King Felipe VI concluded the 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE de Vela on Saturday by presiding over the prize-giving ceremony in Palma, where he also claimed runner-up honors in the ORC 0 class as skipper of the Armada vessel Hispania.
Dressed in the blue crew polo of the Hispania, the Spanish monarch handed out trophies during a ceremony held for the second year in the Patio de Armas of the Palacio Real de la Almudaina. When his own division was called, King Felipe presented the runner-up recognition to Admiral Jaime Rodríguez Toubes, his mentor since his earliest days in competitive racing. The two men then held the trophy aloft together amid applause from the gathered audience.
The Italian yacht Vudu, owned by Mauro Gestri, claimed the ORC 0 championship title, receiving its winning trophy directly from the Spanish king. Alongside Vudu, division victories were secured by Nola in ORC A, Teatro Soho San Miguel in ORC B, Niramo in ORC C, Nadir in the ClubSwan 42 monotyopes, and the Balearia Team in the Women’s Cup.
Class Champions and Notable Milestones
The week-long regatta in the Balearic waters brought together roughly 100 entries representing a dozen nations. Several teams cemented their status in the competition’s history books during Saturday’s final protocol.
The Teatro Soho San Miguel crew captured a historic ninth Copa del Rey title for owner Javier Banderas. Meanwhile, Pedro Vaquer’s Nadir secured its third crown in the competitive ClubSwan 42 class, and María Bover guided the Balearia Team lineup to its fourth victory in the women’s division.
The ceremony drew prominent regional and municipal figures, including Balearic Islands President Marga Prohens, regional parliamentary president Gabriel Le Senne, and Palma Mayor Jaime Martínez, alongside other civil and military authorities.
Royal Schedule Cuts Short Final Days on the Water
King Felipe’s participation on the water concluded earlier in the week due to international state duties. While the royal sailor took the helm of the Hispania—operated by the Spanish Navy’s regatta commission—during the opening sessions on Tuesday, July 8, and Wednesday, July 9, he was forced to miss the final two days of racing.
Following Thursday’s competition, the King traveled by air to Cali on Thursday night to attend the presidential inauguration of incoming Colombian leader Abelardo de la Espriella. He returned to Palma on Saturday afternoon in time to officiate the evening’s closing gala. The Hispania campaign follows the vessel’s prior success earlier in the season at the Trofeo Conde de Godó in Barcelona.
Saturday’s engagements mark the final official public appearance for the royal family during their summer stay in Palma. King Felipe initially arrived in the Balearic capital on July 29 following a diplomatic trip to Peru for the presidential inauguration of Keiko Fujimori.
Looking Ahead to the 45th Edition
Following the distribution of silverware, King Felipe joined representatives from each class-winning boat for a formal group photograph in the palace courtyard. Organizers and competitors now look toward the 45th edition of the Copa del Rey, which is scheduled to begin on July 31, 2027.
