For more than 800 entries across all 10 Olympic classes, the 54th edition of the Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels is where that journey kicks into gear.
From seasoned campaigners to wide-eyed rookies, they’ve all descended on Mallorca’s legendary bay for a week of racing that promises both high-stakes competition and the kind of curveballs only Palma’s famously fickle breeze can deliver.
With 10 fleets spread across dinghies, skiffs, foilers, and kites, and a forecast calling for everything from ghosting zephyrs to full-on breeze and swell, this year's Sofia regatta will be anything but predictable. Let’s take a walk down the dock and peek at some of the stories, rivalries, and comeback arcs unfolding this week.
470 Mixed: New Pairings, Old Grudges
Spain’s Jordi Xammar came heartbreakingly close to a podium at Paris 2024, but the medal race delivered a sting instead of silverware. For a guy who’s been on just about every major podium in recent years, it was a tough pill to swallow.
Now, with new crewmate Marta Cardona, Xammar is back with renewed focus. The Spanish duo is diving headfirst into this Olympic cycle, with Palma as their proving ground. Standing in their way? Germany’s Simon Diesch and Anna Markfort, an experienced pair with serious chemistry and a strong track record.
49er Men’s Skiff: The Return of a Legend
Danish veteran Jonas Warrer just turned 46. That's well past retirement age for many butthe Dane is showing no signs of slowing down. The 2008 Olympic champ is back in the 49er, this time with Mathias Sletten on the wire, and they’re looking lively.
But there’s no shortage of firepower in this fleet. France’s Erwan Fischer and Clement Pequin, reigning world champs, are famously quick once they hit their stride. And all eyes are on the curious new pairing of Jean Baptiste Bernaz—a former ILCA 7 World Champion—and Jeremie Mion, who brings his 470 pedigree to the front of the skiff. Together, they’re learning on the fly—and at speed.
And don’t count out Uruguay’s Hernan Umpierre and Fernando Diz, the reigning European champions with a real knack for finesse in light air.
49erFX Women’s Skiff: New Faces, Familiar Threats
Italy’s Jana Germani won in Palma last year and grabbed bronze at the World Championships, but 2025 sees her with a new partner: Bianca Caruso, who’s making the jump from the 470. Their goal this week? Sync up and shake up the front of the fleet.
Australia’s Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot are coming in hot after a fifth at Worlds, but the favorites might just be Belgium’s Isaura Maenhauts and Anouk Geurts, the reigning European champions.
ILCA 7 Men: Can Beckett Go Four-for-Four?
Britain’s Micky Beckett (above) seems to have a personal pact with Palma. He’s won here three years in a row, and no one’s betting against him grabbing a fourth.
That said, the competition is stacked. Pavlos Kontides of Cyprus is back for his sixth Olympic cycle—yes, sixth—and still racing like he’s got something to prove. And then there’s Stefano Peschiera, Peru’s bronze medalist from Paris, who’s just as comfortable in big fleets as he is in building breeze.
ILCA 6 Women: A New Dutch Hope
With Olympic champion Marit Bouwmeester retired, the Netherlands are looking to Maxime van der Werken-Jonker to carry the torch. She’s got the pedigree—and the pressure.
Meanwhile, Norway’s Line Flem Høst, fresh off an Olympic bronze, isn’t here to coast. This fleet is wide open, and a good start in Palma could set the tone for the season.
Formula Kite Men: Maeder vs. the World
At just 18, Max Maeder already has the resume of a seasoned pro. The Singaporean kiteboarder has won just about everything—including the last two editions of this regatta—and is the reigning world champ.
But the Olympic title slipped through his fingers last summer. This week, he’s up against Austria’s gold medallist Valentin Bontus, a fast-rising Chinese squad led by Qibin Huang, and the usual flurry of fast-charging young guns looking to make their mark.
Formula Kite Women: Aldridge Back on the Foil
British rider Ellie Aldridge hasn’t exactly been resting on her laurels since claiming Olympic gold. She’s dipped a toe in the Women’s America’s Cup scene and trained as a SailGP reserve. But this week, it’s back to her bread and butter—kite racing at warp speed.
Expect tough competition from Olympic bronze medallist Annelous Lammerts and a handful of dark horses with podium potential.
iQFOiL Men: Olympic Rematch
If you like your racing with a side of revenge, look no further than the men’s iQFOiL fleet. All three Paris medallists are back—Tom Reuveny (ISR), Grae Morris (AUS), and Luc Van Opzeeland (NED)—and ready to throw down.
These guys don’t do slow, and with Palma’s wind forecast offering everything from zephyrs to gusty rides, expect to see full-send mode from the first gun.
iQFOiL Women: Consistency vs. Firepower
Italy’s Marta Maggetti is the reigning Olympic champion, but she’ll need to be at her best to hold off Britain’s Emma Wilson, whose consistency in the women's windsurfing class has been nothing short of clinical.
This fleet moves fast—on and off the water—and Palma is the ideal venue to test new gear, new strategies, and mental game under pressure.
Nacra 17: Fast Cats, Big Names
In the absence of double Olympic gold medallists Ruggero Tita and Catarina Banti (who announced her retirement from Olympic campaigning), their fellow Italians Gianluigi Ugolini and Maria Giubilei are ready to carry the torch in the Nacra 17 class.
Britain’s John Gimson and Anna Burnet—newlyweds and seasoned campaigners—are also back in the hunt, looking to upgrade their Tokyo silver after a near-miss in Paris.
One of the most intriguing entries? Spain’s Joan Cardona, a Tokyo bronze medallist in the Finn and now a core member of the Spanish SailGP Team, is teaming up with Nicole van der Velden, his SailGP crewmate. While they’ve spent plenty of time foiling together on the high-octane F50, the Nacra 17 presents a very different kind of challenge. Expect a steep learning curve—but with their shared experience and natural feel for foiling, they could surprise a few seasoned teams.
Palma Sets the Pace
For some, this week in Palma will be a chance to test new boats, new partnerships, or even just shake off the rust. For others, it’s the start of a relentless climb toward Olympic qualification. And for every sailor on the water, it’s an early opportunity to throw down a marker for Los Angeles 2028.
The Trofeo Princesa Sofía has long been a proving ground. Win here, and people take notice. But more importantly, it’s where the best in the world sharpen their tools, chase confidence, and learn what it’ll take to stand on the Olympic podium three years from now.
