Pep Santander, CN Portitxol: “Entering a public tender was a risk we were not willing to take”

Pep Santander, president of Club Nàutic Portitxol, joined Passion for the Sea to explain how the club secured a 15-year extension to its concession, the details of its ambitious facilities redevelopment project, and the challenges it faces in ensuring its long-term future.

Club Nàutic Portitxol can now look to the future with greater peace of mind. After months of uncertainty, negotiations and difficult decisions, the club has secured a 15-year extension to its concession. The news not only guarantees its continuity but will also allow it to celebrate two particularly important milestones in its history: its centenary in 2028 and the 50th anniversary of one of its most iconic regattas, the Mamá Optimist.

To find out how the process unfolded and what lies ahead for the club, its president, Pep Santander, visited the studios of Passion for the Sea, where he discussed the difficulties they have had to overcome, the requirements imposed by the Balearic Islands Port Authority and the significant financial commitment that members will have to make to transform the facilities.

Above all, the concession extension comes as a relief for an institution that has witnessed the future of other historic yacht clubs being put at risk in recent years. Santander acknowledges that there were moments when they feared Portitxol might suffer the same fate. “At one point, to be completely frank, I would say yes,” he admits, recalling the possibility of losing the concession.

However, the president highlights the positive attitude shown by the Balearic Islands Port Authority throughout the negotiations, which made it possible to reach an agreement and adapt the club’s project to the redevelopment plans proposed for the surrounding area.

Securing the extension has not been easy. Club Nàutic Portitxol has had to commit to a comprehensive redevelopment of its facilities, a major investment that has generated differing opinions among its members.

Santander explains that the Board of Directors faced a crucial decision: accept the conditions required to extend the concession or risk entering a public tender process in which the club’s future would not be guaranteed.

“We either took this route, securing an extension through an investment permitted under current legislation, or we would have had to enter a public tender. That was a risk we, as a club and as a board, were not willing to take,” he explains.

The president points out that Portitxol’s location, in an area of Palma that has undergone considerable transformation in recent years, could attract the interest of major investors.

“A marina within the city is an extremely attractive opportunity for any major investor or large company. We believed we would have very little chance of succeeding in a tender process,” he acknowledges.

For this reason, the board has spent much of the past few months explaining to members why accepting the project and taking on the financial commitment it entails is so important. Santander admits that this has not been an easy task, particularly for a club with such a long-standing social tradition, whose members were not accustomed to investments of this magnitude.

The project submitted to the Port Authority includes three major areas of work: relocating the boatyard, setting back Sirena Street and improving the facilities dedicated to grassroots sports and federated teams.

One of the main obstacles during negotiations was finding a new location for the boatyard, which is currently situated next to an area that the Port Authority intends to incorporate into its port-city integration project.

The agreed solution involves moving the boatyard to the outer section of the breakwater, allowing the club to reorganise its spaces and adapt its facilities to new requirements. “Members will find a more modern club, with completely renovated facilities, from the pontoons to the boatyard itself, and a larger sports area that will provide more resources for both our athletes and our members,” Santander explains.

If everything goes according to schedule, construction work could begin between September and October 2027, once the summer season has ended, in order to minimise disruption during the busiest months.

Santander estimates that the work will take approximately two years, meaning the revamped Club Nàutic Portitxol could be fully completed around 2030.

“Once all the disruption caused by the works is over, members will be able to enjoy a modern, functional club and continue enjoying the hobby we all share and our passion for the sea,” he says.

Beyond upgrading its facilities, Santander has emphasised the importance of strengthening sporting activities, one of the priorities established by the Port Authority as a condition for maintaining the concession.

To this end, the club has introduced a new sporting structure, with Omar Calzón as Sports Director, overseeing its sailing and canoeing schools and teams.

The president particularly highlights Calzón’s experience as an active athlete and his ability to understand the needs of competitors.

“He has a very close relationship with the athletes because he is one himself,” Santander explains. He considers it essential for the sports management team to maintain close contact with competitors and coordinate their training sessions and travel arrangements for competitions.

The Club’s centenary and 50 years of the Mamá Optimist: two anniversaries now secured

The concession extension carries particular emotional significance as it coincides with two historic milestones for Club Nàutic Portitxol.

In 2028, the club will celebrate its 100th anniversary, while the Mamá Optimist, one of the most cherished competitions on its calendar, is approaching its 50th anniversary.

“It is the club’s flagship dinghy sailing regatta. Many young sailors take part in their very first race there and, in addition to enjoying their first experience of competing at sea, the prize-giving ceremony becomes a small celebration. Everyone’s efforts are recognised,” he explains.

The president acknowledges that the possibility of not being able to celebrate these anniversaries was one of the Board of Directors’ greatest concerns during the negotiations.

“If we hadn’t secured the extension, the club wouldn’t have reached its centenary, nor celebrated the Mamá Optimist’s 50th anniversary, or anything else,” he recalls.

Now, with the club’s future secured for the next fifteen years, Santander admits to feeling particularly proud of having helped ensure the continuity of an institution that forms part of Palma’s maritime history.

“For now, we have saved the centenary and the Mamá Optimist anniversary. Whether it is us or someone else organising them, they will go ahead, and they will be celebrated,” he says.

The current Board of Directors’ term ends in January, so it remains to be seen who will take responsibility for organising these celebrations. In any case, Santander is confident that both anniversaries will live up to the club’s rich history.