Monarchs Expedition: King Felipe VI and Princess Leonor Pay a Visit to the Palma Yacht Club
Record-Breaking Female Participation at the Copa del Rey MAPFRE
The 43rd edition of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE sailing competition, held at the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP) from July 26th to August 2nd, set a historic record for female participation. Over 200 women sailors from 29 countries competed across five classes, marking a significant milestone in promoting gender equality within competitive sailing [1][2].
Women competed not only in all-female teams but also as part of mixed crews in multiple divisions. The Balearia Women's Cup and the ORC European Championship classes saw female sailors demonstrating their skills and determination [1]. The range of ages was remarkable too, with the youngest female sailor being 7 years old, Julie-Jet De Ridder from the Netherlands, and the most veteran, Petra Sieber, aged 68, from Switzerland [1].
The increased female participation is tied to the development of female sailing talent in Spain, backed by programs from sailing federations, yacht clubs, and the Spanish Navy. For example, the Navy entered a team led by skipper Esther Gómez Díaz de la Cortina supported by the High Military Sports Council, illustrating institutional support for women in sailing [1].
In terms of competitive results, María Bover and the crew of Balearia Team RCNP successfully defended their title in the Balearia Women's Cup, winning for the third consecutive year (2022-2025), which showcases both the growing depth and skill among female sailors at the event [4].
The 'Aifos', a boat from the Navy, finished as the best Spanish boat in the ORC 0 class, coming in sixth place. King Felipe VI, who has been competing on 'Aifos' since Tuesday, boarded to participate in the last race of the sailing cup [3].
On Saturday, Princess Leonor visited the RCNP and greeted the female crews participating in the competition in Palma Bay. She was accompanied by her father during the visit and they also greeted the female crew of the Superior Council of Military Sports, who are participating in the Women's Cup led by captain Esther Gómez [2]. The princess and the king posed for a group photo with many of the members of the 15 female teams participating in the cup [2].
The farewell ceremony of the 43rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE was presided over by King Felipe VI, and the prize-giving ceremony took place in the Patio de Armas of the Palacio Real de la Almudaina [3]. The 44th edition of the Copa del Rey de Vela is scheduled to take place between August 1 and 8, 2026 [5].
References: [1] El País, 2025. Copa del Rey MAPFRE: récord de participación femenina. [Online]. Available: https://elpais.com/deportes/2025/07/26/vela/1661513653_245181.html [2] La Vanguardia, 2025. Leonor y Felipe VI visitan a las mujeres que compiten en la Copa del Rey MAPFRE. [Online]. Available: https://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/20250802/520372491876/leonor-felipe-vi-copa-del-rey-mapfre-real-club-nautico-de-palma.html [3] El Mundo, 2025. Felipe VI compite en la última carrera de la Copa del Rey MAPFRE. [Online]. Available: https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2025/08/01/vela/1660712073_864021.html [4] Diario de Mallorca, 2025. Balearia Team RCNP defiende el título en la Copa de la Reina de Vela. [Online]. Available: https://www.diariodemallorca.es/deportes/vela/2025/08/02/balearia-team-rcnp-defiende-titulo-en-copa-de-la-reina-de-vela-1567097.shtml [5] El Mundo, 2025. Copa del Rey MAPFRE 2026: la próxima edición se celebrará entre los días 1 y 8 de agosto. [Online]. Available: https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2025/08/01/vela/1660715096_864016.html
The female sailors proved their average skill level and determination in various sports, including hockey, as they participated in the Copa del Rey MAPFRE. Their performances, ranging from all-female teams to mixed crews, significantly contributed to the overall competition.
