Iker Múgica winner of the 34th Palamós Optimist Trophy

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34th International Vila de Palamós Optimist Trophy 2024

Palamós, Spain

Palamós, 18/02/24.- Iker Múgica (CN Cambrils) is the new and proud overall winner of the 34th International Vila de Palamós Optimist Trophy-18 Nations Cup, among a total of 550 participants from 24 countries. He was accompanied on the podium by fellow Spaniards Joan Domingo (CN Cambrils), second, and Pepe García Gandrille (RCN Barcelona), third.

A total of nine races were held, five qualifying races and four Final Series races, on a final day when the wind picked up after 1:00 p.m. The Race Committee managed to organize 20 starts, two in each of the five groups, with winds ranging from 9 to 12 knots.

It was an exciting finish as Domingo started as the leader with a one-point advantage over Múgica, setting up a thrilling battle between club teammates. Múgica couldn't afford to make any mistakes, as his discard was a 55. And so it was, the pre-race favorite secured two second-place finishes, while Domingo scored a 5 and a 16, dropping him to second place.

The fight for the third position ensued, eventually taken by Barcelona's Pepe García Grandille, who managed a 3-13 in the final races. Fourth and fifth places went to Spaniards Juan Lleonart (CN El Balís) and European bronze medalist Mateo Carbonell (CN Jávea).

Completing the Top 10 were Dutchman Maurits Melens (6th), Frenchman Matthias Krauss (7th), Ukrainian Olha Lubianska (8th), Briton Leo Gosling (9th), and Swede Alexander Forssen (10th).

The women's podium consisted of Olha Lubianska, with Balearic sailor Amalia Coll (CN S'Arenal) in second and Swedish sailor Adele Ramm in third.
In the under-12 category, the podium was formed by Hungarian Barnabas Gereben (Spartacus Sailing Club), Ukrainian Roman Vyevyenko (Fragia Vela Riva), and Spaniard Pablo López (RCN Valencia).

Spain won the 18 Nations Cup as the best country, with Iker Múgica, Joan Domingo, Pepe García Gandrille, and Joan Lleonart occupying the top four spots overall, combining their individual scores.

As for special awards, the Xavier Ribera Trophy, for the first local sailor, went to Jordi Camós (CN Costa Brava/Vela Palamós), while the Martinet Trophy, for the youngest sailor, was awarded to 9-year-old Loris Mateu (CN L'Escala). Swiss sailor Lena Müller took home the Winner award.

Present at the awards ceremony were Lluís Puig, Mayor of Palamós; Eduard Sallés, President of Club Nàutic Costa Brava/Vela Palamós; Miquel Aviñó, President of the Sports Commission; Josep Coll, Sports Councilor; Anna Julià, Territorial Representative for Sports of the Generalitat; Josep Maria Isern, Vice President of the Catalan Sailing Federation; and Joaquín Valero, President of AECIO.

Sustainable Regatta

The Palamós Optimist Trophy is recognized as a CLEAN REGATTA by the international association Sailors for the Sea.

The School Sailing program has also been registered with Sailors for the Sea as an educational project focused on sustainability. The Palamós Optimist Trophy is registered as a Clean Regatta on the Sailors for the Sea website and has proposed a series of measures to make the regatta more sustainable.
For several years now, the Palamós Optimist Trophy has been an environmentally conscious regatta, which is why various actions related to sustainability will be carried out, such as Paper Less, Be One With the Sea, No Plastics, Green Regatta, Sailors for the Sea.

In recent editions, plastic has been completely eliminated, and the use of refillable bottles through water fountains placed around the club has been encouraged.

Club Nàutic Costa Brava-Vela Palamós also holds the EMAS/ISO 14001 certification.