Mapfre PalmaVela Regatta marks the start of the 2011 Mediterranean sailing season. It is also the first event of 2011 to count towards the Swan Maxi Circuit established by Nautor’s Swan in 2008. The regatta spanning 4 days covered a range of different wind patterns with racing run in the bay of Palma.
The start gun of the Mapfre PalmaVela was fired on April 21st in easterly winds of 14 to 16 knots. The majestic Maxis were one of the first fleets to go on the water where a course of 8,6 nautical miles was set up. Danish Vertical Smile of Peter Lerbrandt signed a fourth and fifth place making him four points away from the podium. This year the focus is on Vertical Smile and the French Swan 601, @robas.
The second day of racing delivered a great show on the water after all the remaining classes joined the competition. The wind allowed a fleet of more than a hundred boats to run all the races previewed for the day in the four racing areas. Quality conditions accompanied this day’s races after an early heavy storm which let the sun come out again right before the fleet left the dock. Races were run in 15 to 20 knots of wind which started blowing from the south-east and shifted to the west by the end of the day.
Day three and the Maxi class completed a coastal race of 41 miles. As happened the day before, the third day of races in Palma started with a heavy early shower which left almost clear skies for the rest of the day. At around 12:15 hours the competing Swan yachts started the coastal races in their respective classes which explored the bay of Palma in southerly average winds of 12 knots and by the end of the day both Swan Maxis were tied on points.
On the last day of racing the regatta set up a coastal course of 14,8 miles for the Maxis, whereas the rest of the classes completed windward-leeward races. The final races of the regatta saw a north easterly 18 – 20 knots for excellent racing conditions. The final Swan Maxi tie broke in favour of Vertical Smile owned by Peter Lerbrandt in an overall 5th place followed by @robas owned by Gérard Logel in 6th.
The 2011 Swan Maxi Circuit now continues throughout the summer with the next event scheduled during May at the Rolex Volcano Race in Gaeta-Capri:
Rolex Volcano Race, Gaeta-Capri 24 - 28 May
Giraglia Rolex Cup, St. Tropez 18 - 25 June
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Porto Cervo 2 - 10 September
The IRC Class at Mapfre PalmaVela also saw Swan entries with further top ten finishes. The Dutch Swan 48, Montrachet, owned by Robert Schuijt finishing the regatta in 5th place and the German Swan 44, Sehkraft, owned by Matthias Maus and Dr Ludger Hanneken taking 6th in the final results.
