The historic Rei en Jaume Regatta sets sail at the Palma International Boat Show

The towns of Salou and Santa Ponça will once again join forces once again this year in the Rei en Jaume Regatta, which will be held between the 5th and 7th of September. The competition, now in its 38th edition, will consist of a 110-mile crossing that will recreate the route that led Jaume I to the island of Pantaleu in 1229, first to reach the Mallorcan coast and then to begin the conquest.

The competition was presented today at the Palma International Boat Show. The event was attended by the Mayor of Calvià, Juan Antonio Amengual; the Councillor for Economy, Contracting and Sports of the Calvià Town Hall, Javier Tascón; the manager of the IDI (Institute for Business Innovation of the Balearic Islands), Silvia Delgado, the director of the Palma International Boat Show, Chema Sans, the president and manager of the Club Náutico de Santa Ponça, Luis Nigorra and Javier Arrizabalaga respectively, and the director of the Rei en Jaume Regatta, Manuel Nadal de Uhler.

The mayor of Calvià, Juan Antonio Amengual has highlighted that this event is a tribute to the arrival of the Rei en Jaume to Mallorca eight centuries ago and that it brings together two town councils, Salou and Calvià, but also a culture and a history that has made us what we are today. We always give this regatta the utmost affection and coverage for this event and I am sure that this year it will be a success once again’.

Precisely the president of the CN Santa Ponça, Luis Nigorra, referred to the reason for the success of the Rei en Jaume Regatta, one of the oldest on the national calendar with 38 years of life: ‘The secret of success is the enthusiasm of all participants and a family and relaxed atmosphere in which it takes place. At the mouth of our club we have the cross that commemorates the landing of King Jaume I, it is a very important historical commemoration and we have always had the help and complicity of the Club Náutico de Salou, and also Port Adriano, Port Tarraco and the two town councils’.

The race is one of the five competitions that form part of the Altura Circuit, so the organizers hope to achieve good participation figures. The regatta, which aims to be in keeping with historical events, will start in front of the Club Nàutic Salou and the finish line will be located between Dragonera Island and the coast of Sant Elm.

In this XXXVIII edition, the fleet will be made up of boats with ORC, Classics, A2 and Solitaire measurement certificates. The classifications will be established by classes and groups, and there will also be a ranking by clubs represented by teams made up of a boat of less than 50 feet and another of more than 50 feet.

The sporting programme of the regatta will start on Thursday, 5th of September, with the skippers' meeting and the welcome dinner for the participants at the CN de Salou. On Friday, 6th of September, the participating boats will gather in the bay of the Catalan town, from where the start is scheduled and the trophy ceremony will take place on 7th of September.