Maó once again offered one of the most spectacular images of classic sailing. The fleet of the 22nd Repsol Copa del Rey Classic Sailing Race set off from the port in groups on Friday to tackle a 14-nautical-mile coastal course, on a day characterized by a moderate northerly wind and a standings that, with only one final race to be sailed, are beginning to take shape. Forty boats from 12 countries sailed to the outskirts of the port of Maó before returning, with a final upwind leg that tested the strategy and performance of these boats, whose beauty is not at odds with the toughness of the competition.
With the decisive day of racing still to come, four of the five titles seem to have already been decided. The Lady Anne has mathematically secured victory in the Large Vessel class, while the Chinook, the Varuna 1939, and the Argos will go into the final day with a lead that puts them on the verge of victory. In the Espíritu de Tradición class, the outcome is even clearer: the Andalucía-Barlovento has achieved three wins in three races and is already the virtual champion of the 22nd Repsol King’s Cup of Classic Sailing.
The Cangreja Era: the NY40 continues to set the pace
The three NY40s were once again the stars of the day. This time it was Rowdy (1916) that took the lead. The boat, designed by Nathanael Herreshoff and owned by Donna Dyer, beat Chinook by 1 minute and 19 seconds on corrected time, a victory that puts it in third place in the overall standings. The victory is especially significant for the boat based at the Royal Palma Yacht Club, which was forced to come from behind after being disqualified on the first day.
In the lead, Paolo Zannoni’s Chinook (1916) once again demonstrated its consistency with a second-place finish, which allowed it to maintain the lead by a comfortable margin. The Marilee (1926), also designed by Herreshoff and sailed by Alessandra Angelini, completed the day’s podium and maintains second place in the overall standings. The key for the leader was precisely this: to keep its closest rival at bay. “We are very happy because today we achieved our goal, which was to keep Marilee at bay; they are second in the overall standings and they are a very strong team,” explains Nando Conerino, Chinook’s mainsail trimmer.
After delivering an extraordinarily consistent performance for three days, Zannoni’s boat faces the final day as the clear favorite for the title. If it maintains the form it has shown so far, the championship will be theirs. Further back, the Gipsy (1927), owned by the Spanish Foundation for Classic Sailing, remains out of the running for victory, although it has maintained a remarkable level throughout the week.
Bermuda Era: Varuna 1939 launches toward the title
In the Bermuda Era class, the Varuna 1939 once again set the pace. The Sparkman & Stephens yacht, owned by Jens Kellinghusen, won the regatta convincingly, finishing 2 minutes and 55 seconds ahead of the Argyll on corrected time. The result confirms the upward trajectory of a yacht that already knows what it means to win in Mahón: Varuna 1939 won the Repsol King’s Cup for classic yachts in 2022 and, once again, has the title within its grasp.
After finishing second on the first day, Kellinghusen and his crew have secured two victories and face the final day with a lead that seems difficult to overcome. But behind this apparent comfort lie three very different days of racing and a constant tactical challenge. “We’ve had three magnificent days of racing, with very different conditions: a lot of wind but big waves, so the tactical decisions have been quite a challenge. We’ve sailed very well,” summarizes John Hockins, head of sail trimmings for the Varuna 1939.
Argyll (1948), sponsored by Griff Rhys Jones, recovered from a lackluster performance on the second day and consolidated second place thanks to its opening victory and today’s second-place finish. Harold Goddijn’s Sonny (1935) finished third for the third consecutive day. His consistent form keeps him level on points with Argyll and keeps his options of fighting for second place alive.
Great Ships: The Lady Anne has now received the title
In the main class, the result is an inevitable conclusion. The Lady Anne (1912), the spectacular F15 designed by William Fife III and built by Gonzalo Botín, has already been mathematically crowned champion. The boat finished second in today’s regatta, behind the Viveka, but the advantage it has built up over the three days makes it impossible for its rival to catch up in the final standings.
And it was the Viveka that found itself at the center of one of the day’s best battles. The 1929 yacht, skippered by Keith Mills, beat the leader by 1 minute and 26 seconds on corrected time, thus securing its first leg victory of the week. “It was very windy today, the best conditions for our boat. We beat The Lady Anne in a very competitive race. We’re delighted,” explained Gery Atkins, skipper of Viveka.
The victory, however, does not change the class result. After the withdrawal of Cariad (1896) due to a fracture of the main mast on the second day of racing, The Lady Anne only needs to complete tomorrow’s final race—even if she finishes third and last—to retain the title she won in 2024.
Aside from the battle for victory, the Altair (1931) has provided another of the week’s most striking images. The spectacular schooner, nearly 40 meters in length and owned by George Ruiz, is sailing in cruising configuration, but its presence alongside the Cariad has provided some of the most memorable scenes of this year’s event. Both share a trapezoidal rig, the combination of whose proportions, elegance, and scale is hard to ignore.
Classics: Argos, one step away from making history
The Argos (1964) has taken another step toward another victory. The Holman 42, designed by Kim Holman and skippered by Barbara Trilling, won the third race decisively, finishing five and a half minutes ahead of the Clarionet on corrected time. The leader of the Classics class once again demonstrated the strength of a crew that knows exactly how to secure victory. If all goes as planned tomorrow, Argos will secure its eleventh title at the Repsol King’s Cup of Classic Sailing and will be just three wins shy of tying the record held by the legendary Calima.
The Clarinet (1966), built by Andrew Harvey, finished second and solidified its position as runner-up, while Patrick Harris’s Mowgli (1965) dropped to third place after having finished fourth.
The battle for the podium, however, is not over yet. Ojalá II (1973), skippered by Susan Carol Holland, now holds fourth place after receiving a correction from the protest committee following a confusing interpretation of the course description. The decision keeps the boat in contention for a top-three spot on the final day.
Spirit of Tradition: Andalucía-Barlovento, unbeatable
Three races. Three victories. The Andalucía-Barlovento (1973) has dominated the Espíritu de Tradición category with an air of authority. Designed and built by Harry Becker and owned by Domingo de Torres, the Lotus E3 Scandinavia 40 has once again proven itself invincible against its rivals. With local sailor Fernando Rita at the helm, the boat is now the virtual champion of the 22nd Repsol Copa del Rey Vintage Yachts Regatta and, barring exceptional circumstances, will secure its first regatta victory in Maó.
Legolas by Jens Ricke (1996) finished second for the third consecutive time, while Flight of Durgan (2007), trained by David Grylls, repeated in third place and retains the same position in the overall standings.
Mallorca is now preparing for the final chapter of the Repsol Copa del Rei, which, beyond the standings, once again demonstrates why classic sailing has a unique ability to turn a regatta into a spectacle. The final positions have not yet been decided, but we are also about to witness once again that spectacle that only these vintage vessels can offer: the history and present of sailing.
