Photo credit: Carreto/Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre
No, this is not Newport, Rhode Island, although it could be. It is, actually, Palma De Mallorca in Spain where CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, the second-placed boat in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race, returned to its Spanish home during the Copa del Rey, one of the biggest multiclass sailing regattas in the Mediterranean with over 100 registered entries.
Sponsored by the Mallorcan footwear company Camper, the triumphant return of the joint Spanish and New Zealand flagged boat, marked the end of a round the world adventure that started with the yacht’s baptism at the Real Club Nautico de Palma in September 2011 and the race started from Alicante in early November 2011.
CAMPER has carried the burgee of the island’s yacht on its global odyssey, visiting six continents and 10 stopover cities on its 42,000-mile race course.
“Only time will tell how this will live in the history books, but for us at Camper, this experience will live with us forever and we are honoured that the boat is coming back home, even for a few days.
We are very proud of our achievements in the Volvo Ocean Race, and equally proud that we are able to welcome CAMPER back to Mallorca as the worthy runners up in this amazing event,” said Estanislao Carpio, CAMPER’s Chief Operating Officer. “It has been a true adventure for Camper to be part of this race. As a sponsor, we were the only privately owned company in the event and, in true Camper style, managed to punch well above our weight, both on and off the water.
MALLORCA is home to many celebrities including power couple Catherine Zetz-Jones and Michael Douglas, a destination for the glamorous jet set.
