Puig Vela Clàssica Regatta in Barcelona - Preview

The V Edition of the Puig Vela Classica Regatta to be held in July © Nico Martinez

The world elite of classic boats is already heading to Barcelona in order to participate in a unique event: the simultaneous holding of the VII edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona and the Puig 12m World Championship. More than fifty boats from a dozen countries are scheduled to attend this sporting event, an unavoidable appointment of the international nautical calendar.

The 12m category World Championship, which integrates popularly well-known boats such as the mythical America's Cup, will start on the 13th July, while the Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona will start the 17th of the same month. Both sports events will end on Saturday 19th, putting the golden brooch to an exceptional nautical week.

The successful participation of the previous editions will be endorsed this year with sailboats from our country, but also from other parts of the world such as France, England, Italy, Malta, Germany, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Switzerland and the United States.

Besides, classics from over thirty flagship international boats that have occupied the top spot on the winners of previous editions have already confirmed their attendance at the regatta. We are talking about the Manitou -second position in 2013 and winner of the 2012 edition- or the Mercury -third position in the VI Puig Vela- of the Marconi Epoque category. In the Cangreja Epoque, the Marigold -second position in 2012- and the Marigan -third position in the list of winners of 2013.

Furthermore, the Classics Yanira and Alba, first and second position respectively in 2013, and usual winners since the first editions of the regatta will also be present. The spectacular Moombeam III, winner of the last two editions of the regatta in the Big Boats category, the Moombeam IV- second position in 2013 and third in 2012- will also repeat, as well as the English Mariquita, which won the third position in 2013.

Among the America's Cup boats from the 50s to the 80s -fleet which has played a significant role in the development of sports regattas from the twentieth century- we will find the presence of sailing boats such as the Emilia, launched in 1930 and belonging to Yachting Heritage LTD Monaco; the Vim from Patrick Howaldt, internationally considered one of the best 12 meters boat, coming from New York; or the Ikra, built to participate in the America's Cup in 1964 and a regular of the regattas from the Mediterranean, but based on the Yacht Club of Hyères.

This VII Edition of the Regatta establishes the three classical categories, depending on the design, age and size of the yachts: Época for sailboats launched before the 31st of December 1949; Classics for sailboats launched between the 1st of January 1950 and the 31st of December 1975; and Big Boat for sailboats from previous years but with lengths from 25 meters.

Besides, the 12m boats are organized in five categories: Grand Prix, Modern, Traditional, Vintage and Antique, which are generally subdivided into Vintage (Vintage & Antique): sailboats built before the Second World War; and Modern (Grand Prix, Modern & Traditional): specifically built after 1958 for the America's Cup, thanks to a change in the rules of the competition.

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