The yacht clubs demand the Government to co-manage the clubs dependent on the APB

The Association of Yacht Clubs of the Balearic Islands (ACNB) has called on the president of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens, to recognise the social and sporting work carried out by these non-profit organizations, which have claimed to be the sports centers of the sea at no cost to public administrations.

Prohens received in audience a large delegation from the ACNB made up of presidents and directors of clubs on the Islands. Its president, Antoni Estades, said at the end of the meeting that the clubs are necessary to guarantee access to the sea for the average economies and residents of the Balearic Islands.

"We have explained to the president who we are, where we come from and our social and sporting vocation. We have made her see that we are the sports centers of the sea at zero cost to the administration and the guarantors of recreational boating for Balearic residents at competitive prices," said Estades, who has demanded that the amendment of the Ports Act of the Balearic Islands is carried out taking into account the uniqueness of the clubs: "We have asked her to take into consideration the sporting and social work we do and that the Government claims to the central administration the co-management of the yacht clubs that depend on the Port Authority.”

Estades has not hidden the fact that several members of the ACNB are in a very delicate situation: "We have also expressed our concern about the difficulties that some of our member clubs are going through, whose continuity is in danger. We refer specifically to the Club de Vela del Port d'Andratx, the Real Club Náutico de Palma, Club Nàutic Portitxol, Club Náutico de Ibiza and Club Marítimo de Mahón. These are historic entities, deeply rooted in society, and it would be a shame to lose them.

Asked about the specific case of the Real Club Náutico de Palma, Estades explained that "its concession is pending a decision of the High Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands," but was confident that, at the administrative level, "the Port Authority can take steps to defend the extension and extension of the concession it has requested.

Estades presented the president with a dossier reflecting the important work carried out by the clubs and their social impact. The ACNB is made up of 24 yacht clubs with an average age of 65 years. They manage 8,574 moorings and represent 12,000 associated families. A 2020 UIB study, which analyzes data prior to the pandemic, indicates that their activity has an influence equivalent to 1.9% of GDP. Official figures from Ports IB (the managing body of the autonomous ports) set at 18,000 million the amount of annual fees they contribute to the public coffers and at 3,259 the number of direct and indirect jobs linked to the performance of the port and sports management they carry out.