The top-class Balearic sailing celebrates a historical season with 148 medals

The Balearic Sailing Federation celebrates the ‘Nit de la Vela’ and honors Menorcan Fel Torrent for a whole life dedicated to this sport.

Balearic sailing celebrated yesterday, October 24th, its great night. The Balearic Sailing Federation (FBV) has organized the Nit de la Vela, an event with with it has recognized the excellent season of its sailors, who have achieved a total of 148 medals in national and international competitions.

The act, celebrated at the Balearic Islands’ University, has reunited around 300 people linked to the sailing world. The gala has been presented by young olympic sailors Paula Barceló and Nacho Baltasar, and has served to recognize athletes of the islands that have achieved 47 podiums in World and European Championships, in addition to the 101 titles in championships and Spain Cups.

Precisely, Paula Barceló has received an emotional honoring due to her recent victory in the 49erFX class World Champ, as well as Marta Cardona, awarded by gold medals in the World and European Champs in the 470 Mixed categories, and recently nominated to the Youth World Sailor of the Year. The recognitions were delivered by José Miguel Ramis, CEO of LIFE&SEA, main sponsor of the Balearic Sailing Federation.

The president of the FBV, Cati Darder, inaugurated the Nit de la Vela expressing her pride for “leading the national rankings thanks to the sporting results achieved by our sailros”, and pointed out that “these achievements are only reached by teamwork, with effort, dedication and talent”. She added that “for us it’s a privilege sharing the love for this sport and the commitment with values that identify us”.

Darder reminded that every year the gala dedicates a special recognition to a concrete group inside the great family of the Balearic Sailing Federation, and that in this occasion the essential labor of the regattas technicians and judges has been highlighted, “who make all the competition activity to be developed in the Balearics possible”.

Afterwards, the responsible of the Judges and Territorial Competitions Committee,  Inés Cabrer, who thanked “the time and dedication of the judges, who not only allow the regattas to take place, but also make them more just and of better quality”. “In our islands it is well known that we have a lot of high-level athletes, but maybe it is not also perceived that we also have the highest-quality judges”, pointed out Cabrer.

During the gala, over 100 awarded athletes in different sailing categories went up the scenery, from cruisers and monotypes to light sailing and radio control. [awarded list].

One of the most emotional moments of the Nit de la Vela was the honoring to Fel Torrent, expresident of the Club Nàutic Ciutadella and ex-vicepresident by Menorca of the Balearic Sailing Federation, who received a special mention for a whole life dedicated to sailing sport.

The event was closed by Pedro Vidal, autonomic secretary of Culture and Sports of the Balearic Islands Government.