Over 40 ships gather at the 29th edition of the Mallorca’s Diada de Vela Llatina

Club Nàutic Cala Gamba gathers from September 12th to the 14th the great annual maritime Mediterranean patrimony encounter, with Catalonia as the invited region.

Club Náutico de Cala Gamba will turn from September 12th to the 14th into the epicentre of traditional sailing in the Mediterranean due to the 29th edition of Mallorca’s Diada de Vela Llatina. Over 40 vessels will take part in an encounter that this year has Catalonia as an invited region. 

The event, sponsored by Fan Mallorca Shopping and Toyota Mediomotors Mallorca, has evolved from being strictly a sporting competition into a space for community, culture, and maritime education. A key role in this transformation has been played by the Ecomuseu de Cala Gamba and its Moll de sa Fusta, where the largest fleet of traditional Latin sail boats and llaüts in the Balearic Islands, and possibly all of Spain, remains moored.

The Diada was originally created with the intention of bringing together the island’s Latin sail fleet on common dates. Over time, Cala Gamba took over the organization, and the event gradually changed character: what initially was a mere regatta has now become a gathering of fellowship among enthusiasts, where the focus is less on competition and more on enjoying traditional sailing and sharing knowledge.

The program of the 29th Diada de Vela Llatina de Mallorca will begin on Friday, September 12th, with the reception of boats and participants, accompanied by the official opening of the event. Saturday, September 13th, will be dedicated to sailing and a wide range of cultural activities on land, all open to the public and free of charge.

Mid-morning will feature the lecture “Ship Carpentry in Mallorca: Present and Future,” delivered by master craftsman Joan Pons. This will be followed by the roundtable discussion “The Future of Latin Sailing in the Mediterranean,” with historian Maria Antònia Garcías, llaüt captain and cultural promoter Antoni Mas, and researcher Josep Maria Torres participating.

In the afternoon, the study “The Maritime Heritage of Artisanal Fishing in the Balearic Islands,” conducted by ethnographer Gabriel Santandreu, will be presented. Additionally, throughout the day visitors will be able to explore a showcase of maritime trades at the Moll de sa Fusta, where ship carpenters and net makers will give live demonstrations. On the same day, there will also be an official welcome for the guest boat arriving from Catalonia, participating in the sailing as a symbolic representation of the invited region for this edition. The Club Nàutic Cala Gamba invites all citizens to join these activities and visit the port to experience maritime culture firsthand.

Sunday, September 14th, will feature the main sailing day, with all participating boats gathering for a joint departure on a voyage that will allow spectators to admire the fleet from various points along the coast.