Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca is a benchmark in the promotion of gender equality
by Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofía 7 Mar 09:42 PST
28 March - 5 April 2025
Breiana Whitehead (AUS), Sofía overall winner in 2024 © Sailing Energy / Trofeo Princesa Sofía
The Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca represents a benchmark in the promotion of gender equality in sailing on International Women's Day, which is celebrated this Saturday, March 8.
Four of the ten disciplines participating in the Mallorcan classic of Olympic classes are female, four male and two of mixed crew. With three weeks to go until the start of the 54th edition of the regatta, 345 women have registered, representing 40.1% of the total number of entries.
The event, which will muster the world's best Olympic-class sailors on the Bay of Palma from March 28 to April 5, reflects the evolution and commitment of the sport of sailing to inclusion. In recent years, the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca has actively worked to reduce the gender gap, boosting female participation and promoting the profile of female athletes internationally.
Mallorcan windsurfer Andrea Torres, iQFOiL Spanish champion and who will participate in the 54 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca, considers sailing to be one of the most egalitarian sports: "In my case, I have always felt very fortunate and I have seen a lot of support for both men and women in the world of youth and Olympic sailing. In the youth stage we have sailed together in national competitions, and it has been shown that we are indeed competitive."
In recent years there has been a growing presence for women in elite sailing competitions, and the Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca has become a key platform for development and recognition. On six occasions, the absolute winner of the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca has been a woman (including the last edition, with the absolute overall win of Australian Breiana Whitehead), and in two other editions the winners belonged to a mixed category, according to data from the last decade. This helps contributes to making women's successes in the sport more visible.
Challenges to equality in sailing
One of the main difficulties for more women to access the Olympic classes is the lack of resources and financial needs. As Melania Henke, who will participate in the 54 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca in 49er FX class, explains, many girls at the end of the youth stage elect to "secure their future" by studying a career, sometimes because they perceive a lack stability in sailing or due to the economic pressures involved in making the setep up to an Olympic campaign.
"The key to solving this is to make sure that the athletes in the youth classes receive good financial and resource support from the federations at the time of making the jump to an Olympic class. This way they will be able to maintain their motivation and make the first big step, which is the change of class, easier," remarks the Balearic athlete.
The Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca is not only a first class sporting event, but also an example of how sport can be a catalyst for change in society. This year's edition reaffirms its commitment to gender parity and reinforces the message that talent and passion are not differentiated by gender on the race and training areas at sea. Of the ten participating divisions, four are female, four are male and two are mixed crew. At the time of writing, 345 women have registered for this 54th edition, equivalent to 40.1% of the total of 860 sailors on the provisional register.
Inclusion in professional sailing
The regatta, which is part of the Sailing Grand Slam, welcomes great female sailors who serve as inspirational role models for the next generations of athletes. One good example is Paula Barceló, who is into her third Olympic campaign in the 49er FX class. In her opinion, one remaining barrier to women is in professional sailing: "In the children's, youth and Olympic categories, it is a fairly egalitarian sport, but professional competitions are still very masculine dominated. Although little by little doors are opening, such as the Women's America's Cup or the inclusion of a female sailor in SailGP, there is still a long way to go," she points out.
Another area that still has room for improvement is in the area of committees, juries, coaches and regatta organization staff. Marga Perelló, U-17 ILCA 6 class world champion, proposes measures to promote equality: "Offer courses and certifications accessible to women, highlight those who already hold these positions to inspire others, and promote gender equity in committees and organizations."
Lara Himmes, winner of the last ILCA 6 Spanish Championship, points out the main challenge to achieve the correct evolution of Olympic sailing: "The big problem is that the classes, as they are developing, require heavier and heavier athletes. For a woman, who at that time is a teenager, it is complicated to find the motivation to gain weight because socially it is penalized."
In this sense, the mixed classes (470 Mixed and Nacra 17 in the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca), represent an opportunity because they give women confidence. "It was once perceived that women are weak and less capable. We are different, but working together makes a difference. In mixed classes, everyone has their strengths, and when combined, the results are incredible," says Himmes.
The 54 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca is held under the joint organization of Club Nàutic S'Arenal, Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, Real Club Náutico de Palma, the Federación Española de Vela and the Federación Balear de Vela, with the support of World Sailing and the main Balearic public institutions.
The 54th Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca is part of the Sailing Grand Slam 2025, along with the Semaine Olympique Française, the Dutch Water Week, the Kieler Woche and the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta.