The regatta was presented this morning at the Club Marítimo de Mahón. The president of the Consell Insular de Menorca has revealed that it has an economic impact of five million euros. The attractive scenery of Mahón and the organisational solvency of the CMM, the keys to its success. The fleet will be made up of 45 boats from 10 countries.

The Copa del Rey Repsol de Barcos de Epoca (Repsol Vintage Yachts King's Cup) has officially cast off this midday at the Club Marítimo de Mahón (CMM) to celebrate its twentieth anniversary, consecrated as one of the great Mediterranean classic sailing events and the annual sporting event with the greatest impact on the island of Menorca.

The event, held at the headquarters of the organising entity, was attended by the president of the Consell Insular de Menorca, Adolfo Vilafranca; the mayor of Mahón, Héctor Pons; the president of the Club Marítimo de Mahón, Basilio Ferrer; the head of Repsol's maritime division in the Balearic Islands, Fernando Pérez Gavilán, and the regatta's director, Nacho Marra.

The competition will start tomorrow, 28th August, with the presence of 45 boats from 10 nations that bear witness to the recreational and sporting naval tradition of the 20th century, and with some of the most valuable jewels of international maritime heritage. Most of them are already moored in the port of Mahón, finalising their preparations to compete in the waters surrounding the largest natural harbour in the Mediterranean.

Basilio Ferrer, president of the CMM, is aware that the beauty of the Menorcan coast is one of the main attractions of the Copa del Rey Repsol de Barcos de Epoca, but not the only one; there is also the prestige of a fully consolidated brand and an organisational capacity beyond any doubt. ‘We have reached 20 editions in very good health, which is proof of the good work of this club. Every year we achieve a high level of participation and quality, which allows us to form part of the Mediterranean classic sailing circuit and put the name of the city on the world map. We are proud of the work we have done and very grateful for the support of the Consell Insular de Menorca, the Mahón Town Hall, our sponsor Repsol and all the Menorcan companies that make this great regatta possible’, said Ferrer during the presentation ceremony.

The president of the Consell Insular de Menorca, Adolfo Vilafranca, praised the work carried out by the CMM as organiser of the Copa del Rey Repsol and highlighted its important economic impact. ‘It is a luxury for Menorcans to have the Club Marítimo de Mahón and a regatta that last year generated an impact of five million euros for the city,’ Vilafranca said.

Héctor Pons, Mayor of Mahón, declared that ‘events such as the Repsol Vintage Yachts King's Cup reinforce the collaboration between the port and the city of Mahón’ and emphasised the ‘involvement’ of the CMM, ‘a centenary entity that is an example for the city and that manages to bring together efforts, wills and, above all, illusions that are poured into this regatta’.

The representative of the main sponsor was proud to be part of the Copa del Rey. ‘It is an honour for Repsol to sponsor this event, which stands out for its good organisation and which is so carefully preserved by the Club Marítimo de Mahón’, said Fernando Pérez, who added: “We will be with the club and its regatta until the end”.

Finally, Nacho Marra, emphasised the quality of the fleet gathered this year: ‘We have managed for the first time to welcome seven Big Boats to our regatta, something unheard of in the twenty editions we have held. I have no doubt that the 45 participants will put on a great show and we are confident that the weather conditions will be ideal for this to happen’.

MEDITERRANEAN CIRCUIT

For the third year, the Copa del Rey is part of the Mediterranean Champions Cup circuit, along with Les Régates Royales, Vele d'Epoca di Imperia, Argentario Sailing Week, Les Voiles d'Antibes and the Illes Balears Clàssics, organised by the Club de Mar Mallorca.

As in most of these events, the fleet is divided into five categories, in accordance with the rules of the International Mediterranean Committee. Boats built before 1950 are considered Vintage and are grouped according to whether their rigging is Cangreja (trapezoidal) or Bermudian (triangular). From that date until the end of the 1970s, the boats fall into the Classic division. The Spirit of Tradition and the Big Boats, large sailing boats, complete the fleet.

PROGRAMME

The XX Copa del Rey Repsol has officially begun on 27 August, with the opening of the Race Office, the measurement of the boats and the registration of participants. This afternoon, the skippers' meeting will take place. The races will be held, with one per day and scheduled to start at 12.30 p.m., from tomorrow until the 31st of August. On the last day, at 19.30 hours, the official trophy ceremony will take place.