The ‘Nàutic Café del Mar’ is put to the test in the Ruta de la Sal regatta

The CNSA boat is participating in the competition from Dénia, with a crew made up of four young ILCA sailors and their two coaches.

Tomorrow, Thursday, April 17, a new edition of the Ruta de la Sal begins, with a double start from Barcelona at 12 noon and from Dénia at 2 p.m. Among the 120 sailboats heading to the bay of Portmany (70 from Dénia and 50 from Barcelona), is the renewed version of the “Nàutic Café del Mar,” the racing cruiser of the Club Nàutic Sant Antoni, which will be put to the test after undergoing an intense remodel over the winter with the goal of improving its performance in competition.

The crew is composed of CNSA ILCA class youth sailors Laura Cardona, María Torres, Jaume Llorens, and Javier Marí, along with coaches Felipe Cornet and Javier Rabelo. The boat has undergone significant modifications following a study conducted by Galician naval engineer Javier Cela, a renowned expert in tuning racing boats that compete in major sailing events such as the America’s Cup and others.

Among the most notable changes are an increase in weight, concentrated in the bilge, and a reduction in draft by adjusting the keel. These works were carried out in the Club’s shipyard with the collaboration of Manel and Carlos Guasch from the local company Guasch Mar. The boat was recently tested in an internal Club regatta with positive results, but the Ruta de la Sal will be the true trial by fire, as it will be tested in all conditions, from upwind to open-angle courses. The Nàutic Café del Mar is sponsored by Café del Mar, Neobookings, and Rumbo Norte.

In addition to the “Nàutic Café del Mar,” the “Adrenalín” will also start from the port of Dénia. It is also based at Es Nàutic and skippered by Juan Carlos Sanchís, the former helmsman of the “Nàutic Café del Mar,” with which he competed for years. So far, the weather forecast is excellent for the start from Dénia, which suggests a fast crossing to the port of Sant Antoni, although a bit more challenging from Barcelona.

The boats will be arriving throughout Friday. That same afternoon, there will be an event organized by the sponsors of the Ruta de la Sal, taking place in the village set up next to the Club’s Sports Area. The events will continue on Saturday with a press conference at noon, the awards ceremony at the Passeig de ses Fonts tent at 7 p.m., and a dinner for all participants afterward at the Es Nàutic Restaurant.

This 37th edition of the Ruta de la Sal will bring around 900 sailors to the bay of Portmany during Holy Week. Some will return to their home ports on Sunday, but many will take advantage of the crossing to enjoy a few more days of sailing along the Pityusic coast. Club Nàutic Sant Antoni has been collaborating with the Ruta de la Sal since 2009, providing moorings and the necessary infrastructure to host the finish line of such an important event.