Record number of nations

53 countries to compete at this year's Princess Sofia Trophy Mapfre

Over 600 teams from 53 nations have registered for the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre, the first European event of the ISAF Sailing World Cup for Olympic and Paralympic events to be held in Palma de Majorca over 2-9 April.

With less than two weeks for the beginning of the most important Olympic classes event held in Spain, this year's event has a record participation of nations. Previous editions have seen participation from typically 40-45 nations while this year includes new countries such as Korea, Kuwait and Singapore.

“The fact of seeing new nations and having reached the impressive number of 53 nations confirms that the organisation of the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre is on the right path," says the event's General Manager, Jaume Carbonell. "It is the third year the event is part of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, something possible thanks to the support of the main sponsor, Mapfre.”

Besides the number of entries, this year's Trofeo SAR Sofia Mapfre will be high quality. Olympic medallists, World and continental champions will meet on the Bay of Palma, with one year to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games.

In order to get ready for this competition, many sailors set to participate in the event will take part this weekend in the Arenal Training Camps Trophy, organised by Club Nàutic S’Arenal as training for the third event of the ISAF Sailing World Cup.

12 classes are set to race in the 42 Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre. The RS:X men and women are back at the Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, which will also be the venue for the Laser Standard and Laser Radial. Club Nàutic S’Arenal will be the venue of the Finn, 49er and 470 M & W, while the Star and Elliott 6 will be based at Real Club Náutico. The Paralympic events, 2.4mR and Skud 18, will be based at Escuela Nacional de Vela Calanova.