 3, 2, 1 (RDG), 1, 1 (8 points)

2. Falapouco (Dufour 40, ESP): 7, 7, 1, 1, 1, 6, 6 (22 points)

3. Varicentro-DE6 (Salona 37, ESP): 3, 5, 7, 4, 3, 4, 3 (22 points)

ORC 4 Class - OCCIDENT

Gonzalo Calvo’s Lassal (Italia 9.98) won the first race on Sunday. The overall leader, Enewtec (First 34.7) of Ingeniería y Nueva Tecnología 2004, took second place, and Sergio Durá’s Dax (Dufour 34) finished third. However, Lassal won the final race, falling just one point short of victory.

Final Standings (with one discard):

1. Enewtec (First 34.7, ESP): 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2 (8 points)

2. Lassal (Italia 9.98, ESP): 2, 1, 2, 5, 2, 1, 1 (9 points)

3. Dax (Dufour 34, ESP): 3, 3, 3, 4, 6, 3, 3 (19 points)

The trophies were awarded on Sunday afternoon to the teams who achieved podium finishes in the different categories of one of the most important regattas in national and international sailing.

"This is a special moment for our club. We are in a historic year where we have broken barriers. Thanks to the owners and sailors who come to Valencia year after year to enjoy its wonderful sailing venue," expressed a grateful Marisa Arlandis, president of the Real Club Náutico de Valencia.

The director of the Trofeo SM La Reina, Rafel Chirivella, added, "This has been one of the best editions. We have exceeded in many aspects. This year, there has been a very high level in all categories, and both the weather, the wind, and the race courses have been excellent."

The Trofeo SM La Reina’s racing schedule started 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 organised by the RCN Palma and the Conde de Godó BMW Sailing Trophy organised by the RCN Barcelona.

 The next significant event for the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) is the ORC European Championship 2024, scheduled to take place in Mariehamn, Åland, from August 9 to 17. The final day for registration for this prestigious event is approaching fast, with the deadline set for July 9. Meanwhile, in Spain, the 42nd Copa del Rey MAPFRE is set to begin in just three weeks. Hosted by Real Club Nautico de Palma in Palma de Mallorca, this event will run from July 27 to August 3 on the same waters that will host the 2025 ORC European Championship.