The Consell de Mallorca promotes the tradition and work of the mestres d'aixa in France

The Consell de Mallorca is exporting the traditional work of the mestres d'aixa to France at the Escali à Port-Vendres maritime festival, a unique event held from 12 to 14 April in the south of France, with the aim of raising awareness of the value of the tradition of Mallorcan maritime culture.

The mayor of Port-Vendres, Grégory Marty, has invited the staff of the mestres d'aixa workshop and the crew of La Balear to take part in the various training and promotional events taking place at this event, which brings together a large fleet of heritage boats.

The island's Director of the Environment, Luis Rubí, who attended the Port-Vendres meeting, explained that Mallorca "has many maritime links with France and this fact has never been given the importance it has. These conferences and visits that we are attending serve to highlight the work of the mestres d'aixa, their craftsmanship and know-how". The department headed by the second vice-president and councilor for the Environment, Rural Environment and Sports, Pedro Bestard, has stated that "the Consell de Mallorca's objective is to raise awareness of our maritime heritage and do everything possible to preserve it", while at the same time regretting that La Balear, which was the main guest at this event, was unable to reach Port-Vendres due to weather conditions.

Among the various events was a visit to the Mallorcan pailebot boat, partially restored by the Associació d'Amics de Miguel Caldentey, which served to establish a future collaboration between this French association and the mestres d'aixa of the Consell de Mallorca. This Mallorcan ‘pailebot’ was built in Palma in 1913 and declared an Asset of Heritage Interest by the French government.  

This Saturday, the Mallorcan delegation took part in a sailing trip on different boats and, in the afternoon, the crew members of La Balear, and mestres d'aixa technicians took part in a round table discussion on maritime heritage. 

This Sunday, the conference "El Consell de Mallorca i el patrimoni marítim" took place, given by the technician Bernat Oliver and the mestre Josep Florit.