Balearic youth squad ready to take on the Spanish Optimist Championship

The Balearic fleet, made up of 20 sailors, is already in the waters of the Abra, ready to compete in the national Optimist class event, which takes place from April 1st to 4th under the organization of the Real Club Marítimo del Abra-Real Sporting Club.

This week, the Spanish Optimist Championship brings together 155 young sailors from across the country in the waters of the Abra (Getxo), in one of the major events on the national dinghy sailing calendar. Of the more than 100 participants, 20 are from the following Balearic clubs: Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, Club Nàutic s’Arenal, Reial Club Nàutic del Port de Pollença, Real Club Náutico de Palma, and Club Nàutic s’Estanyol.

Organized by the Real Club Marítimo del Abra-Real Sporting Club on behalf of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation, the championship gets underway after the previous days of registration and training, and will run from April 1st to 4th, with the opening ceremony scheduled for today, Tuesday the 31st.

The competition will feature sailors from eleven autonomous communities, the Basque Country, Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Catalonia, Madrid, Galicia, Cantabria, the Valencian Community, Murcia, and Melilla, reflecting the high standard and broad participation that characterize the Optimist class, the main breeding ground of Spanish sailing.

The program includes up to twelve races, with a maximum of three races per day starting from 11:00 a.m., always depending on weather conditions. The championship will be structured in a qualifying series and a final series, and at least two races must be completed for the national title to be valid.

The categories at stake will be under-13 and under-16, both male and female, in a format that will determine the new Spanish champions of the class.

Over these days, the Abra will offer one of the most representative images of grassroots sailing, with a large and competitive fleet racing on a demanding and technical course.

Among the local participants, the presence of sailors from the organizing club stands out, with names such as Nicolás Bastard, one of the favorites for the title, along with other young athletes competing on home waters.

The competition will conclude on Saturday, April 4th, with the final races and the prize-giving ceremony.

The 2026 Spanish Optimist Championship is organized by the Real Club Marítimo del Abra-Real Sporting Club on behalf of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation, in collaboration with the Basque and Biscayan Sailing Federation and the Spanish International Optimist Class Association (AECIO), as well as with the support of various institutions and partner entities.