The arrival of US military air carrier “Harry S. Truman” in the bay Palma transformed the organisation of races into a big jigsaw puzzle at the 45 Trofeo Princesa Sofia, in which 1130 sailors from 55 nations are participating, with Olympic medallists and World and continental champions on the way to the Río 2016 Olympics among them.
The vessel has anchored in the bay of Palma with a 1.000 meter restriction area in which no boat can sail and a 2.400 meter area in which it is forbidden to stop.
“These exclusion areas have forced us to move the Laser racing course and reduce the windsurfing course”, explains the Racing coordinator of Trofeo Princesa Sofia – ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca, who adds: “With wind conditions like we have today we would set a longer course for the windsurf, but as this is not possible because we would enter the exclusion area, we make them sail two laps of a shorter course”.
“Last week we were informed the air carrier would arrive today and from then we have been studying how it would affect the seven racing areas we have in the bay of Palma. It has had a big impact, I have even received mails from a captain from the Spanish army that collaborates with Security issues”, informs the organizer of the Trofeo Princesa Sofia.
With almost 1.200 sailors representing 55 nations, the Trofeo Princesa Sofia is the Spanish event with the highest number of entries. It is the fourth stage of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, the prestigious Olympic World Cup that has already visited Qingdao (China), Melbourne (Australia) and Miami (United States). The last event of the circuit is Hyères (France) at the end of April.
Follow the results link to see how the South African contingent are doing in the Men’s 470; 49er and Laser Standard Rig classes:
http://www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/en/default/laregata/vertodoslosresultados/id/1/idsc2r/12