The elite of Classic and Vintage sailing yachts reclaim their glory in Barcelona

The Barcelona Classic Sailing - Puig Trophy Regatta takes place between 16 and 19 July. It will constitute an unprecedented finale to the high-competition sailing season in the Catalan capital, bringing together the best Vintage and Classic yachts in a race that promises to revive the spirit of nautical tradition. The competition will take place in the regatta fields of the Barcelona Royal Yacht Club (RCNB) and represents the return of the Puig Group as a nautical sponsor, following two years of absence, having previously sponsored the Copa del Rey-Agua Brava in Palma de Mallorca for almost a quarter of a century. The Barcelona Classic Sailing - Puig Trophy Regatta will bring together three great yacht categories, built according to the specifications established by the International Mediterranean Committee (CIM): Vintage boats launched before 31 December 1949; Classic boats launched between 1 January 1950 and 31 December 1975, and Spirit of Tradition boats, which though built with modern materials and techniques, maintain their original designs. The International Mediterranean Committee (CIM), the vice president of which is Barcelona resident Damián Ribas, brings together the most important Vintage and Classic sailing clubs and associations throughout the continent. The Barcelona Royal Yacht Club is the only club representing Spain, and is joined by Yacht Club of France, the Yacht Club of Monaco, the Italian Yacht Club, the Société Nautique de Genève (Switzerland), the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (Greece) and the Royal Yacht Club of Malta. The Barcelona challenge joins other established competitions celebrated in Mediterranean waters, namely the Almirante Conde de Barcelona Trophy in Palma de Mallorca, and the prestigious Copa del Rey de Barcos for Vintage and Classic yachts - Panerai Trophy which, for the last five years has been held in the regatta fields of the Mahón Maritime Club, Menorca (CMM) at the end of August. The competition will enable us to marvel at some truly spectacular yachts: the “Alba” (RCNB), owned by Damián Ribas, a magnificent yawl measuring 13.12 metres, designed by Philip L. Rodees and launched in 1952, and a winner in its class in the 2007 Copa del Rey; the powerful ”Islander”, a Marconi ketch measuring 17.20 metres, skippered by Ricardo Albiñana, and the winner of the 2008 Conde de Godó Trophy; the “Diana”, headed by Marcos Palomar, a Marconi sloop of 10.50 metres in length; the “Resaca de Kimberley” captained by Joaquín de Miguel,

 • The most spectacular yachts from the Spanish fleet rise to the challenge

and the “Casacabel” owned by Pedro Luis Millet. Other yachts that will take part in the competition include the “Mercury” (CMM), a sloop owned by Jordi Cabau and the winner of the Marconi Vintage category in the Copa del Rey in 2005, 2006 and 2007; the Marconi sloop “Yanira” (CMM) owned by Federico García Planas and winner of the Classic category in 2003, 2005 and 2007, and the “Calima”, skippered by Javier Pujol and winner of the Spirit of Tradition class in 2003, 2004 and 2007. The Italian “Emeraude” headed by Vittorio Cavazzana will also be present, designed by German Frers and measuring 15.30 metros. It was built in 1975 and won the 2006 Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge, considered to be the best circuit worldwide for Vintage and Classic yachts. Another contender for the challenge is the French yacht “Lak II”, winner of the prestigious Almirante Conde de Barcelona Trophy in 2007. It is a 14-metre sloop designed by the celebrated designer Andre Mauric in 1939 and built for the Marquis of Avila. It was used in the 1960s by Baron Bich to train for the America's Cup, along with the 12-metre US yacht ”Constelación”. In addition, the competition will offer us the opportunity to see other genuine maritime jewels in action such as the “Diana” (RCNB), a 10.4-metre Marconi Sloop built in 1964 and owned by Marcos Palomar. This is one of the 70 surviving sailing boats of its class that was built at the Storebro Buks shipyard in Gothenburg. It was named “Havsörnen II” (Sea Eagle) by the prestigious Swedish designer and was restored in 2006. The 19.65-metre yacht “The Blue Peter” is owned by the British skipper Mathew Barder and was built in 1930 based on a design by Alfred Mylne. It was restored in 1988 and represents the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Burnham on Crouch, the most established traditional sailing club in the UK. It is made entirely of Siamese teak (hull, deck and bow) that was cured for sixty years in the shipyard. It is a pure competition vessel and has already claimed victory in some 52 major regattas. A further great pride of the Spanish fleet for Vintage and Classic boats is the “Ilex” (Royal Yacht Club of Palma, RCNP) owned by Germán Ruiz. It measures 15.15 metres in length and is a true veteran, built in 1899 and designed by the British designers Camper & Nicholson. It was constructed in Gosport (England) and sailed for 25 years under the flag of the Royal Engineer Yacht Club. In 1936 the REYC put it up for sale and it was bought by James Patterson who used it in Gibraltar as a work base from which to sell insurance to American and British officers and soldiers stationed at the Rock. In 1971 it was acquired by John Peter Moore, secretary to Salvador Dalí. He fully transformed it but, in 1989, it run aground in Ampuriabrava and was later abandoned. In 1991 it was close to being scrapped but was acquired by Germán Ruiz who, in collaboration with the naval engineer Iñigo Echenique, and using information obtained from Camper & Nicholson and the Royal Engineer Yacht Club, managed to restore it to its original state, along with all its original parts which were acquired from the four corners of the globe. Following close behind is the “Marigan” (RCNP), measuring 15.30 metres in length and designed by Charles Livingston, a member of the English Committee for the America's Cup, for his own personal use. It was built in 1898 by Sir Bond of Birkenhead and belongs to the German skipper Tim Liesenhoff. Its original name was “Molita”, but in 2006 its current owner, who spent three years restoring the boat, rechristened it “Marigan”, a combination of the names of his four daughters, Morgan, Marine, Oceane and Logan. From the Royal Yacht Club of Santander comes the ”Gipsy” owned by Ricardo Rubio, a lugsail ketch measuring 11.90 metres and built in 1927 based on a design by Colin Archer. It was the only boat built for civil use by the Echevarrieta & Larinaga shipyard in Cádiz and was numbered 16, making it the first boat to be built following the “Juan Sebastián El Cano”. Once it was finished it was hoisted onto an Ybarra line boat and shipped to Bilbao where it remained until the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. We do not know how it got to the Mediterranean, although there is documentation showing

that Miguel Sans, a Spanish sailing professional of the time and owner of the “Altair”, skippered it during the Civil War, using it as a spy vessel for the National Side around the bays of Creus and La Nao. Shrapnel marks can still be seen on its posts, showing evidence of the times it was shot at. At the end of the battle, it passed through various hands and was finally acquired by the Rubio-Vilar family in 1951, and still remains in the family. It has competed in ten Conde de Barcelona Regattas and has won in its class on three occasions. The boat was fully restored between 2002 and 2006 and nowadays, based on the express wishes of its current owner, is exactly like it was when it was originally built. The Royal Yacht Club of Barcelona is ready and eagerly anticipating the start of the trial. The training regatta will take place on Wednesday 16 July, and the competition will begin on Thursday at 13.00.