The cruise ships and the lateen sailing have an event at the Club Nautic Portitxol

The Club Nàutic Portitxol (CNP) prepares to host, this Saturday 11th of November, two races marked by a social character and focused on traditional sailing and cruise ships in the a 2 modality. This way they will coincide with the club XXI Trofeo Mestre d’Aixa – Antoni Munar Colom of lateen sailing and the VI Trofeo Presidente de Crucero a 2.

Both events will bring together a total of 80 people at the CNP, who will enjoy a fraternal meal at the club's social club after the races, where they will be able to discuss the day and exchange knowledge and anecdotes about the sea and sailing. Finally, the corresponding trophy presentations will be held.

Regarding the Trofeo Mestre d’Aixa - Antoni Munar Colom de vela latina, with this race, the doyenne of the lateen sailing class in Mallorca since 1991, the club demonstrates its support for sailing in general and traditional sailing in particular, while paying tribute to this historic shipwright who passed away last year.

The race, for the Regatta, Classic Llaüts and Open Class divisions, will be held in the waters of the Bay of Palma from midday, with a coastal course from the mouth of the club to an unmarked buoy, from there to the 'chispero' in front of Cala Gamba, then to the buoy in front of the Cathedral and back to the club, always depending on the weather conditions.

“It is a regatta that was born at a time when there were many 'llaüts' in the club. Now, things have changed a lot, but we want to promote it and support the revival of traditional sailing. In fact, we usually take the children from our Sailing School to this regatta, so that they can see what lateen sailing is like and learn how to pull the sails by hand," says Emiliano Llinàs, CNP Sailing Vocal. The meeting will have fifty participants aboard about twenty boats, including the 'llaüt' Anika, owned by Miguel Rigo Avella and skippered by member Guillem Amengual, known as Guillemet 'Planta'.

Until its nineteenth edition, the regatta was simply called Trofeo Mestre d'Aixa, but in 2022 the CNP board decided to add the name Antoni Munar Colom to pay tribute to this extraordinary master craftsman after his unfortunate death in March of that year. Nicknamed 'Boliquet', Antoni Munar Colom was born in Palma in 1931 and developed his career as a 'mestre d'aixa' in Portitxol over many decades, standing out for his refined craftsmanship in the construction of 'bots' and 'llaüts'. After his death, his son, Antoni Josep, a member of the club, donated to the Museu Marítim de Mallorca the valuable heritage legacy of the legendary workshop run by his father, a total of 600 pieces including navigational tools and fishing tackle. "I remember him from my childhood as the 'mestre d'aixa' of Es Portitxol. He was a great master craftsman. There are still a couple of his boats that are still racing, the 'llaüt' Grumete and the 'bot' Uep", Llinàs points out.

As for the VI President's Trophy for 2-handed Cruising, it will also be a coastal regatta with a variable course depending on the weather. There will be 15 boats taking part and, therefore, around thirty participants, including Llinàs himself and the president of the CNP, Pep Santander, who will be sailing on board the latter's boat.

"This regatta was born six years ago to reinforce the offer of cruising regattas for our members, together with the extension of the Saturday regattas. The Hoyo 10 Trophy for Cruisers already existed, and we decided to create a new event in 2-handed mode, so that sailors could enjoy a day of sailing different to what they are used to," says the CNP Sailing spokesman.

"The two races this Saturday are very social and intimate, and will serve to strengthen ties between sailors. The weather forecast looks good, pointing to a westerly of about 10 knots. From the club, we are sure that we will have a great day of sailing and camaraderie," he concludes.