The most “emotional” SM La Reina Trophy

The XXII edition of the SM La Reina Trophy will have more than five hundred sailors registered in the six categories that make up the regatta. The competition is organized by the Real Club Náutico de Valencia from July 1 to 4 in the waters of Valencia in what is already known as the Manel Casanova regatta course. The regatta is a tribute to the Navy and is also the XXXIII Almirante Marcial Sánchez Barcaíztegui Cup.

The test will have almost 60 registered boats belonging to six different nationalities, although the vast majority of the fleet is national. The presentation was made today at the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation in Valencia. The tests will begin on Friday the 2nd after Thursday the 1st has been dedicated to the measurements of the sailboats and the presentation. The classes will also sail Saturday and Sunday in two regatta fields when the SM La Reina Trophy will close with its trophy delivery.

The emblematic trophy returns after a year of hiatus with more force than ever and with a club focused on complying with all health security measures. The president of RCN Valencia, Alejandro Fliquete, explained at the press conference: “I think it is the most emotional edition of all the ones we have organized because of everything we have and are going through as a result of the pandemic. We did not know if we could carry it forward, it has taken us on a changed foot, but our health advisors encouraged us to celebrate it and we went ahead. And the fact is that after we announced our regatta, Palma came out to confirm that they were doing the Copa del Rey, which shows that we were on the right track. For how difficult it has been to organize the regatta in such a short time, I am sure that it will be a success in all aspects. We have a high level of boats despite the fact that several boats from outside our country have not been able to come due to the restrictions that they must go through. We are also very proud to show everyone the work we have done in the club's swimming pool, which will allow us to have an incredible Village where members and sailors will find themselves very comfortable”.

Rafel Chirivella, director of the regatta, stated: “I want to thank the support of the Royal Family that continues to back us and also the Navy that, as always, is with us with the commodore of the regatta, Jaime Rodríguez-Toubes. For us, being able to organize this edition is like a dream. We have had a nightmare that still lasts. I would like to remember the victims of the pandemic, both in the relatives of members and sailors who are no longer here. But we have to move on. The club has a firm promise to support this sport for 108 years. I think there are only a couple of clubs in Europe that can say they support sailing as much as we do. We have 60 boats which was our initial goal, although we thought that was a bit optimistic. In the end we have achieved it with all six classes and that number of ships. It has conditioned us a lot that international crews have many restrictions to travel and it has been impossible for them to come, but we keep going. I wanted to thank the members of the club for the response they gave when we proposed to do the regatta again. The members, when we have told them that we were going forward, we have noticed that they are with the club and support us one hundred percent”.

Two sailors from different classes who compete in the SM La Reina Trophy were also at the press conference. In the most professional class, the Varadero Valencia ORC 0-1, there are nine boats registered with a very important level. Among them is José Ignacio Vicent's Phonemovil. The owner and tiller of the DK46 is one of the regulars at the competition, although he has a thorn in the side of not having been able to win it: “Every year I aspire to be on the podium, which I have achieved for a few years, but it is the home event and I haven't won it yet, although I have won other important events such as the Palma Vela or the World Championship in ORC. This year we have sailed very little, but I think that like all the others, it will not be a handicap. I think we have a minimum crew to make a podium, although there is a high level in the ORC 0-1 class.

In the ORC 3 class, the president of the club competes, Alejandro Fliquete with his Majoche, who advocates in a future edition for differentiating in the classifications the boats with professionals from those that lack them and pointed out about the RCN Valencia: "We want the class Cruise has many incentives to increase participation and, consequently, the level that is already very high”. A quality that the president transfers to his entire entity, which is a national benchmark: "Every time our club does more important things in this sport with successes in almost all categories."
Pau Chirivella, is the skipper of Praia, a Sun Liberty 34 that competes in the Sailing Project Promotion class. For the club member, this is the class “that most represents the club because any member can compete with any type of cruise ship, it is a very open class. We are all going to be able to enjoy the competition for three days, which is something we usually cannot do. Being able to be part of a regatta like the Queen is amazing for the members. It is very good that the members can live this experience and share it with the great sailors who are going to meet at the club this week ”, he explained.