| This year's 39th Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia-MAPFRE | | | | Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the island, is the |
| regatta will be held from March 15th to the 21st this | | | | central locale for this prominent sailing event. |
| year just prior to the 2008 Olympics. All eyes of the | | | | Weather conditions for last year's regatta proved |
| sailing world are on this regatta heading up to the | | | | challenging at times with periods of rain and |
| competitions of this Olympic year. For many, this | | | | changeable, insufficient winds, resulting in false starts. |
| event will determine who sails for their Olympic team | | | | This prevented some races scheduled for certain |
| at the coastal city of Qingdao, China; the first time | | | | dates. However, the characteristically exceptional |
| this city has hosted an international sailing regatta. | | | | weather conditions typical of the Bay of Palma |
| Competitors in Majorca will participate in eleven | | | | returned for the imperative final races. |
| classes of sailing established by Olympic standards, | | | | Majorca is part of the Balearic archipelago located off |
| plus the Dragon class; consisting of the ninety best | | | | the eastern coast of Spain near Valencia. Since the |
| sailors invited to participate. Olympic medalists from | | | | middle of the last century it's been a popular tourist |
| the 2004 Olympics in Athens, as well as the | | | | destination for many, particularly Germans and Brits |
| established champions from last year's World and | | | | who can access cheap flights to Majorca. The mild |
| European competitions are expected to be in | | | | climate and islander state of mind still brings many |
| attendance. | | | | visitors to Majorca, and more especially the Bay of |
| The Princess Sofia Trophy is one of six Olympic-class | | | | Palma. Majorca, and sister islands Menorca and Ibiza, |
| events recognized by the International Sailing | | | | attract thousands of visitors each year and have |
| Federation (ISAF) in their World Cup Series for sailing. | | | | become synonymous with holidays in Spain. |
| The race was officially established in 2006 at the | | | | MAPFRE, the leading finance and insurance company |
| International Sailing Federation conference held in | | | | in Spain based out of Madrid, will sponsor this event |
| Helsinki, Finland. | | | | for the third year in a row. The event has a website |
| Each year 1,300 to 1,700 sailors, including 1,000 | | | | for participants to sign up online and acquire |
| vessels, participate in the 12 classes. As many as 52 | | | | important information on accommodations and vessel |
| nations have participated in the past and the | | | | transport. This will be the first time that registering |
| exponential increase over the past few years could | | | | participants will be able to pay their fees online with a |
| indicate even more international participation this year | | | | credit card, a novelty of the new site. |
| and in the future. The Trofeo SAR Princesa | | | | Actual racing begins with Olympic classes on Sunday, |
| Sofia-MAPFRE enjoys the highest international | | | | March 16th, with the Dragon class beginning on |
| participation of any Olympic class event in Spain. It is | | | | Monday, March 17th, 2008. The Medal Race, to be |
| the last chance for Spaniards to see their sailing team | | | | held on the final day of the regatta, March 21st, is |
| perform prior to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The | | | | unable to be discarded and counts for double in |
| Olympic sailing events at Qingdao are scheduled for | | | | terms of scoring. The top ten classified sailors by this |
| September 6-17, 2008. | | | | date participate in the Medal Race. |