From left to right, Julia Casanueva, Carles Salgas, Lluís Puig, Miquel Avigó, Josep Pujols and Josep Isern.

The 42 edition of the Christmas Race, an international race of Olympic and youth classes of the World Sailing, which will be held from 18 to 22 December in the waters of the Bay of Palamós (Girona), is now ready to receive the 605 regatists and 335 ships arrived from 27 countries and distributed in 12 classes: Laser Radio Male and Female, Laser Standard, Europe, Finn, 420 Male and Female, 470 Male and Female, 29er, 49er and FX.

The Christmas Race was presented today at the Espai del Peix de Palamós with the presence of Mayor Lluís Puig, the Sports Member of the Diputación de Girona, Josep Salgas; the Sports delegate of the General Secretariat of l'Esport, Josep Pujols; the President of the Royal Spanish Federation of Vela, Julia Casanueva; the Vice President of the Catalan Federation of Vela, Josep Isern and the Vice President of the CN Costa Brava / Vela Palamós, Miquel Aviñó.

This is one of the most important races on the European continent, which can be seen as the first race of 2018 for the world and European Olympic sailing rankings.

The Christmas Race is included in the world calendar and in the international and high-level regatta of Real Federación Española de Vela. This is why the different Spanish crews have it as one of the reference races. The gerundense race will be selective for the Laser Standard, Finn, 470 Male and Female, 49er and FX classes. The Catalan race has been chosen as the Spanish Championship for the 49er and FX classes and Spanish Cup for the 470 Male and Female.

Lluís Puig has emphasized that "the Christmas landscape in Palamós has always been linked to Christmas Race. It is a reference throughout Europe and must be pampered because it is very important for Palamós both at the sports, tourist, social and economic level. Our goal is to make the participants happy and come back next year."

Julia Casanueva, as the top representative of the state sail, has only had good words for the Christmas Race: "It is a very important competition of international Olympic sailing and Palamós is a reference since from here many of the great regatists have come out of the great regatists that have later achieved success in different Olympic Games."

Josep Pujols has emphasized that "the fact that the 42 edition is held and with such a high level of participation and keeping it every year is not easy and demonstrates the great organizational capacity of the club."

Carles Salgas is clear that "having a competition of these characteristics in the German comarcas is very important since they join sport, tourism, health and economy. The candle is a sport that takes care of the environment and depends on it to compete: the wind and the sea sleep its engines."

Josep Isern explained that "the Christmas Race and the CN Costa Brava / Vela Palamós are an icon of the Catalan candle and that it is our world reference."

Miquel Aviñó explained the participatory and technical component of the Christmas Race where he highlighted the fact that the race will be distributed in four areas of competition and two headquarters, one in the club and the other in the Playa Grande.

Sunday day 17 will be the day of official inscriptions and training, and from Monday day 18 to Thursday day 21 will be held the qualifying tests where the first ten among the Olympic classes will compete for the podium on Friday day 22 at the Medal Race, and the non-Olympic Europe, 420 and 29er will do so in formed fleet throughout the five days of competition.