Mallorca’s Council hosts the 1st Portocolom’s Traditional Ships Festival with success

A total of 26 ships originally from Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Catalonia and France have participated in this event, which turns the district of Felanitx into an alive sea museum.

Mallorca’s Council has organized this weekend the 1st Portocolom’s Traditional Ships Festival, an initiative impulsed through the Maritime Museum of Mallorca with the objective of ennobling the island’s maritime patrimony and reinforcing the bonds with the coastal communities.

The encounter has taken place under the International Museum Day celebration, which  is commemorated this year under the motto “The future of the museums in communities is in constant changing”, an especially significant reflection  for collectives such as those from the Mallorcan coast. The Vice President of the Consell de Mallorca and Minister of Culture and Heritage, Antònia Roca, emphasized that "coastal communities in Mallorca are in constant evolution, and what were once fishing boats have now become valuable heritage vessels that help us understand who we are and where we come from."

Hundreds of people enjoyed the historical reenactment activities held on Saturday, May 17th, at the esplanade of the Customs dock in Portocolom. Among other demonstrations, attendees witnessed how wine barrels were traditionally transported to the ships, a fundamental task in port life decades ago. These demonstrations sparked great interest among the audience, who had the opportunity to experience first-hand the traditional trades and practices of maritime life.

The festival featured local boats that showcase the town's maritime tradition. Among them were the ‘gussis’ “Avelira,” “Davit,” and “Nauta,” as well as the llanxetas felanitxeres “Elfi,” “Vimo,” and “Yris.” Also present were the ‘llaüts’ “Baan,” “Boanegre,” “Guillermo,” “Sant Miquel,” and “Simbad,” which are part of Portocolom’s naval heritage.

“Sa Rata,” “Sant Isidre,” and “Sant Ramon,” three ‘llaüts’ from Catalonia, brought their maritime legacy to the gathering. From Ibiza came the bot “Javi” and the ‘llaüt’ “Rínxol,” while France was represented by the “Ange Gardien,” a replica of a Xabec. Mallorca had a strong presence with the ‘llaüts’ “Alconàsser,” “Alzina,” “Balear,” “Brandó,” “Cala Sarral,” and “Mantellina,” as well as the ‘bot’ “Au Pax.” Finally, Menorca was also represented by the llaüts “Besitos” and “Gertrudis".