“La Balear” prepares to celebrate its hundred years of marine history

The president of the Council of Majorca, Llorenç Galmés, has gone on board of the boat “La Balear” with the second vice president and the council of the Environment, Rural Environment, Pedro Bestard. The ship has left from the Port of Pollença and has done a small route between the fisherman’s pier, the point of the Avançada (lighthouse) and the coast of Fortalesa.

Galmés has put the value of this boat of ‘bou’ constructed at the shipyards of Ballesteros of Palma in 1924, which sails exclusively sail, and for this reason, it is a representation of the nautical balearic tradition. The president of the insular institution has affirmed that the necessary resources will be earmarked for its conservation and maintenance, as an asset of cultural interest since 1998. Even so, it has been distinguished as well a figure of the ‘mestre d'aixa’ who, as a craftsman, repairs boats, among other jobs.

For the coming summer, the president Galmés said that the Council of Majorca will organize a especial program to commemorate the hundred year anniversary of the construction of the ”La Balear”; an event that deserves a special celebration, as the boat represents "our roots and our identity as a people". In this sense, Llorenç Galmés stressed the importance "of conserving our heritage and the maritime environment".

On one hand, the second vice president and council of the Environment, Rural Environment and Sports, Pedro Bastard, has pointed out that “it is a luxury to count with La Balear, a restored vessel by the Aixas Teachers Unit”. Bestard adds that “we have to conserve our patrimony and give it the maximum visibility. We have an unrivaled maritime heritage that needs to be exploited”.

On the other hand, the president of the Council of Majorca has remembered that on board of this traditional boat one can see natural parcs of the Mondragó, Llevant or sa Dragonera, the conservation work will continue, as they are home to environmentally valuable flora and fauna.

Additionally , Galmés has pointed out that everybody that wishes to sail with “La Balear”  can do so, and he has encouraged everybody to enjoy an authentic ship, a treasure of marine patrimony. The vessel can take on board twelve people, including three crew members. Priority is given to schools, institutions and associations involved in educational, training or research activities in the field of floating heritage, navigation and the sea in general.