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Italian sailing shines in Palma as Vudu wins the Copa del Rey

Italian sailing shines in Palma as Vudu wins ORC 0 and Selene Alifax secures second place at the Copa del Rey

Vudu wins ORC 0 at the Copa del Rey in Palma, while Selene Alifax finishes second in the ClubSwan 42 fleet

The Bay of Palma brought one of the Mediterranean’s major sailing weeks to a close with Italian crews firmly among the protagonists. At the 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE, Vudu claimed victory in ORC 0, while Selene Alifax secured second place in the ClubSwan 42 fleet. Two different campaigns, but both built on the ability to remain competitive until the final stages of a regatta where a single mistake can reshape a leaderboard developed over several days of racing.

Vudu turns consistency into victory

For Vudu, Mauro Gestri’s TP52, victory was not the result of one spectacular day on the water. The Italian yacht built its success progressively, race after race, combining speed with remarkable consistency throughout the week.

Across eight races, Vudu never finished outside the top three and recorded three individual victories. That performance created a comfortable advantage heading into the final day and gave the crew something particularly valuable in a major regatta — the possibility of sailing the last race with the overall standings firmly under control.

A second place in the final race was therefore enough to secure the ORC 0 title. Hispania won the last contest and moved into second overall, ahead of Kilara II, while Vudu completed the event 15.5 points clear of its closest rival.

Palma completes a twelve-month turnaround

There is another side to Vudu’s victory that makes the result particularly significant. At the 2025 Copa del Rey, the Italian team finished fourth after a disqualification severely affected its chances in the overall standings.

One year later, Palma delivered a very different ending and Mauro Gestri celebrated his first Copa del Rey victory.

The result also continues an impressive 2026 season. Earlier in the year, Vudu finished runner-up in the ORC 0 World Championship held in Sorrento, demonstrating how quickly the project has progressed within the highly competitive international big-boat racing scene.

Selene Alifax adds another Italian podium

Italian success in Palma extended beyond ORC 0. In the ClubSwan 42 fleet, Massimo De Campo’s Selene Alifax completed the Copa del Rey in second place behind Pedro Vaquer’s Nadir.

The Yacht Club Lignano team entered the final day as Nadir’s closest challenger after a strong week that also included a race victory on Friday.

The deciding race immediately became a tactical battle between the two leading boats. Nadir and Selene Alifax were both penalised following a close encounter, creating an opportunity for Pez de Abril to take its first race win of the week.

Nadir’s second place was nevertheless enough to secure its third Copa del Rey title, while Selene Alifax completed the series second overall ahead of Pez de Abril.

Another major result for Selene Alifax

The Palma podium adds to an already successful season for the Italian ClubSwan 42. Selene Alifax had previously finished third at the 2026 ORC World Championship in Sorrento.

Its second place in Mallorca therefore represents another significant result in a season that has repeatedly placed the Italian team among the leading crews in international competition.

Django misses the podium after a competitive week

The final outcome was less fortunate for Vittorio Lombardi Stronati’s Django in ORC C. The Italian Cape 31 had been one of the strongest boats during the opening part of the Copa del Rey and even shared the lead with Earlybird following an exceptionally close coastal race.

The final day, however, changed the order. Niramo took the class victory ahead of Earlybird and Project Work, leaving Django outside the podium positions.

It was a disappointing conclusion, but one that did little to erase a week in which the Italian Cape 31 had consistently raced among the leading boats.

Palma delivers another week of Mediterranean racing

The 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE brought more than one hundred yachts from numerous countries to Palma, once again giving the Bay of Palma a distinctly international sailing atmosphere.

Close starts, coastal races, tactical battles and constantly evolving standings provided the ingredients that have made the Copa del Rey one of the Mediterranean’s best-known summer regattas.

For Italian sailing, the lasting images from the 2026 edition will include Vudu at the top of ORC 0 and Selene Alifax on the ClubSwan 42 podium — two performances that kept the Italian flag close to the top of the standings until the final race.

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www.regatacopadelrey.com

10 August 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
Italian sailing shines in Palma as Vudu wins the Copa del Rey
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