Prohens Highlights the Importance of the Balearic Nautical Industry at the 9th Timón Awards Gala

Nacho Baltasar (Sailing), Adrián Castaño (Canoeing), Bernardí Alba (Fishing), the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard (Institution), Love the Mediterranean (Best Initiative in Social and Sustainability Matters - Redeia Award), Neus Jordi (Communication), Toni Mulet (Career) and ESEA Propulsion (Innovation - APB Award) were the award recipients.

Over 200 people representing the maritime sector and recreational and sports nautical activities from the Balearic Islands gathered tonight at the gala of the 9th Timón Awards of Gaceta Náutica. At the event, hosted by journalist Cristina Roig, individuals and institutions from the Balearic nautical community were recognized for their outstanding contributions in 2024. The President of the Govern, Marga Prohens, attended the event, held at the Port Center of the Port of Palma, showing support for the nautical sector.

The President of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, Javier Sanz, opened the event by welcoming the attendees and highlighting the increasing importance of these awards over the years, noting that "these established awards make visible the achievements of the most distinguished athletes of this year and boost initiatives that have contributed to improving the world of nautical activities in our community."

Regarding the sports awards, Nacho Baltasar won the Timón Award for Sailing after a brilliant season that led him to participate in the Paris Olympics at only 19 years old; Adrián Castaño, a canoeist from RCN Palma, was selected as the most outstanding canoeist of 2024, after participating in his second Paralympic Games; and Bernardí Alba took home the Timón Award for Fishing as a great advocate for sustainable recreational activity.

The Maritime Service of the Civil Guard of the Balearic Islands was selected as the most distinguished institution of the year, in recognition of its prominent role in controlling and monitoring the waters of the Balearic archipelago and its constant commitment to maritime safety.

The Redeia award for the Best Initiative in Social and Sustainability Matters of 2024 went to the project Love the Mediterranean. This initiative, driven by True World, is a bold and innovative vision that aims to unite all stakeholders in the Balearic Islands who are directly or indirectly linked to the sea, with the goal of promoting community-based conservation and protection initiatives for the Mediterranean.

The award in the communication category was for Neus Jordi, a journalist from Mallorca who has attended all the significant events in the world of sailing. She has been present at the last five Olympics: in Beijing, London, and Paris as part of the communication team for the Spanish sailing team, and in Rio and Tokyo working for World Sailing, the International Sailing Federation. In addition, she has been on the front line at the America’s Cup in Barcelona and has continuously covered the Princess Sofia Trophy (since 2005) and the King's Cup (since 2013).

Toni Mulet, the recently retired director of the Nauticopesquera School, won the Compass Award from Gaceta Náutica for his three decades of professional career dedicated to training maritime professionals. According to him, his two main objectives during his tenure at the school were to attract good teachers by showing them how enriching the world of teaching can be and to constantly renew the center's equipment. The director of Gaceta Náutica, Elena Pipó, highlighted Toni Mulet's work, stating that "he has been a pillar in building solid and quality training, always working on the ground with tireless passion, knowing that the teacher's demand is the only recipe for training good professionals."

Lastly, the Timón Award in the Innovation category, granted in collaboration with the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands and endowed with 3,000 euros, went to the Power Drive system, developed by the Menorcan company ESEA Propulsion. This recognition highlights the disruptive nature of the project, which breaks with traditional concepts of electric motors for boats. Unlike usual solutions, the design starts from scratch to maximize the advantages of electrification.

The jury of the Timón Awards, composed of Javier Segovia, head of the Department of Technological Development and Innovation of the APB; Antoni Martorell, engineer and professor at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB); and Elena Pipó, director of Gaceta Náutica, evaluated 13 proposals submitted to the contest. After deliberation, the jury selected Power Drive as the winner and awarded two second prizes to Port Sentinel and Eagle Eyes, two technologies based on the use of drones for the control of maritime pollution and the rescue of people, respectively.

Marga Prohens closed the event by emphasizing the importance of the nautical industry in the Balearic Islands, which she assured is "essential for our economy and society and also forms part of our identity as a people." The President of the Govern also thanked Gaceta Náutica for its journalistic work, "a benchmark in nautical communication in our islands and a media committed to accurate and rigorous information."