Short Offshore Challenge Shakes Up the Leaderboard at the 2025 ORC Europeans in Palma

July 30, 2025 - Palma de Mallorca, Spain - The second day of the 2025 ORC European Championship as part of the 43rd edition of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE, brought a true offshore test as all four ORC classes tackled a light and tactical short offshore race, with course lengths between 38 and 57 nautical miles. The shifting breeze across the Bay of Palma reshaped the standings: only GUARDAMAGO (ITA) in ORC B and EARLY BIRD (GER) in ORC C managed to defend their opening day leads. In ORC 0, victory went to CRIOULA IV (BRA), bouncing back after a retirement on Day 1, while ELENA NOVA (GER) triumphed in the highly competitive ORC A class.

The coastal course started off the RCNP and stretched towards El Toro and the Malgrats Islands, with several marks across Palma Bay before finishing near the host club. The planned distances were 57 NM for ABANCA ORC 0, 52 NM for Sail Racing ORC A and Ubico ORC B, and 38 NM for Uber ORC C.

After two days, the provisional class leaders are: VUDU (ITA) in ABANCA ORC 0, ELENA NOVA (ESP) in Sail Racing ORC A, GUARDAMAGO (ITA) in Ubico ORC B and EARLY BIRD (GER) in Uber ORC C.

CRIOULA IV Returns Strong to Win Coastal Challenge

ABANCA ORC 0 was the first class to start the coastal race at 12:20, after a brief postponement while the breeze settled. CRIOULA IV, owned by Eduardo Plass (BRA), quickly took the real-time lead and engaged in a prolonged duel with VESPER (USA) all the way to the finish. The Brazilian TP52 won the battle, crossing the line in 6 hours, 32 minutes, and 29 seconds, also securing victory on corrected time after retiring the previous day due to gear failure. Fellow Brazilian TP52 ALIZÉE placed second. The day’s setback came from TEATRO DEL SOHO–SAN MIGUEL, which had to retire due to a torn mainsail. After two races, VUDU, owned by Mauro Gestri (ITA), leads the class by one point ahead of VESPER. The sixth-place finish by AIFOS, helmed by King Felipe VI, moved the Spanish Navy team up one spot to eighth overall.

ELENA NOVA On Top of the All-ClubSwan 42 Top 3

The Sail Racing ORC A fleet saw a fierce battle for the lead between two past Copa del Rey champions: the DK46 HYDRA–HM HOSPITALES, skippered by Óscar Chaves (2021 winner), and the ClubSwan 42 ELENA NOVA, skippered by Christian Plump (winner in 2023 and 2024). After over seven hours of sailing, ELENA NOVA took the win ahead of KOYRÉ–SPIRIT OF NERINA and NADIR, completing a second consecutive all-ClubSwan 42 podium. ELENA NOVA now leads the overall standings.

SUGAR 3 Secures Coastal Victory, GUARDAMAGO Holds the Lead

In the Ubico ORC B class, which featured 32 teams, the Italian ONE MR JJ (ERYD 40 XSM) was the first to cross the line after just over 7.5 hours. However, once corrected times were applied, the winner was Estonia’s SUGAR 3, Italia Yachts 11.98 owned by Ott Kikkas, with Sandro Montefusco helming. GUARDAMAGO, Italia Yachts 11.98 skippered by Massimo Romeo Piparo (ITA), finished third and successfully defended their class lead from Day 1. Rounding out the top four was TECHNONICOL (X-41 Mod., Mati Sepp, EST), who delivered the fastest real-time performance but ended up fourth on corrected time, 6 minutes and 6 seconds behind the leader.

EARLY BIRD Stays Unbeaten with Second Consecutive Win

Germany’s EARLY BIRD, helmed by Hendrik Brandis, winner of the opening race in Uber ORC C, was again the first to complete the course in 6 hours and 7 minutes, claiming a second consecutive victory and solidifying their lead. With Mallorca’s own Manu Weiller calling tactics, EARLY BIRD enters Day 3 with a three-point lead over fellow German team MEERBLICK (third today), and a five-point margin over Italy’s SARCHIAPONE FUORISERIE (second today).

Palma ace Manu Weiller is calling tactics, and his local knowledge of his home bay made a difference, he believes.

Weiller reported “It was a difficult race for us as we have no reaching sails and there were a lot of reaching, there were two long reaches with 110 and 150 TWA with A1.5 which was quite hard but the crew did a good job keeping the boat fast in a high mode. I love the Cape 31. I did the Europeans last year on this boat with Stig and came second, and the class is awesome. It was super light at first and we were not first at all until we started reaching and passing boats and then later when we got close to the shore the local knowledge comes into play, where to get into the shore and where not to and that helped in the end too.”

On Thursday, July 31, the inshore races on a windward-leeward course are scheduled with a first warning signal at 1 pm.

Top 3 Results – Race 2 (Short Offshore, Provisional)

ABANCA ORC 0

1. CRIOULA IV (TP52) – Eduardo Plass (BRA)
2. ALIZEE (TP52) – Mauro Dottori (BRA)
3. VESPER (TP52) – David Team (USA)

Sail Racing ORC A

1. ELENA NOVA (ClubSwan 42) – Christian Plump (GER)
2. KOYRE – SPIRIT OF NERINA (ClubSwan 42) – Luca Formentini (ITA)
3. NADIR (ClubSwan 42) – Pedro Varquer (ESP)

Ubico ORC B

1. SUGAR 3 (Italia Yachts 11.98) – Sandro Montefusco / Ott Kikkas (EST)
2. KATARA (PG 390) – Julian Somodi (ARG)
3. GUARDAMAGO 3 (Italia Yachts 11.98) – Massimo Romeo Piparo (ITA)

Uber ORC C

1. EARLY BIRD (Cape 31) – Hendrik Brandis (GER)
2. SARCHIAPONE FUORISERIE (Italia Yachts 9.98 F) – Piero Biasi / Gianluigi Dubbini (ITA)
3. MEERBLICK (Cape 31) – Otto Pohlmann (GER)

Complete results

The 43 Copa del Rey MAPFRE, including ORC European Championship 2025, is organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP) by delegation of the Real Federación Española de Vela (RFEV), with the sponsorship of MAPFRE, the institutional sponsorship of the Govern de les Illes Balears, the Palma City Council, with the collaboration of the Autoritat Portuaria de Balears and the Federación Balear de Vela. This ORC European Championship 2025 is under the overall jurisdiction of the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC).

Follow the 25th ORC European Championship 2025 - 43rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE: 
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