BALEARIA to sponsor the grand finale of the 2006 Breitling Medcup TP52

The Spanish ferry company Balearia has become the sponsor of the sixth and final event in the Breitling MEDCUP TP52 Circuit 2006.

The regatta, which will be known as the Balearia, Ibiza and Formentera Trophy will be held in Ibiza from Sept. 18th – 23rd, and reinforces the firm’s commitment to the island. At the official signing of the agreement were Balearia President, Adolfo Utor, President of the Mediterranean Fleet Association, Arturo Delgado, and President of the Club Nautico de Ibiza, Julián Vilás. This took place at the Club Nautico de Ibiza which will host and also co organise this event.

The Breitling MEDCUP TP52 which was founded last year, has come to be considered as one of the most important Circuits in the international sailing calendar attracting the very best sailors around. This sponsorship is of great significance for this Mediterranean Circuit and renews Balearia’s commitment to the world of Sailing and to the islands of Ibiza and Formentera. This will be the sixth and therefore final event in the Circuit for 2006 and as such will host the prize-giving ceremony where this year’s winners will be announced.

The second edition of the Breitling MEDCUP TP52 Circuit is due to kick off in Punta Ala, Italy, on May 22nd – 27th. The fleet will then move on to Barcelona, where the second event will be held from the 5th – 9th July. The third event will be the 12th Breitling Regatta, which will take place in Puerto Portals in Mallorca from July 19th – 23rd. Just one week later, the prestigious Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) will begin, this time in Palma de Mallorca from July 29th – August 6th. Athens, Greece will be the fifth destination for the fleet from August 19th – 27th, and then the Circuit will draw to a close in Ibiza from September 18th – 23rd.

The second edition of the Circuit is set to be even better than the last, with double the number of vessels competing, with 20 boats already confirming their presence. As well as last year’s stars, Lexus Quantum (ESP), Caixa Galicia (ESP), Bribón (ESP), Orlanda (ITA), Atalanti (GRE), Bambakou (USA), Cristabella (UK), Aifos (ESP), Patches (IRL) or Sjambok (USA), the fleet will have brand new additions. Countries such as Germany, Austria, Spain (one new boat), Holland (3 new boats), UK , Ireland, Norway and the USA have all confirmed their presence at the Breitling MEDCUP TP52 Circuit for 2006.

As web as the presence of last year’s big names such as Russell Coutts, Paul Cayard, Vasco VascottoSkipper of Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team. Click for more info, or Roberto Bermúdez de Castro, there will be new challengers in the TP52 races with King Harald of Norway, Dean BarkerHelmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand.

Click for more info, and John Kostecki all competing. Among the new teams to look out for will be the Dutch team Sotto Vocce, Mean Machine and Pinta, and also Fram from Norway, the UK team Stay Calm, Austrian Team Astro and the USA’s Rush and Warpath, who will have almost all of the members of Emirates Team New Zealand onboard. A very interesting contender indeed will be Spain’s Iñaki Castañer and his ONO team, following Castañer’s acquisition of the Breitling MEDCUP 2005 winning vessel Pisco Sour which was skippered by Vasco Vascotto.