PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN (April 9, 2022) – The 51st Princesa Sofía regatta wrapped in Palma de Mallorca with an exciting set of medal races and finals. Formula Kite athlete Daniela Moroz secured the gold and USST 49er team Barrows / Henken took home the silver at the Hempel World Cup Series event.
Final results of USST Medal Race Qualifiers
- Daniela Moroz (Formula Kite) – Gold Medal
- Ian Barrows / Hans Henken (49er) – 2nd in medal race, Silver Medal
- Andrew Mollerus / Ian MacDiarmid (49er) – 9th in medal race, 5th overall
- Steph Roble / Maggie Shea (49erFX) – 9th in medal race, 9th overall
“Today was intense,” said Moroz. “I had to win two races in order to win the event and Lauriane Nolot [from Team France] came in with one point already and only needed one race win to take the title. It was pretty high pressure for me, but I was really happy with the first race. Then the second race I had a rough start and had a lot of ground to make up throughout the two laps. The final race came down to the last gybe and it became all about boat handling and I’m stoked to come away with the win.”
Supporting Moroz through the finals was Noah Runciman and Kai Calder, USST ODP Men’s Formula Kite athletes who competed in the event but did not advance to the finals. Together with Coach Charlie McKee the three provided assistance on the water and the beach. Runciman joined coach McKee on the rib and served as a second set of eyes, and Calder helped Moroz set up her kite and keep in constant contact with what McKee and Runciman were seeing on the water.
Team Barrows/Henken came into the event with a goal of utilizing clear and consistent communication around the racecourse to promote a higher level of performance and support their ability to execute on strategy and tactics. But even while focusing on goals outside of numbers, team Barrows/Henken came away with a shining silver medal.
“Today’s medal race was really exciting,” said USST 49er athlete Ian Barrows. “We started off the race and split from the fleet. The shift came along in our favor and we were even with the French team and then we got a nice lefty at the end of the first beat. Then we were in second and the French team was in last.”
Hans Henken added, “So Ian turns to me and says ‘the French guys are in last- what do we do?’ And I said ‘I guess we just keep sailing fast and see how it plays out!”
“We’re really stoked on our finish, and our props to the French team on a good race and the regatta win,” said Barrows.
“Palma 2022 is very encouraging for the US team,” said USST Head Coach Luther Carpenter. “It demonstrated top results in windy and wavy conditions against top international competition. We know we need to perform at the top of these fleets in races and regattas, and this event shows us that sailors’ hard work is paying off”
Next, a good handful of Princesa Sofía attendees will take some time off before making their way to Hyéres, France for the French Olympic Sailing Week that kicks off April 23. Hyéres will be the second of only two regattas in 2022 that gathers all Olympic class boats in one place.
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Thursday, April 8 Update (Race Day 5) – The penultimate day of the Princesa Sofía called competitors to the water for the last opportunity to qualify for Friday’s medal races. Winds were out of the southwest 12-14 knots and filled in another picture-perfect sunny day on the Bay of Palma.
“My focus for this regatta was to work on my starts and to connect the weather conditions with the type of strategy I should be using, and I’m happy to say I’ve made a lot of progress with that,” said USST Women’s Formula Kite athlete Daniela Moroz. “The first couple days were tricky but it’s been really good to make a comeback. It’s been an amazing learning experience and I’m excited to try to win 2 more races tomorrow which is what I need to win overall.”
USST Athletes qualified for gold fleet and advancing to Saturday’s medal race:
- Ian Barrows / Hans Henken (49er), currently in 2nd
- Daniela Moroz (Women’s Formula Kite), currently in 2nd [advancing to the final round of the kite racing format]
- Andrew Mollerus / Ian MacDiarmid (49er), currently in 5th
- Steph Roble / Maggie Shea (49erFX), currently in 8th
USST / ODP Athletes qualified for gold fleet but completed regatta:
- Noah Runciman (Men’s Formula Kite), finished in 16th
- Kai Calder (Men’s Formula Kite), finished in 18th
- Louisa Nordstrom / Trevor Bornarth (470), finished in 24th
- Christina Sakellaris (ILCA 6), finished in 26th
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Thursday, April 7 Update (Race Day 4) – The Bay of Palma returned to its famous champagne conditions of 13-18 knots from the SW and competitors were doused in sunshine after days of grueling cold and gray skies. Racing split off into gold and silver fleets for the finals series for all classes except Nacra 17, iQFOiL women, and Formula Kite women.
“If you love sailing, today was the day that you dream of: the top 25 throwing down in big conditions in Palma,” said USST 49er skipper Andrew Mollerus. “We sailed well but left a few points on the table, keeping us hungry for tomorrow. Friday looks like more of the same, so we are gearing up for another epic one.”
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Wednesday, April 6 Update (Race Day 3) – The wind was lower in velocity and more varied in direction than the first two race days, but the cold remained for competitors in the Princesa Sofía. A westerly gradient eventually made its way to the Bay of Palma and the skies opened to sunshine and a steady 15-16 knots.
