King Felipe VI handed over control of his yacht Hispania on Thursday after a difficult third day at the 44th MAPFRE King's Cup sailing regatta in Palma Bay. The Spanish head of state left for Colombia to attend the inauguration of president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, though he will return to present trophies on Saturday.
Hispania, representing the Spanish Navy, dropped to fourth place in the Abanca ORC 0 class following fifth and eighth place finishes on Thursday. The vessel remains one point behind third place as final races approach.
If the crew mounts a comeback in the final rounds, King Felipe VI will miss the traditional team dive into the Real Club Náutico pool. That tradition was established by his father, King Juan Carlos I, after winning the regatta in 1993 with Bribón VIII.
Leadership for Javier Banderas
Meanwhile, Javier Banderas consolidated his lead in the Wattex ORC B class aboard Teatro del Soho San Miguel. The Malaga shipowner and brother of actor Antonio Banderas closed the Preliminary Series at the top of the standings ahead of Friday and Saturday's final races.
At the start of the tournament, Banderas warned that the regatta had only just begun and emphasized the need to avoid trouble from the start. He noted that the most consistent crew would win and that maintaining a top four finish in every race offered a strong chance at the title.
On Thursday, team tactician Luis Doreste expressed optimism about their chances. Doreste said that while several boats remained in contention and others were eliminated, their vessel belonged to the group capable of winning the regatta.
Three decades in Palma waters
The 2026 regatta marks the 30th anniversary of Banderas competing in the Bay of Palma. Over 30 years, sailing has developed into a shared family philosophy that he passed to his sons, Víctor and Javier, from his marriage to María Ángeles.
Banderas has maintained a discreet profile at the Real Club Náutico de Palma, with public attention centered on the King. He skipped island social events, including Monday's Owners' Cocktail and Wednesday's white party, to focus entirely on the competition.
Teatro del Soho San Miguel remains positioned to secure victory in its division as Hispania targets a podium spot. Both competitors are scheduled to reunite at the closing trophy ceremony on Saturday evening.
