From left to right, Josep M. Isern, Lluís Puig, Miquel Avignó and Josep Pujols.

The 29 International Palamós Optimist Trophy-13 Nations Cup, which will be held in the waters of the Bay of Palamós from 15 to 18 February, will have another year with 550 ships - the maximum allowed by the organizers - from 30 countries.

The Palamosense race has become a world reference, and this is demonstrated by the fact that for more than two months the registration has been closed after reaching 550 ships, and more than 100 have been left on the waiting list and will leave a direct economic impact of half a million euros.

This is the second largest race in the world in ships - Optimist - of the same kind, after the Lake di Garda Meeting Optimist (Italy).

Miquel Aviñó, vice president of the Club Nàutic Costa Brava-Vela Palamós (CNCB-VP), organizer of the race, has reviewed the main numbers in terms of participation and has highlighted the two great novelties: "This year there will be one more day of competition, going from three to four days. The main reason is the fact that the maximum test can be disputed, as there will be up to five groups with 110 ships each." The second is technological as an APP for mobile devices has been created "by which you can follow the competition live with notifications with the most relevant information, the Regata Announcement, through the results in real time and be able to follow the fleet live and live from the same field of races."

Josep Pujols, representing the General Secretariat of l'Espot de la Generalitat, has highlighted the fact that "the economic impact for Palamós and nearby localities at this time of year is very important. There is a study in which it has been estimated that the 1,300 people who take part, athletes, coaches and escorts, spend an average of about 350 euros where it is directly reflected in the services sector such as hotel, trade and transport. This means that the tourist season is extended in a considerable way."

Josep Maria Isern, Vice President of the Federació Catalana de Vela, has made it very clear "the role that Palamós and his club play in the sailing world with two races of as much world level as Palamós Optimist Trophy and Christmas Race. This means that things are done very well, but the athletes would not return."

Lluís Puig, mayor of Palamós, has closed the event held at the Museum of Fisheries, stressing that "the sailing is the most representative sport of Palamós and the one with the most international impact. It is important that private and public cooperation continue to exist. For the municipality sports competitions like these are fundamental."

The logistics for such a race is not easy. As the facilities of Club Nàutic Costa Brava-Vela Palamós, organizer of the International Palamós Optimist Trophy, cannot accommodate such a large number of boats, however small they may be those of Optimist. Everything is concentrated on the beach of Palamós, a large, very large and especially comfortable space for participants and companions, as it has all the necessary services and is in the very center of the city, which makes it much more accessible to both participants and the rest of the public.