The Spanish Navy hoists sails at the 43 Copa del Rey MAPFRE with four boats on the starting line
by Copa del Rey MAPFRE 30 May 00:01 NZST
26 July - 2 August 2025
Aifos © María Muiña / Copa del Rey MAPFRE
The 43rd edition of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE will see a strong presence from the Spanish Navy, which will deploy a four-boat squadron across multiple classes, reaffirming its long-standing ties to high-performance sailing.
Drawn from Naval Regatta Commissions stationed along the Spanish coastline, the Navy has, over decades, cultivated a solid pipeline of sailors who've gone on to compete in top-tier offshore campaigns such as the Volvo Ocean Race and the America's Cup. In 2025, that legacy comes to life once again in the waters of Palma Bay.
The flagship will be, once again, the TP52 Aifos, skippered by Admiral Jaime Rodríguez-Toubes. A familiar sight on the racecourse, Aifos is also the regular racing platform of His Majesty King Felipe VI. With two decades of racing under her keel, the iconic Aifos returns to the heat of battle in the fiercely competitive ORC 0 class, aiming once more for a spot on the podium, as she has done in previous editions.
"Despite her age, Aifos remains a finely tuned machine — meticulously maintained and crewed by a seasoned team that's been sailing together for years," says Navy sailing delegate Ricardo Álvarez-Maldonado. "We're still very much in the fight. And with this year's Copa doubling as the ORC European Championship, the stakes are even higher."
In ORC C, the Navy is lining up two J/99 "Regulus" one-designs under the burgees of the Naval Regatta Commissions of Cádiz and Cartagena. This year, the Regulus I (CNR Cartagena) will be helmed by young officer Francisco Javier Pavón, while Regulus VII (CNR Cádiz) will be skippered by Carlos Supervielle. After showing solid form at the 2024 Copa del Rey MAPFRE, these boats return to Palma eyeing a Top 10 finish in one of the fleet's most hotly contested classes.
"The Navy's strategy is firmly rooted in generational renewal," explains Maldonado. "Our J/99 fleet, stationed in Cádiz, Cartagena, Ferrol, the Canary Islands, and Marín, is the perfect platform to train up-and-coming sailors in real racing conditions. The Copa del Rey is the ultimate proving ground with a top-level challenge."
For the first time, the Women's Cup will feature an all-female, all-military crew, handpicked by the Higher Council for Military Sports of the Ministry of Defence. Comprising servicewomen from across the armed forces, the team is aiming for a solid result that will help launch a broader initiative to promote women's sailing within the military.
"The Council runs the annual military sailing championships at the Naval Academy in Marín, raced in Snipe class boats," says Maldonado. "After seeing the level of talent among our female sailors, we knew it was time to take the next step and give them a shot at an international event like the Copa del Rey MAPFRE."
The Navy's presence at this edition not only honors its seafaring tradition but also underscores its ongoing commitment to developing the sport of sailing, training its officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted personnel, and integrating new generations and women's crews into the elite of sailing.
The Copa del Rey MAPFRE: A Meeting Point
From the Real Club Náutico de Palma, general manager Manu Fraga expressed his enthusiasm: "For the Real Club Náutico of Palma, it's an honor to welcome the Navy once again to the Copa del Rey MAPFRE. Their participation not only raises the sporting level of the regatta, but also reflects a historic bond between our institutions, grounded in shared values such as effort, discipline, and a deep commitment to the sport of sailing."
Fraga also noted: "Having Aifos on the starting line — skippered by Admiral Rodríguez-Toubes and with His Majesty regularly onboard — is a huge source of honour and pride for our sport. But we also want to highlight the Navy's efforts in training young sailors and, this year in particular, the decisive push to back women's sailing with a fully military crew in the Women's Cup — a milestone that deserves recognition."