After qualifying for ILCA 6 gold fleet in the first two days of racing, ODP athlete Christina Sakellaris posted two top-ten scores in challenging conditions. “I had a focus of getting of the start line and sailing to where I saw pressure, then making incremental gains throughout the racecourse,” said Sakellaris. “I tried to stay focused on the shifts and puffs that I was dealt and stay focused on my own boat and sailing fast. I’m really happy to have had a consistent day and put some solid racing together and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
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Tuesday, April 5 Update (Race Day 1 for 49er, 49erFX, Formula Kite) – USA came out swinging with team Barrows / Henken securing a bullet in the first race of the Princesa Sofia for the 49er blue group. It was the second day in a row of brutally cold and windy conditions, but the US Sailing Team fought hard and posted a handful of race wins including a win by Daniela Moroz in the first race of the Women’s Formula Kite and a win by Roble / Shea in race three of the 49erFX yellow group.
“Ian and Hans had a good day- they showed themselves in the top 3 in every race,” said USST 49er Squad coach, Mark Asquith. “It was fast and furious with the breeze regularly above 20 knots. They got caught up in some waves and boats at the wrong time which made the day a bit more challenging [prompting a 10th and a 6th finish] but we’re looking forward to the rest of the regatta.”
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Monday, April 4 Update (Race Day 1 for ILCAs, iQFOiLs, 470) – “In every respect other than the air temperature there was a baptism of fire on the Bay of Palma when [iQFOiLs and mixed 470s] contested their first races in the Olympic classes arena at the 51 Trofeo Sofia Mallorca today. Strong, gusty offshore breezes pumped up to well over 25kts at times to provide a stiff test for the debuting iQFOiL men’s and women’s foiling windsurfing classes and the mixed 470 dinghy class.” From April 4 World Sailing Press Release.
It was survival conditions on the water, prompting even the fleet’s Olympic 470 medalists to sail conservatively in winds that recorded a top gust of 35kts. “It was a tough day,” said Nordstrom/Bornarth coach Yevgeniy Burmatnov of the Oyster Bay 470 Team. “Overall Louisa and Trevor sailed really well. It was really impressive to watch them climb back to 10th after capsizing in race one and rounding the bottom mark around 21st-23rd. But tomorrow is another day and I know they’ll push hard.”
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PRINCESA SOFIA EVENT PREVIEW (April 2, 2022) – 1,093 competitors making up 843 boats and representing 62 nations have set up camp in Palma de Mallorca for the largest Olympic class regatta since the Tokyo 2020 Games. Part of the Hempel World Cup Series, the popular Princesa Sofía regatta is back after a two-year break due to Covid-19, and the boat park is buzzing with excitement for the first of two regattas this year that gathers all Olympic class boats in one place.
US Sailing Team
- Ian Barrows / Hans Henken, 49er
- Andrew Mollerus / Ian MacDiarmid, 49er
- Daniela Moroz, Formula Kite
- Louisa Nordstrom / Trevor Bornarth, 470
- Pedro Pascual, iQFOiL
- Steph Roble / Maggie Shea, 49erFX
Olympic Development Program
- Kai Calder, Formula Kite
- Noah Runciman, Formula Kite
- Christina Sakellaris, ILCA 6
- Chris Williford / Duncan Williford, 49er
Other American sailors participating
- Kelly Cole / Ellie Glenn, 49erFX
- Carson Crain / Caroline Atwood, Nacra 17
- Lilly Myers, ILCA 6
- Lucy Wilmot / Erika Reineke, 49erFX
Keep up with the regatta:
Monday, April 4 – First race day for ILCA 6 & 7, 470, iQFOiL
Tuesday, April 5 – First race day for 49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17, Formula Kites
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From the US Sailing Team:
From veteran campaigners to Palma first-timers, the US Sailing Team and Olympic Development Program bring a wide array of goals to the water for the 2022 Princess Sofia Regatta.
“Our team always looks forward to the cooperative training and racing period in March here in Palma,” said USST Head Coach, Luther Carpenter. “It’s the ‘spring opener’ to evaluate our team’s skills and check in with the greater Olympic Sailing community. We have 45 sailors and coaches here which is a strong representation of US Sailing. The event presents a great opportunity to fine-tune the collaboration, education, and learning dynamics. Each sailor is focused on specific goals on their path toward the Paris 2024 Olympics.”
A handful of athletes have spent a considerable amount of time in Mallorca preparing for this week’s regatta, including Ian Barrows and Hans Henken:
“We have been in Palma since March 5th getting reacclimated to the ‘Palma’ venue and finding a rhythm with the weather cycles,” said Hans Henken, campaigning 49er US Sailing Team athlete. “So far we’ve sailed every day we intended to, been able to set clear goals for each session on the water. We feel like we’ve prepared well for the event. We sailed the Mallorca Sailing Club regatta and had some success so we’re feeling confident in our ability to sail to our potential.”
The 49er and FX classes have officially begun the transition to 3Di sail technology and new rigs. The 2022 Princesa Sofía will see a mix of traditional and 3Di sails on the water, and Roble/Shea will be one of the boats sporting the sleek black sails.
“It was really important for our team to come to Palma because the 49ers and FXs have new sails and new rigs, so we’re interested in seeing how everyone is approaching the new gear,” said 49erFX coach, Giulia Conti. “We’re trying different things and observing our competitors as we draw conclusions about the best way to set ourselves up for success with the new equipment.”
Regarding team Roble/Shea’s approach for the regatta, Steph Roble said, “We’re aiming to work on our racing processes in Palma. Having just taken a big chunk of time off after the games and with Maggie’s surgery, we will have some rust to shake off on the racecourse as well as with our racing communication. We are excited to be racing again and looking forward to learning a lot this week.”