Five leaders open the 31st Illes Balears Clàssics in Palma Bay

Hallowe’en, Clarionet, Argyll, Rowdy and Barlovento-Senda Azul take the first wins as the Club de Mar-Mallorca regatta gets underway.

The 31st Illes Balears Clàssics got underway yesterday, Thursday 13th of August, in the waters of Palma Bay with a 14.25-nautical-mile coastal race featuring 28 boats. The fleet completed a course starting and finishing off Ciudad Jardín beach, with marks positioned in the centre of the bay, at Cala Estància and Illetes.

The Race Committee had to delay the start, originally scheduled for 12:00 noon, while waiting for the south-westerly thermal breeze to establish. Eventually, the Embat filled in at around 9 knots and gradually strengthened throughout the course, reaching 12 knots.

The fastest boat of the day was Hallowe’en, from the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona, which completed the course in 2 hours and 58 seconds. Scheherazade, owned by Luís Sancho Moragues, crossed the finish line last, taking 5 hours and 43 minutes.

In the Classic category, the first leader of the regatta is Clarionet, skippered by Andrew Harvey and owned by David Miles. Argos, owned by Barbara Trilling and skippered by Eduardo Méndez, is second, while Mowgli 1965, owned by brothers Patrick and Vincent Harris, is third.

Argyll, owned by Rhys Jones, leads the Bermudian Vintage category, ahead of Ricardo Albiñana’s Islander and Germán Frers’ Recluta.

Islander’s second-place finish was particularly significant for her owner, Ricardo Albiñana, who acknowledged the challenge of competing against boats that regularly take part in the international classic-yacht circuit.

“Our boat is not particularly a racing boat, but we were lucky with the handicap. There was very good wind and the sea was completely flat, conditions that suited our boat very well,” he said.

Albiñana explained that his team is approaching the competition with a more family-oriented setup, unlike rivals with professional crews, and therefore believes that maintaining a podium position would already be an excellent result.

In Gaff-Rigged Vintage, the lead belongs to Rowdy, owned by Donna Dyer, which was the top finisher of the day. Gipsy, owned by the Fundación Vela Clásica de España and skippered by José Luis Vilar, is second, while Scheherazade, owned by Luis Sancho Moragues, is third.

The Big Boats category is headed by Hallowe’en, skippered by Iñigo Strez, followed by Eilean, skippered by Stefano Valiente. Cariad, led by Tim Hartnoll, occupies third place.

For Iñigo Strez, owner and skipper of Hallowe’en, the conditions were almost ideal for classic yachts.

“We had around 10 knots of wind, the sea was completely flat, perfect for these old boats, and it turned into a really good race,” he said after finishing.

The victory also has a special significance for the Hallowe’en crew, as the yacht is celebrating her centenary this year. Strez highlighted the responsibility of preserving the legacy of a boat that has passed through several generations: “Our mission is to continue that good work so that, in the future, someone else can enjoy what we have done.”

Finally, in the Spirit of Tradition class, Barlovento-Senda Azul leads with Ricardo Zabell at the helm. Galaxie, owned by Fundació Joves Navegants and helmed by Raimon Martínez, is second, while José Luis Roses’ Veritas Dolç is third.

After completing the race, the fleet returned to Club de Mar-Mallorca, where participants enjoyed a seafood fideuà provided by the Palma Fishermen’s Guild, followed by a performance by the band Mama Kin.

The opening day also featured a cultural element as part of the regatta’s programme of activities, with the presentation of the book Los barcos de Don Juan de Borbón. Un marino singular (The Boats of Don Juan de Borbón: A Singular Sailor), written by author and naval researcher Luis Tourón Figueroa.