The Real Club Náutico de Palma celebrates the triumphs of 2024 at its sports gala

The nautical entity celebrated the 101 medals obtained in 2024 at a massive gala where it reaffirmed its social and sporting role.

The Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP) celebrated the results of the 2024 season on the night of Saturday, January 11, at a gala where 47 diplomas were awarded to sailors, boat owners, and canoeists who last season achieved 101 podiums in national and international competitions.

The event took place in a tent set up on the terraces of the RCNP and was attended, among others, by the president of the Balearic Port Authority (APB), Javier Sanz; the Maritime Captain of Mallorca, José Escalas; the president of the Spanish Sailing Federation, Joaquín González Devesa; the president of the Balearic Canoeing Federation, Juan Carlos Fuentes; the manager of the Balearic Sports Foundation, Eladio Huertas; the general director of Sports of the Palma City Council, David Salom; and the president of the RCNP, Rafael Gil.

During the gala, hosted by journalist Cristina Roig, a short documentary titled "A Historic Year," produced by Ugo Fonollá, was shown. It covered the main international competitions organized by the RCNP in 2024, which included two world championships, a European championship, a round of the 52 Super Series, the oceanic regatta Palma-Melilla-Palma, and the successful debut of the Ciutat de Palma Canoeing at Parc de la Mar. All these events were in addition to the club's annual regattas: Trofeo Princesa Sofía, PalmaVela, La Larga, Copa del Rey MAPFRE, and Ciutat de Palma de Vela.

Rafael Gil stated in his closing speech at the gala that the "tireless" effort of the athletes is "the engine of the Real Club Náutico de Palma" and encouraged the members and the relatives of the awardees to feel proud of belonging to an "emblematic institution of our maritime history and a fundamental piece of Mallorca's heritage."

“I urge you to spread what we do here, at such a crucial moment as now, when we are pending the renewal of the concession we have held since 1948 and need Mallorcan society to understand that the RCNP is essential and irreplaceable for the preservation of our maritime identity,” added Gil.

Among the different awardees at the gala were canoeist Alex Graneri, bronze medalist at the European and World Canoeing Championships; Olympic medalist in Tokyo Joan Cardona, champion of the international Sail GP circuit as a member of the Spanish team, and young sailors Gabriela Morell Manresa, European absolute and Sub 16 champion of ILCA 4, and Jan Palou, who a month ago surprised by winning gold at the 73rd Trofeo Ciutat de Palma Optimist at only 11 years old. The merits of boat owners and professional cruisers representing the RCNP, such as Joan Fullana, Nacho Postigo, Manu Weiller, or Eduardo Horrach, were also recognized.