44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE Pays Tribute to Sailing Legends Manuel “Noluco” Doreste and Javier Vallejo

The 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE began its first day of racing with an emotional tribute to two of Spain’s most respected sailors, Manuel “Noluco” Doreste and Javier Vallejo, who recently passed away. The ceremony brought together family members, fellow sailors, Olympic champions, and His Majesty King Felipe VI to celebrate the remarkable legacy of two icons of Spanish sailing.

The King, who is competing aboard the Hispania yacht, arrived at the Real Club Náutico de Palma at 10:30 a.m., where he was welcomed by the club’s president, Rafael Gil. He then joined sailors, friends and guests on the club’s main terrace for a heartfelt ceremony dedicated to Doreste and Vallejo.

The tribute featured an emotional video highlighting memorable moments from the lives and careers of both sailors, both on and off the water. Among those in attendance were Olympic medallists Theresa Zabell, Luis Doreste—Manuel Doreste’s brother—and Domingo Manrique, who shared memories of their longtime friends and teammates. The ceremony concluded with a long and heartfelt standing ovation from the audience.

Javier Vallejo represented Spain at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, where King Felipe VI proudly served as Spain’s flag bearer. He later became an important member of the Spanish America’s Cup campaign, contributing significantly to the country’s international sailing achievements.

Manuel “Noluco” Doreste enjoyed an outstanding sailing career, winning numerous world championship titles in both dinghy and offshore racing. He represented Spain at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games alongside Domingo Manrique and Juan Luis Wood, while also pursuing a distinguished professional career as an anesthesiologist. A member of the renowned Doreste sailing family from the Canary Islands, he inspired generations of sailors through both his sporting achievements and his dedication to the sailing community.

Following the ceremony, King Felipe VI and the Hispania crew headed out to the Bay of Palma to begin racing in one of the Mediterranean’s most prestigious regattas.

Beyond the competition, the tribute served as a powerful reminder that the Copa del Rey MAPFRE is not only a world-class sporting event but also a celebration of the people whose passion, commitment and achievements have shaped the history of Spanish and international sailing.