| PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN-(9-3-2004) The Organising Committee of the 35th HRH Princess Sofia Trophy has closed the official entry deadline for this year’s edition with a total of 600 boats, despite the cancellation of classes Mistral men and women and 49er.
This year, exceptionally, the International Sailing Federation has changed the dates of some World Championships from May to April and, therefore, causing a clash with the Trophy. This decision is due to the need to celebrate the selection events for the Athens Olympics before 30th April. In next year’s edition, everything should be back to normal and all classes will sail again in the Bay of Palma.
Despite this fact, the number of entries in the other classes has been high, even exceeding the numbers registered in 2003. During the coming days, the Organising Committee can still accept the requests for entry received after the deadline.
Sailors from over 40 nations will get together in the Bay of Palma in April. We must emphasize the 143 entries in the Europe women, increasing in more than 20 the 2003 entry list. The founding class of the Trophy, the Dragon class, has 50 entries and a good entry – both in number and quality – is also found in the 470, Yngling, Finn and Laser classes.
Once again, the event has the support of the city of Madrid as main sponsor and as candidate to organise the 2012 Olympics. The city has full trust in the organisation of Palma, which would be the venue for sailing if Madrid is the selected city.
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