The Offshore Race sets off on Saturday with over thirty boats at the start line

The Real Club Náutico de Palma is all set to launch the 20th edition of PalmaVela, one of its most emblematic events and the first major regatta in the Mediterranean calendar. For the fourth consecutive edition, the competition will kick off with the Offshore Race, which this year sees over thirty boats on the start line.

The Offshore Race is programmed to start at 12:00h in the Bay of Palma and will take the fleet on a course that may vary from between 160 and 225 miles depending on the class and the meteorological conditions. Due to the uncertain nature of the prevision for the race (Saturday’ prediction shows windy and sunny conditions whilst Sunday looks particularly unstable), in today’s skipper’s meeting the Race Committee declared that the definitive course would not be decided until Saturday.

For the largest boats, the first of the two foreseen options would be a total of 225 miles taking them via Cabrera, Formentera, Ibiza and Dragonera before returning once again to the Bay of Palma for their arrival. Whilst in the second option they would race a total of 208 miles along a similar course but without passing Dragonera.

As for the remainder of the fleet there are also two possible courses: the first is 185 miles returning via Ibiza and Formentera and the other 160 via Cabrera, Tagomago and Dragonera.

Four categories and a powerful fleet of over 30 teams on the start line
Close to 40 teams are registered for the Offshore Race among the different ORC and A2 categories which make up the fleet, and it promises some exciting racing. In its fourth edition, the Offshore Race has managed to surpass its participation record, and with a powerful fleet and tight rivalry for the trophy honours.

Teams include Gabriel Medem’s “Aviador”, winner of the last edition in ORC 1, and Juan Lallemand’s “Guaguanco IV” defender of the title in A2 4-5 and recently proclaimed winner of the 200 miles A2 in the ORC B category. The winner of the ORC A category in the legendary Altea regatta will also be present: Rufino Cardo’s “Computer,” and other competitors worthy of mention include national names such as Didac Costa on “Barakah” with Daniel Martín in the A2, Patxi Rivero as skipper of “Calima”, competing in the ORC division, and Joan Balaguer with “Korrigan 4,” who has just claimed a seventh title in the last A2 world championships and will compete in the Offshore Race alongside David Pella.

“It is going to be an interesting and beautiful regatta. I enjoy all kinds of sailing and particularly offshore racing,” explained Didac, “And even more so if the racing takes place in a setting like this one, with some interesting possible courses. The weather is going to be challenging, and that makes it even more exciting.”

Patxi Rivero added, "At this time of year the weather situation in the Baleares is complicated. It originally looked like we would start with quite a lot of wind, but it now appears to be lessening a little, although the tricky part will come later with a rain front followed by areas of calm.”