The 34th Palamós Optimist Trophy-17 Nations Cup returns with record numbers, namely 550 boats, a limit set by the organization led by the Club Nàutic Costa Brava/Vela Palamós.
This grand spectacle of sailing will take place from February 15th to 18th in the waters of the bay of Palamós, with the participation of sailors arriving from 24 countries from America, Europe, and Asia.
Today, the regatta was presented at the Espai del Peix with the presence of the Mayor of Palamós, Lluís Puig; the vice president of the Club Nàutic Costa Brava/Vela Palamós, Miquel Aviñó; the vice president of the Catalan Sailing Federation, Josep Maria Isern, and the representative of the Port de la Generalitat, David Ruíz.
Miquel Aviñó reviewed the regatta’s data “in which we once again have 550 boats, the maximum we can accommodate.”
Puig commented on “the importance of the Palamós Optimist Trophy at this time of the year. Just take a walk through the center of the town to see sailors and companions, in the mid-low season. Undoubtedly, the regatta is a benchmark for everyone.”
Isern claimed the moment the club is experiencing “Palamós has a treasure that it must take care of. It has a small but leading club, and carrying out races like this and the Christmas Race is a real miracle. It is a privilege for the Catalan Sailing Federation, for the country, Catalonia, Girona, l’Empordà, and for Palamós to be able to have them and enjoy them in our territory.”
If in the previous edition the Opening Ceremony, in which more than five hundred sailors and companions participated, was held on the Passeig de Mar, this year the parade will be in the town center. It will be on Wednesday, February 14th, at 5:30 pm, starting from La Arbreda, Cervantes street, Major street, and arriving at the Village located on Platja Gran.
Garda and Palamós The Palamós Optimist Trophy is the second competition with the highest number of boats, only surpassed by the Lake Garda Meeting Optimist Class, which has a thousand boats, held in the waters of Lake Garda, but with a different concept, as not all boats compete at once. In Palamós, they do compete, with five starts for each race consecutively.
The following countries will participate in the Palamós Optimist Trophy: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Great Britain, Slovenia, Spain, the United States, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, and Ukraine.
The 2023 edition was won by the Balearic sailor Hugo Rodríguez (RCN Palma). This year, the favorite is the Catalan, Iker Mújika (CN Cambrils), who was fifth last year in Palamós and has won this year’s Optimist Excellence Cup, the Regata Ciudad de El Puerto, and the Euromarina Optimist Torrevieja. And also his clubmate Joan Domingo, Spanish runner-up, winner of the Trofeo Ciudad de Palma, and second last year in Palamós. Also noteworthy is the participation of the Alicante sailor Mateo Carbonell (CN Jávea), bronze medalist in the past European Championship.
The races will begin on Thursday, February 15th, and end on February 18th. The fleet will be divided into five groups: Gold, Silver, Bronze, Emerald, and Pearl.
En español: El 34º Palamós Optimist Trophy se presenta con 550 barcos de 24 países
