On Thursday, 2nd April 2026, Day 4 of the 55th Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels continued with unpredictable offshore winds challenging competitors as the Olympic regatta approaches its conclusion. Athletes faced calm spells interspersed with gusts exceeding 20 knots, creating a dynamic racing environment.
In the 49er Skiff class, the lead has shifted between top athletes from the USA and Australia, who have trained together extensively in Torbay Beach, northern Auckland. Following three Elimination Series races, Sydney’s Harry Price and Max Paul now lead the standings by three points, benefiting from a strong performance that included a victory in the day’s first race and a second-place finish in the second race, overtaking the American duo of Nevin Snow and Ian MacDiarmid.
Snow and MacDiarmid, who aim to replicate their predecessors’ bronze medal success from the 2024 Paris Olympics, continue to push for improvement. Snow shared insights about his motivation, drawing inspiration from his friends who secured medals in prior events.
Meanwhile, Paula Barceló and Maria Cantero of Spain emerged as leaders in the Women’s Skiff class, maintaining a slender one-point advantage with consistent finishes amidst the shifting winds. Barceló highlighted the effectiveness of their conservative racing strategy that avoided risks while ensuring consistent results.
In the 470 Mixed class, local champions Jordi Xammar and Marta Cardona hold a ten-point lead over their British rivals after solid performances. The seasoned teams are prepared to face the challenges of the coming elimination races.
Matt Wearn, the double Olympic champion from Australia, leads the ILCA 7 fleet with a solid performance, effectively discarding a 26th place finish. In an impressive show, he built an 11-point lead over Germany’s Under-21 World Champion Ole Schweckendiek.
In Formula Kite, world champion Jessie Kampman remains dominant, winning three of her four races for a nearly flawless event. Her day, however, wasn’t without its challenges as she encountered unpredictable wind conditions that even caused her to crash on one occasion.
As competitors ready themselves for the event’s next races, the stakes have never been higher with only limited opportunities left to secure their positions for the upcoming medal races.
The Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels is organised by Bahía Activa and supported by the Balearic sailing community and World Sailing. It forms part of the 2026 Sailing Grand Slam along with other major international regattas.
Text Credits: Trofeo Princesa Sofía
Photo Credits: Sailing Energy/Trofeo Princesa Sofía
Video Credits: ICARUS Sports / Trofeo Princesa Sofía
To keep up to date with the 55 Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofía, please visit the official website or follow on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.
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