INEOS TEAM UK race ready in Palma

The third of the 2018 GC32 Racing Tour’s five events begins tomorrow on the Bay of Palma. Here, for a third consecutive year, the flying catamaran circuit is competing at the prestigious Copa del Rey MAPFRE. 

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In Palma, the eight GC32s are moored outside the host club, Real Club Nautico de Palma. Every day sailors from the top international grand prix boats competing at 37 Copa del Rey MAPFRE get to pass by the twin hulled flying machines, which, with top speeds approaching 40 knots, are by far the fastest boats on the Bay of Palma this week

INEOS Team UK, the British America’s Cup challenger, is rotating it's crew this week. New recruits, America’s Cup veteran Joey Newton and former America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race sailor Luke Parkinson, are joining Finn Olympic gold medallist Giles Scott and Neil Hunter. On the helm, Leigh McMillan is standing in for Sir Ben Ainslie having sailed as tactician on Simon Delzoppo’s .film Racing last season and won the GC32 Racing Tour in 2015 as skipper of Sultanate of Oman. 

Of their prospects, McMillan observes: “Franck [Cammas] has been going very well this year and showed some very good pace in Lagos. It is fair to say we are on the catch-up to try and get the better of him. Then there are some other very strong teams like Argo, who are constantly putting in some good performances and have got very good boat speed, and Realteam who won the series last year. We have only sailed together for a short time, but I feel like that with this bunch of guys, who are very professional and have incredible talent, we can short cut that.” 

GC32 racing at 37 Copa del Rey MAPFRE gets underway tomorrow 1 August at 1300 CEST and runs until 4 August culminating in a prizegiving, where winner’s trophies will be presented by King Felipe VI of Spain.

international teams looking forward to racing in a venue renowned for its consistent sea breeze.

2018 GC32 Racing Tour Standings 
1. NORAUTO (FRA) 2 pts
2. Realteam (SUI) 6 pts 
3. Zoulou (FRA) 7 pts 
4. Argo (USA) 9 pts
5. Frank Racing (NZL) 9 pts
6. INEOS TEAM UK (GBR) 12 pts 
7. film Racing (AUS) 13 pts
8. Código Rojo Racing (ARG) 17 pts

INEOS TEAM UK GC32 Race Squad for Palma: 
Leigh McMillan – Helmsman 
Luke Parkinson, Mainsail 
Joey Newton, Jib Trim 
Giles Scott, Bow / Tactics 
Neil Hunter, Float
Support team: 
Jono Macbeth, Sailing Team Manager 
Rob Wilson, Coach 
Matty Adams, Boat Builder
Aston Campion, Shore Support 
Ben Williams, Head of Human Performance

2018 GC32 Racing Tour remaining events:
37th Copa Del Rey MAPFRE, 31 July – 4 August - Palma de Mallorca, Spain
GC32 Villasimius Cup, 12 – 16 September - Villasímius, Sardinia, Italy
GC32 TPM Med Cup, 10 –14 October - Toulon, France