| PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN-(21-11-2006) The international circuit will be tested in 2007 by the organisation of the six events of the series, with Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia – Mapfre among them
The six best Olympic classes regattas of the World, with the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia – MAPFRE among them, will organise the international Olympic classes circuit in 2007 in which it will be tested. In 2008 the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) will actively participate in the organisation of this circuit to be named ISAF World Cup Series.
The World Cup Series is born as an initiative of the organisers of the top six Olympic classes events of the World with the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia – MAPFRE selected as one of them. The Sofia will be held this year from 30 March to 6 April in the bay Palma, with the following venues: Club Nàutic s’Arenal, Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, Real Club Náutico de Palma and Escuela de Vela Calanova. The other five events are Hyères (France), Medemblick (Holland), Kiel (Germany), Melbourne (Australia) and Miami (USA).
The proposal was accepted by ISAF during this year’s Annual Conference held last week in Helsinki as the ideal way of making Olympic sailing professional with the organisation of a circuit similar to the Formula 1 or Moto GP circuits. Nevertheless, ISAF decided to postpone the beginning of the circuit until 2008, due to the proximity of the Melbourne regatta which being held in January gave little time for its organisation.
Notwithstanding, “the group of the top six Olympic classes events will test the circuit in 2007 by their own initiative and with the support of the International Sailing Federation” explained the Race Manager of the Real Federación Española de Vela, Rafael González, who was the representative of the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia – Mapfre at the Helsinki meetings.
“It is a great honour for the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia – Mapfre to be part of this professional sailing circuit – stated Jaume Carbonell, the race manager – because it confirms the event is considered one of the best six regattas in the world”. These events will count for the annual world sailing rankings and for the creation of each nation’s Olympic teams together with the World and Continental Championships of each Olympic class. Besides, the ISAF World Cup Series could have a Grand Final, with a rotary venue.
“Being part of the World Cup Series does not only confirm the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia as one of the best organised Olympic classes regattas in the world, but it also guarantees the participation of 30 nations from the four continents with their Olympic teams”, added Carbonell.
Distributed in seven racing areas, a total of twelve classes (the Olympic classes plus the traditional Dragon as invited class) will participate in the 38th edition of the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia – Mapfre. Over one thousand boats are expected in this pre-Olympic year.
The 38th Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia is sponsored for a second consecutive year by Mapfre and it is organised by the Federación Balear de Vela, Real Federación Española de Vela, Real Club Náutico de Palma, Club Nàutic s'Arenal, Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa and Escuela de Vela Calanova. The collaborators are Govern de les Illes Balears, Palma City Council, Llucmajor City Council, s’Institut de Serveis Socials i Esportius de Mallorca, Trasmediterránea and Ultramar.
| 
