The Copa del Rey 2023 looms on the horizon. In just one week, one of the best cruise sailing regattas in the Mediterranean begins. Between July 29 and August 5, the RCN of Palma hosts the best fleet in the world in the bay of Palma, competing in six tough days, from Monday, July 31 to August 5.
The Copa del Rey is one of the two key and most important events for Porrón X, along with the 'Swan One Design World Championship' in October in Scarlino, so the team of Luis Senís, led by Nano Negrín from Lanzarote, has put everything on the table to achieve the first objective of the two set this season. A team that will have a conejera crew consisting of: Cristian Sánchez, David Martin, Antonio Martin, Alejandro Bethencourt and Yaimur Hernández.
More than one hundred boats from all over the world meet in the bay of Palma. A large fleet, among which the one-design fleet stands out, including the ClubSwan division manufactured by the prestigious Finnish shipyard Nautor's Swan. On this occasion, the ClubSwan 50 and ClubSwan 42 will provide that extra beauty, emotion and spectacle to the Balearic regatta.
Among the 42 will be the eight best boats, with three Spanish representatives, which will also include the Murcian Pez de Abril, by José María Meseguer, and the Balearic Nadir by Pedro Comas, current world champion of the ClubSwan 42 in Valencia 2022, so, and as happened in the 'SM La Reina Trophy' at the beginning of the month, two world champions will be in the same group again: Porrón and Nadir. In addition, three Italian boats (Selene–Alifax, Spirit Of Nerina and Canopo), a British boat (Long Echo) and a French boat (Raving Swan) are entering the fray. Nadir leads the provisional of the circuit The Nations League 2023.
All three boats have great potential, due to how the respective teams have been configured. All three know what it is to win the 'Copa del Rey' and Comas' boys will defend the title, as they won the trophy in the last edition. The Valencian Porrón of Luis Senís won the title in 2019, within the framework of the 38th edition of the Copa del Rey and the tough Swan 45 class. The Murcian, for his part, won it twice: 2017 and 2018. Both have done so in the Swan 42 fleet.
The two regattas in which Porrón X has participated are the following: in the Castellón Costa Azahar, in which it achieved victory, and the 'SM La Reina Trophy', with a 7th place in ORC 0-1, have been in a format completely different from that established in the parameters of the boat, since its configuration and set-up is for sailing in real time.
Even so, both Senís and the team have managed to get a good grade in two important regattas, both in Castellón and Valencia, highlighting the level of fleet and quality in the organizational section. Two regattas that have put the boat and the crew at the highest level of demand, so they have considered that the effort of putting the boat in 'compensated time mode' has been worth it.
Now they are looking at Palma and working with the aim of achieving the title. A trophy that they are aware of the high price it has, since they will have seven authentic number ones in front of them, and not only are they looking at the Balearic Nadir, but also at Pez de Abril and the rest of the fleet that, judging by what has been seen in the last regattas, will put a face to each victory in the twelve scheduled races.
To this is added those typical, magical and emblematic wind conditions that occur in the bay of Palma, closing those ingredients the regatta field, along with Valencia, one of the best in the world to compete in the sport of sailing. These ingredients are a luxury that will provide that extra so that those eight Swan 42 give a whole show in the waters of Palma, highlighting in a special way each triumph, each success achieved in the six days planned with twelve races in the portfolio.
