Crew Boss Mike Sanderson’s thoughts halfway through 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE

We have high expectations in the Bella Family. After a third and fourth place finish on Tuesday, we knew we had to come back swinging in order to get the regatta back in our favor. It was a huge effort by the whole team to come back and win yesterday’s coastal race.

It’s all on for this regatta. Shockwave is having a great event, but we are still only halfway through racing and a four-point lead can be swallowed up in one race. Today will be quite telling as to who grabs the event by the horns.

Tune in through Saturday (August 9) for more nightly reports featuring Hap Fauth, Mike Sanderson, John Cutler and Peter Henderson. For more updates, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE, visit http://bit.ly/ULAhwj

Bella Mente Racing wrapped up a five-day practice session this afternoon and kicks off racing in the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. For six days (August 4-9) the boat will race on the Bay of Palma in Mallorca, Spain against fellow mini maxis.

“Bella Mente performed great today on the practice course,” said Robert Ouellette, Bella Mente Racing’s project manager. “We had most of the mini maxis out there today, including Robertissima III, Jethou and Alegre. Shockwave had an early day and did not participate in the practice racing.

“Today we focused on ‘starting’ drills, and windward leeward courses. All is well with the boat, the new sails and the crew.  The training session was well worth it, and we look forward to taking the positive developments from it into the week ahead of us.”

Bella Mente Racing will be doing nightly race reports Monday through Saturday featuring sound bites from  Hap Fauth, Mike Sanderson, John Cutler and Peter Henderson and photos by Jesus Renedo. For more updates, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE, visit http://bit.ly/ULAhwj

Today marked Bella Mente Racing’s second day of practice on the waters off Mallorca, Spain. The team, led by owner/driver Hap Fauth, kicks off racing at the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE on Monday, August 4.

(Photo Credit: Tom Burnham)

“It’s a luxury having five days of practice leading up to this regatta as it is a great opportunity for us to work with the new boat configuration, mast modifications and sails before the

2014 Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship,” said the team’s Crew Boss Mike Sanderson adding that the team will be racing against a large group of mini maxis next week. “Copa del Rey is a great event where we get to put our best foot forward against the opposition. The boat is feeling great so bring it on.”

(Photo Credit: Tom Burnham)

Bella Mente Racing will be doing nightly race reports next week. For more updates, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE, visit http://bit.ly/ULAhwj

It will be a marathon on the water for Bella Mente Racing next week, when it takes on six days (August 4-9) of tough mini maxi competition at the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE. The team arrived in Mallorca, Spain earlier this week and kicked off practice today on the Bay of Palma.

Bella Mente practicing on the Bay of Palma today

“The boat is in pristine condition following her voyage from Bermuda earlier this month,” said Robert Ouellette, Bella Mente Racing’s project manager adding that the team will be practicing up until the event starts on Monday, August 4. “We underwent our annual ‘checkup’ on Tuesday where we weighed Bella Mente and had her measured. We are using the next few days to check the systems onboard, look at the new sails and get back in the groove in terms of onboard crew work.”

Bella Mente practicing on the Bay of Palma today

Earlier this year, the team wrapped up its U.S. and Caribbean Circuit with line honors at the RORC Caribbean 600 (where it outran expected frontrunner, the 90-foot Rambler), the class win at Quantum Key West and first place in IRC Overall at the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta presented by Rolex. The team was also second to cross the finish line in the 635-mile Newport Bermuda Race.

Copa del Rey is one of the largest events on its Mediterranean Racing Calendar, and the team will do battle against many competitors it will see again at the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship in September, including Shockwave, Robertissima III (former RAN), Jethou and Alegre.

“It will be a very competitive event, and we are looking forward to getting a few days of practice under our belt to shake out the cobwebs before racing starts on Monday,” said Ouellette.

Bella Mente earlier this week in Mallorca, Spain

Bella Mente Racing will be doing nightly race reports next week. For more updates, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE, visit http://bit.ly/ULAhwj

31 Copa del Rey Mapfre in 2012 was the last time the team competed.

In less than two weeks, Bella Mente Racing will kick off its European racing circuit in Palma Mallorca for the 33^rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE. For six days (August 4-9), the 72-foot Judel/Vrolijk designed Bella Mente will do battle on the Bay of Palma against four other mini maxis, including Italian entry Alegre, which is defending its 2013 class title. Following the event, the team will go on to race at the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship in September and the Rolex Middle Sea Race in October.

For the latest mini maxi news at Regata Copa del Rey Mapfre, visit http://bit.ly/1noh1Rh

For the latest mini maxi news at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, visit http://bit.ly/1mMtB7S