Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona 2025 - Day 1
by Covadonga Muñoz 11 Jul 05:28 PDT
9-12 July 2025
This week, Barcelona once again takes center stage in the world of classic sailing as the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica gets under way. The opening day delivered ideal conditions for a spectacular display on the water, with participating yachts offering a breathtaking blend of beauty and maritime heritage. Hosted by the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona, this prestigious event seamlessly combines tradition, competition, and elegance against the iconic skyline of the Catalan capital.
After the first day of racing, Mariska, Yanira, Clarionet, Amorita, Le Temps Perdu and Stiletto have emerged as provisional leaders in their respective classes. The fleet—composed of true masterpieces of classic yacht design—has already set the tone for an intense and thrilling regatta, promising fierce duels and dynamic sailing over the next three days as crews vie for a place in the annals of this legendary competition.
Racing commenced at 13:00, with the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona race committee initiating the start sequence off Port Fòrum. The first start featured the Classic and Modern Classic divisions, followed by the Gaff-rigged and Big Boat categories.
The selected course—Route 4—spanned 15.5 nautical miles across five legs (beat, run, broad reach, beam reach, and reach), perfectly suited to the easterly breeze (70 degrees) that opened at 12-14 knots before easing slightly under clear skies.
Early in the race, the classic yacht Silvio, helmed by Luis Penalva, suffered a dismasting—likely due to a rigging failure—forcing its retirement.
A standout moment came during the first beat, where Big Boats Mariska and Hallowe'en engaged in a thrilling side-by-side duel. For over a mile, both crews trimmed sails with precision, pushing their vessels to the limit. Eventually, Hallowe'en broke formation and headed offshore, ceding the lead to Mariska.
The second leg, a dead run, demanded multiple gybes—always a challenge aboard vintage yachts—testing crew coordination and tactical finesse. The following legs offered fewer strategic options but rewarded those who could maximize boat speed and sail efficiency.
In the Big Boat division, Mariska, skippered by Dan Pojsak, claimed victory by a mere 37 seconds over Hallowe'en, helmed by Iñigo Strez, after 2 hours and 18 minutes of racing. Star Sapphire of London, skippered by Jakob Glatz, took third, followed by Gael I.
The Classic fleet was split into two groups by size. In Classics 1, Yanira by Jan Heuninck led the pack, followed by Kahurangi by Pepe de Miguel, both representing the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona. Nerissa (Leonardo García), sailing for the Real Club Marítimo de Barcelona, rounded out the podium. In Classics 2, the British yacht Clarionet by Andrew Harvey took top honors, ahead of Kanavel (RCN Barcelona) by Javier Mestre and Sea Fever (CN Vilanova) by Enrique Curt.
The Época Bermudiana fleet saw early starts from Falcon and Manitou, resulting in three-place penalties. Despite this, Amorita by Claudio Mealli outpaced Falcon before the penalty was applied, securing first place. Griff Rhys' Argyll inherited second, while Almaran New York (CN El Balís) by Manel López claimed third after Manitou's penalty. In the Época Cangreja category, the day's winner was Le Temps Perdu by Nelson Hausman.
In the Modern Classics division, Stiletto, helmed by British sailor Scot Yeates (Suffolk YC), took the win ahead of the german Legolas by Jens Rickie, from RCN Palma. Jordi Puig's Phidias, from RCN Barcelona, finished third, following a penalty to Melbac (RCN Barcelona) by Belén García Guillén for an early start.
14 sailors, 9 of them women, the team of Bakea, led by Mónica Xufré, is breaking moulds.
"I like having good vibes aboard above all, even in a regatta. That's why there are so many women on my ship, many more than in others. This year, in our 14 people crew, 9 of us will be women".
In all likelihood, Mónica Xufré is the only person to have competed in all the editions of the Puig Vela Clàssica, and even more, one of the few women to captain a ship.
In 2008 she bought the Bakea a few months before the first regatta was announced, and it was a golden opportunity to get a feel for it. She only stopped competing with it for two years, but she didn't miss the obligatory "Puig date" aboard he Karmatan II and the Namibia.
"I like wooden ships because of their warmth and unique personality, because they are hand-made, I live and enjoy them as a second home", she explained. The Bakea is an well-known sight on the jetties of the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona, where it was moored in 1965 by its first owners, the Mercadal family, and Mónica Xufré brought it back when she bought it. Built by Astilleros Viudes, it's 16'77 metres long and 4'04 of beam, it is ketch-rigged with a central cockpit and tall freeboards, which results in a more than ample interior. "I can boast of having one of the ships that keep their strictly original state. All of the hull's boards are the ones Viudes used to line it and its conservation state is impeccable."
About the Puig Vela Clàssica regatta, she comments: "I like it very much, the level of the competition is quite interesting and its organization at sea is notable, although I would personally be glad to have shorter routes and no close-hauled sections. It also serves as an excuse to keep the ship in good shape, doing the obligatory tune-up before the holidays". Because Mónica and her family spend their summer holidays on the Bakea, there is no chance of losing that family feeling even when competing, "I like having good vibes aboard above all, even in a regatta. That's why there are so many women on my ship, many more than in others. This year, in our 14 people crew, 9 of us will be women".
Event website: www.puigvelaclassica.com