With the Paris 2024 Olympics now behind us, the sailing world is turning its focus to the next Olympic challenge: Los Angeles 2028. For the ILCA class, the 54th Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma de Mallorca marks the first key event of the new Olympic cycle. Held from March 28 to April 5, this regatta serves as the opening step of the Sailing Grand Slam 2025, a series of top-tier events leading up to the next Games.
After the intense competition of Paris 2024, sailors are now setting their sights on building momentum for the next four years, fine-tuning their skills, and vying for spots on their respective national teams. Palma de Mallorca, with its challenging Mediterranean conditions and scenic backdrop, is the perfect venue for this fresh start. The Princess Sofia Trophy brings together the world’s top ILCA sailors, providing an early opportunity to test their readiness as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
The Real Federación Española de Vela (Royal Spanish Sailing Federation, RFEV) anticipates an exciting edition with the arrival of new sailing talent. According to Xisco Gil, director of Olympic preparation of the RFEV: “Undoubtedly, the Trofeo Princesa Sofia is the starting signal for the Olympic campaign of LA ’28. Olympic sailing resumes the natural four-year cycle after the three-year sprint in Paris, which means that many of the outstanding sailors have not yet joined the new season. But this will allow us to see the new talent from each country across the ten Olympic classes. This event will undoubtedly showcase a mix of experience and youth, resulting in some of the most exciting competition in Palma’s bay – a place loved by Olympic sailors from around the world.”
With half of the Paris 2024 ILCA medalists attending the event, alongside many other World, European and Youth ILCA champions, the excitement and competitive intensity in our Olympic classes is guaranteed.
With half of the Paris 2024 ILCA medalists attending the event, alongside many other World, European and Youth ILCA champions, the excitement and competitive intensity in our Olympic classes is guaranteed.
The Princess Sofia Trophy is just the beginning of the Sailing Grand Slam 2025, a series of prestigious regattas that will help shape the Olympic sailing landscape for the next cycle. After Palma, the circuit moves to the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères, France, followed by the Kieler Woche in Germany, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta in the USA, and the Dutch Water Week in Medemblik. These events, along with the upcoming 2025 ILCA Senior World Championships in China and the 2025 ILCA Senior European Championships in Sweden, will be pivotal for sailors as they continue to refine their techniques and strive for Olympic qualification in the coming years.
With the new Olympic cycle kicking off, the road to Los Angeles is set to be filled with fierce racing, innovative tactics, and inspiring performances from the ILCA class. Follow us to stay up to date on all the exciting from these competitions!
Princess Sophia Trophy: www.trofeoprincesasofia.org
Sailing Grand Slam: www.sailinggrandslam.com
ILCA Class Association: www.laserinternational.org
ILCA European Region: www.eurilca.org
Report by Agustín Argüelles – EurILCA | Photos via Sailing Grand Slam.
