ORC Fleet Takes Shape As Sandberg PalmaVela 2026 Approaches 130 Entries One Month Before The Start

Strong ORC participation confirmed across offshore and inshore racing as Palma consolidates its role at the heart of the Mediterranean season

The 22nd edition of Sandberg PalmaVela continues to build momentum, reaching 130 registered teams with one month still to go before racing begins. Organised by the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP), the regatta will take place from April 23 to May 3, bringing more than 1,300 sailors to the Bay of Palma.

Within this strong international fleet, ORC racing once again forms a central pillar of the event, with a significant presence across both offshore and inshore formats.

The offshore race “La Larga”, one of the Mediterranean’s key early-season challenges, will see 23 boats competing under ORC rules, alongside 16 double-handed entries in ORC A2 (double-handed). The inshore PalmaVela series will further strengthen the fleet, with 41 ORC boats and 10 ORC A2 teams already confirmed.

These numbers underline PalmaVela’s continued importance not only as a season opener, but also as a competitive benchmark for ORC teams preparing for a busy international calendar.

“The expectation of welcoming more than 1,300 sailors and 130 teams in this edition reflects the confidence that the international fleet places in Sandberg PalmaVela. For us, it is especially important to continue delivering a regatta with its own identity, offering space for a wide range of classes and a sporting and organisational format that makes this event a top-level reference,” said Manu Fraga, Director of the RCNP.

Defending champions return to the ORC battlefield

Several of the 2025 winners are set to return to Palma, adding further depth and narrative to the ORC competition.

In the offshore race “La Larga”, the defending champions include Xummer (XP 44), skippered by Ruud van Es (NED, Bruinisse), returning to defend the ORC 1 title; Alegría (First 44), skippered by Pit Finis (GER, Düsseldorfer Yacht Club), competing again in ORC 2-3; and Indigo (X-302), skippered by Pedro Siquier (ESP), defending the ORC 4-5 division.

In the double-handed categories, the returning winners will be setting up a highly competitive ORC A2 contest. Modul (IMS 42) in ORC A2 0-2, skippered by Félix Comas and Salvador Roig (ESP), who finished the ORC DH Europeans 2026 in nearby Altea in fifth position this March, will return to defend the title.  In ORC A2 3-5 Guaguanco IV (Sun Fast 3300), skippered by Juan and Thierry Lallemand (FRA, CN Altea), confirmed to return.

Reigning world-level experience comes from Germany’s Martin Buck, aboard MIA GIOIA (Neo 430 Roma), sailing with Yves de Block, the reigning ORC DH World Champions in Class A. Moreover, the reigning ORC DH Class B European Champion, FALAPOUCO (Dufour 40 DK) by José Ballester and Andrés Manresa (RCN Torrevieja), will set the bar even higher for the competitors in the double-handed fleet. 

Their presence sets the stage for a strong and experienced fleet, where returning champions will face both familiar rivals and new challengers in one of Europe’s most tactically demanding race areas.

“La Larga” – offshore racing at its best

The opening act of the regatta will be the offshore race “La Larga”, with the warning signal scheduled for Saturday, April 25 at 12:00 in the Bay of Palma.

The race committee will determine the final course between 24 and 48 hours before the start, based on the latest weather forecasts. Two alternative routes across the Balearic archipelago are planned, tailored to different performance profiles within the fleet, with the objective of bringing boats of varying speeds to a competitive and closely timed finish back in Palma.

With a strong ORC turnout across both offshore and inshore formats, and the return of proven winners, Sandberg PalmaVela 2026 is once again shaping up as a key early-season reference point for ORC racing in the Mediterranean.