Capture: Tita and Banti overall winners Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca
April 2022 – Nacra Sailing – Palma de Mallorca, Spain
In the great venue of Palma de Mallorca, the 51st edition of the Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca was held during various conditions of which some very windy days.
Overall title
The Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca is unique among major multi-class Olympic regattas in delivering an overall winner. This year’s winners are our own Nacra 17 Mixed Multihull Olympic gold medallists Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti (ITA), who took the overall title from Palma as well as dominating the complete fleet – especially their own division, the Nacra 17 catamaran.
The winner is the boat with the lowest average points after dividing the total points in the regatta series by the number of races completed (including any discard). The Italians won a cool 9 of their 13 races, convincing overall winners.
Upwind Foiling In The Nacra 17?
Next they have set a new standard for fast upwind performance in the foiling Nacra 17 catamaran, but say they have only just begun. Best of the rest and taking the silver medal were Sinem Kurtbay and Akseli Keskinen (FIN), with John Gimson and Anna Burnet (GBR) in bronze.
New rudder rake system
Peter Vink, CEO of Nacra Sailing, comments: “Congratulations Tita and Banti and what power you showed once again! This was a great start of the racing season for Nacra Sailing with all the new rudder rake systems installed and getting the first very positive feedback on the systems. It is exciting to see how quickly the teams adapt to a new way of flying – even upwind!”
A new way of upwind sailing
Whereas the rudder rakes had to be set in place before the race, now in the post-Tokyo 2020 era it’s possible to adjust the rudder rakes while racing. Teams are rigging control systems to allow movement of the rudder rakes, and crucially the elevator angle of attack, so they can move the rudders in parallel or even differentially while racing.
Where the last Olympic cycle was all about mastering the on-the-edge skill of downwind foiling, this new development could bring in a new era of upwind foiling. “It’s like sailing a new boat,” says the Rio 2016 Olympic Champion, Santiago Lange from Argentina.
Hempel World Cup Series
With the Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca concluded as the exciting opening event of the Hempel World Cup Series, it’s time to look forward to the next event – on Nacra Sailing’s home turf: The Allianz Regatta in the Netherlands. The regatta will be situated in two locations near Amsterdam, with the 10 fleets split across Almere and Lelystad. Three-time ILCA 6 Olympic medallist Marit Bouwmeester (NED) is the tournament ambassador. “The Allianz Regatta has been a leading European Olympic sailing event since 1985,” said the 2012 Olympic Champion. “We want to continue this ambition at this new location. Of course, we are also proud to have the World Cup status of World Sailing. I won’t be racing this year because of my pregnancy, but I’m delighted to be involved as an ambassador for the participants and the fans.” The 49erFX World Champion Odile van Aanholt said: “I’m looking forward to racing everyone on my home waters. It’s a good area of flat water, quite shifty and gusty, so it will be super-challenging for skiff racing. It will be great fun.”
The regatta takes place from 31 May to 5 June, and you betcha Nacra will be there in full force.
Want to try?
Nacra Sailing is dealing with the massive interest for the new rudder rake system and systems are now delivered worldwide. Want to try it out? Visit our website or webshop and order yours, or contact Nacra Sailing for further information.
