Balearic Boating Day promotes access to the sea and job opportunities in the nautical sector

The initiative, promoted by the Balearic Marine Cluster as part of World Boating Day, seeks to bring boating closer to society as a whole and to encourage access to the sea, training, and job opportunities in the sector.

Port Adriano hosted today, Wednesday 20th of May, the official presentation of Balearic Boating Day, an initiative promoted by the Balearic Marine Cluster together with associations, companies, and public administrations, with the aim of bringing boating closer to citizens and opening the sea to Balearic society as a whole.

The press conference was attended by Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro, Regional Minister for Enterprise, Employment and Energy of the Government of the Balearic Islands; Juan Antonio Amengual, Mayor of Calvià; Pedro Suasi, Manager of the Balearic Marine Cluster; Jaume Vaquer, President of AENIB; and Isabel Teruel, Secretary of the Balearic Marinas Association and Operations Director of Port Adriano.

During his speech, Pedro Suasi stressed that Balearic Boating Day “is not a one-off action or simply an event, but a response to a real need within the Balearic nautical sector: to bring the sea closer to citizens and ensure that boating once again becomes part of the everyday life of our society.”

The manager of the Balearic Marine Cluster also underlined that, despite living surrounded by the sea, there is still a perception that boating “is not for everyone”, a barrier this initiative aims to break down by showing that there are many ways to enjoy and experience the sea in an accessible, approachable, and open way for everyone.

Suasi gave special thanks for the involvement of associations and organisations such as AENIB, the Balearic Marinas Association, AECIB, Calvià Town Council, and the Government of the Balearic Islands, as well as for the efforts of all the companies that have collaborated altruistically by providing boats, jet skis, paddleboards, diving equipment, and specialised instructors.

Balearic Boating Day is being held as part of World Boating Day, an international initiative that promotes open nautical activities in different destinations around the world. The Balearic Islands are thus joining this global action, strengthening their position as one of the leading international nautical hubs.

The programme has taken place throughout the week on different islands across the archipelago, with visits to shipyards and boatyards, open days, and nautical experiences, culminating this Saturday at Port Adriano with the major final event, the Balearic Boating Festival.

The day will offer free activities for the whole family, including sailing trips, boating experiences, water sports, visits to the historic sailing boat Rafael Verdera, children’s workshops, gastronomic offerings, and spaces to discover training and employment opportunities within the nautical sector.

For his part, Jaume Vaquer, President of AENIB, highlighted the rapid involvement of the business sector in this first edition and stated that the initiative represents “a key opportunity to bring boating closer to citizens and continue strengthening the Balearic nautical ecosystem.”

From Port Adriano, Isabel Teruel emphasised the importance of creating activities that allow citizens to discover the sea and the possibilities offered by the ports and marinas of the Balearic Islands. “Many people enjoy the beach, but they do not always have access to nautical activities. This event is a way to bring them closer to the sea and show them everything they can experience there,” she said.

The Mayor of Calvià, Juan Antonio Amengual, highlighted the strategic value of the nautical sector for the municipality and for the Balearic Islands, stressing that initiatives like this help diversify the tourism offering and strengthen the connection between citizens and the sea.

Finally, Regional Minister Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro congratulated the sector on the joint work carried out by companies, associations, and public administrations, highlighting that the Balearic nautical industry is “one of the economic drivers of the islands and a sector with strong international recognition.” He also emphasised the importance of opening up the industry and the sea to citizens in order to raise awareness of both nautical leisure and the professional and training opportunities generated by the sector.

Balearic Boating Day aims to become an annual event that continues to bring the sea closer to society and strengthen nautical culture in the Balearic Islands.