Mediterranean Tall Ships Regatta - Thousands flock to Moll d'Espanya

by FNOB on 24 Sep 2013 On Sunday, the docks that host the Mediterranean Tall Ships Regatta again reached around 50,000 citizens. The visits to big vessels recorded long queues, as in German Alexander von Humbolt II which recorded the visit of around 2,000 people. At the exhibition Barcelona Sails in the village of Portal de la Pau, over 1,000 young people took part in the educational workshops and were the main protagonists of the festive day which again had the sun shining throughout the journey.

Yesterday took place the traditional prize giving. The captains were collecting their awards at the Maritime Museum. The award for most spectacular arrival to Barcelona was for Romanian schooner Adornate; the former Portuguese cod ship Santa Maria Manuela received the award for the best dressed boat; the recognition to the ship that has sailed furthest from its home port was full of emotion and it went to Russian Akela; the award to the oldest boat went to the schooner Far Barcelona, flagship of the Consorci El Far, built in 1874; the prize for the boat that has made ??the greatest effort to take part of this race went to the Belgian Miles to Go; Italian Pandora received the vessel inspection award; and the special prize went to Bulgarian Royal Helena.

In addition to educational projects and training programs that meet at the Mediterranean Tall Ships Regatta, the classic sailboats that keep alive the love for wood and auric and crossed rigging also play a special role. These boats, located mainly in the Moll d'Espanya, attract the attention of a number of enthusiasts for hulls and rigging that keep visible the pages of the history of sailing thanks to its fervent owners. This is the case of Spaniard Rodrigo de la Serna, acting owner of the schooner Atyla, which his uncle launched in 1984 with the intention of sailing around the world following the route of Magellan and Elcano. Finally the circumnavigation project could not be performed and the ship was assigned to charter. At 24 years of age, Rodrigo will soon begin his studies as a specialist on marine engines and speaks passionately of his ship and the great dedication that its maintenance requires: 'People who are encouraged to participate and learn about life and work on board of a historic ship they are either not sure of what they are really getting into or they are completely passionate about it.'

Atyla arrived to Barcelona from Ibiza and Rodrigo confesses docking in Barcelona has been a motivation to take part in the Mediterranean Tall Ships Regatta 2013, as well as the opportunity to learn a lot about other very characteristic boats: 'I encourage all the citizens to visit the port these days because besides being a unique opportunity to visit and meet very special boats, this is the best way to help and support cultural vessels which do not receive the support they would like.'

Tomorrow, day of the festivity of La Mercè (patron saint of Barcelona), the boats will begin the dock out at around 11h00 and at 13h00 the grand parade through the city waterfront will start from the W Hotel. Weather is expected to accompany the latest and most spectacular event of the Mediterranean Tall Ships Regatta in Barcelona. The fleet will sail to the start line in front of Badalona and will sail the first leg to the French port of Toulon, where they are expected to arrive on September Event website