Who will win this year’s championship?

Given Desafío’s 18-point advantage in the overall standings, it would be easy to assume that the boat helmed by Laureano Wizner and with Santi López-Vázquez calling tactics, will just have to remain as consistent as they have been in order to pocket this year’s Quebramar GP42 Cup. Yet, such a belief couldn’t be further from truth and the Spanish team will not be able to rest a moment, constantly keeping a watchful eye over its competitors.

The fleet’s second Italian yacht, Roma GP42.2, owned by class president Filippo Faruffini and skippered by Italian match racing champion Paolo Cian, will not only have to fight against the top three for the podium but will also have on its back Canarias Puerto Calero, skippered by the young José Maria Ponce, andMADRID of Spanish Olympic champion José Maria Van der Ploeg.

Although far from the circuit’s podium, the two teams that lie at the bottom of the leaderboard will fight in order to reach a podium place in the event. Caser-Quum, helmed by Sergio Llorca, has clearly shown in the last two events that it has overcome the keel problems it suffered from earlier. Last but not least, forBodegas Luis Alegre, with the fleet’s only helmswoman, Spanish Olympic champion Natalia Vía Dufresne, this will be the second event of the year.
Although it is still too early to make any weather predictions, all teams are getting prepared for medium/strong winds, close to 20 knots. This will be unchartered territory for everybody, given the fact we have barely had such conditions so far in the season’s races. Still, this is one challenge more that will make for a grand finale of the Quebramar GP42 Cup.
The Principal Race Officer will be Pete Craig, widely known for his expertise in the organization of prestigious events such as the Acura Key West. The International Jury will be chaired John Doer (GBR) and will include Neven Baran (CRO), Luiz Ferrándiz (ESP), David Lees (GRB), Ana S. del Campo (ESP) and Riccardo Antoni (ITA). The race area of the GP42 fleet will only be shared with the TP52 yachts.

The VII Trofeo César Manrique, is organized by the Club de Mar Puerto Calero, the Casino Club Náutico of Arrecife and the Spanish Sailing Federation, with the collaboration of Spanish Yacht Club Association, the Canarian Yacht Club Association and the Canarian Sailing Federation.

Racing will start on October 15th with the official practice race, and from Thursday the 16th until Saturday the 18th, a maximum of 9 windward/leeward races will take place, 3 per day.
According to Daniel Calero, owner of Canarias Puerto Calero and organizer of the VII Trofeo César Manrique, this year’s trophy will be special for various reasons. First of all, it’s the closing event of the Quebramar GP42 Cup, it will then overlap with the World Cup ORC 670 Islas Canarias and the TP52’s will use it in order to train for the TP52 World Championship Islas Canarias. Adding the fact this year coincides with the 25th anniversary since the creation of Puerto Calero, this will surely be an unforgettable event for all participants.

Organizers will also include the Virtual Eye technology in their rich offering, giving spectators the possibility to watch 3D simulations of the races both in the race village as well as online on www.trofeopuertocalero.com.

For the first time ever, an exceptional hospitality program will be put in place, boasting a race village of over 2,000 square meters that will house all events and shows related to the regatta. According to the organization, Puerto Calero will be host to more than 900 sailors and dozens of accredited media.