RAECY Awards Javier Núñez de Prado the Gold Medal for Merit in Recreational Boating

The Real Asamblea Española de Capitanes de Yate recognises the work of the Head of the Balearic Islands Naval Sector, who will bring his four-year tenure leading the Spanish Navy in the islands to an end in the coming days.

The Real Asamblea Española de Capitanes de Yate (RAECY), through its Balearic Islands delegation, has awarded Captain Javier Núñez de Prado Aparicio the Gold Medal for Merit in Recreational Boating, a distinction recognising his commitment to and collaboration with the Balearic nautical sector during his four years as Head of the Balearic Islands Naval Sector.

The award was presented during an emotional farewell dinner organised by members of the RAECY’s Balearic delegation at the Real Club Náutico de Palma restaurant. The event coincided with Núñez de Prado’s imminent departure, as he will relinquish command of the Naval Sector in the coming days to take up a new posting, bringing to an end a period marked by close ties with civil society and the promotion of initiatives aimed at strengthening relations between the Spanish Navy and the islands’ maritime sector.

Over the past four years, Javier Núñez de Prado has maintained close cooperation with associations, yacht clubs and institutions connected to the sea, encouraging the Navy’s participation in numerous maritime and cultural events. Initiatives promoted during his tenure include the tribute to Captain Toni Barceló, a historic figure in Balearic sailing, and the revival of the formal lowering of the flag to coincide with the change to daylight saving time, a public ceremony that has helped bring naval tradition closer to the wider community.

This constant willingness to collaborate with the nautical community was one of the reasons behind the RAECY’s decision to grant him this distinction. During the event, the organisation’s delegate in the Balearic Islands stated that “over these four years, it has been a pleasure to work with the Navy, and whenever we have knocked on the door of the Porto Pi Naval Station, every effort has been made to assist us”, highlighting Núñez de Prado’s accessibility and the support he has shown to the association and the yacht captains of the Balearic Islands.

The Gold Medal for Merit in Recreational Boating is one of the honours awarded by the Real Asamblea Española de Capitanes de Yate to individuals and organisations that have distinguished themselves through their involvement in and contribution to the development and promotion of recreational boating.

Through this distinction, the RAECY has publicly expressed its gratitude for the work carried out by Javier Núñez de Prado during his time as Head of the Balearic Islands Naval Sector, a tenure that will conclude in the coming days, leaving behind a strong bond between the Spanish Navy and the Balearic maritime community.