Mallorcans Pau Homar and Jana Mestre join the 'Mar Abierto' inclusive team of regattas

The ‘Mar Abierto’ crew, which includes people with wide disabilities, will compete on equal terms in the Copa del Rey MAPFRE 2026.

The Royal Spanish Sailing Federation (RFEV) has presented this morning, Wednesday, July 20th, at the 43rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE the ‘Mar Abierto’ project, the first totally inclusive cruising regattas team, designed to integrate people with and without disabilities –including people who use wheelchairs– in a same competition team.

The act, which has taken place in the terrace of the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP), has counted with the participation of Jorge Forteza, RCNP’s commodore; Catalina Darder, president of the Balearic Sailing Federation, representing the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation as a component of its management board; Gabriel Barroso, responsible of ‘Mar Abierto; Juanjo Beltrán, the project’s technician; and Pau Homar and Jana Mestre, inclusive sailing sailors in Club de Vela Port d'Andratx and crew of this inclusive regattas team.

Encouraged by the inclusive sailing committee of the RFEV, the ‘Mar Abierto’ project is the result of months of work that began with a technical study of viability, developed alongside the Superior Sports Council. Once this phase is overcome, the choosing of the boat and the crew has been carried out, both already confirmed. Therefore, the project advances with firm steps towards its debut in the water in 2026, consolidating itself as a pioneering initiative in the inclusive sailing field.

The chosen boat is a Comuzzi C-32, which is highlighted for its open aft and its plain deck and with no obstacles to ease the mobility of the crew. In addition, this model incorporates the so-called magic wheel, a helm wheel with no radios, and fitted in the deck that allows leading the ship in a wheelchair. The Comuzzi is already working and in the following months it will be adapted to guarantee the accessibility and functionality of the whole crew.

The selection of the crew was carried out the last month of June: it includes 20 people with different disabilities, all of them adapted sailing sailors and some of them with participation in the Paralympic Games. This wide group, coming from nine autonomic communities to secure the national representation of the project, will participate in the expected trainings for next Spring, and from then on between six to 8 crewmembers will of ‘Mar Abierto’ will be selected for the three competitions in which the it has been programmed to participate in 2026, the three in Real Club Náutico de Palma with the objective of easing the logistics: the cruiser Princesa Sofía Trophy, the PalmaVela and the Copa del Rey MAPFRE.

During her intervention, Cati Darder has declared that “‘Mar Abierto’ is not just a team; it’s an inspiration lighthouse, a symbol of superation and a demonstration that passion for sailing is universal”.

“Seeing people with wide disabilities forming an active part of a cruising regattas crew to compete in the 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE and on equal terms with other teams is a historical milestone for Spanish Sailing. As a Spanish Federation, we consider it our mission to be able to materialize this project, tear down barriers and that all people can enjoy the passion for this sport”, has added the speaker of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation.

On his behalf, Gabriel Barroso, responsible for the project, has highlighted the transforming value of the initiative: “The motivation of ‘Mar Abierto’ is breaking barriers, doing something that has never been done before. Nowadays, us, people with disabilities, suffer even more inequality of opportunities in the 21st century, and even if many things to reduce these distances are being carried out, there’s still a lot of path to cross. Sailing offers us a unique opportunity to contribute to breaking these barriers, given the fact that it’s a fully inclusive sport, where us, people with and without disabilities, can carry out the same activity in a common environment regarding equality of opportunities. Throwing this message to the world is something very strong that can be used as an example in other fields”.

RCNP’s commodore, Jorge Forteza, has encouraged the team to sail in waters of Palma’s bay next year: “In Real Club Náutico de Palma we are very excited that you can compete on equal terms with the strong fleet of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE and enjoy our sport on a maximum level”:

With ‘Mar Abierto’, the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation gives a firm step in its compromise with inclusion and equality, bidding for a sporting model that tears down physical, social and cultural barriers, inside and outside the water. The project is open to collaborating with companies and institutions that share the inclusive and transforming spirit, ones who wish to achieve sailing with no barriers and wish to join this commitment with equality in sports. 

The Royal Spanish Sailing Federation, aided by the Sports Superior Council, the Spanish Olympic Committee and Universo Mujer, and sponsored by Iberdrola, Quirón Prevención and Lotteries and Biddings of the State. Azul Marino, Murimar Seguros, Nippon Express, Marine Pool and Enovis are official providers. ADESP, World Sailing and Santander’s port are institutional collaborators.