They take part in the maritime festival Escale à Port-Vendres with various training and promotional events

The Consell de Mallorca is exporting the traditional work of mestres d’aixa to France at the Escale à Port-Vendres maritime festival, a unique event being held from 12 to 14 April in the south of France, to raise awareness of the value of the traditional Mallorcan maritime culture.

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Traditional work of mestres d’aixa to France

The mayor of Port-Vendres, Grégory Marty, has invited the staff of the mestres d’aixa workshop and the crew of La Balear to take part in the various training and promotional events taking place at this event, which brings together a large fleet of heritage boats.

The island’s Director of the Environment, Luis Rubí, who attended the Port-Vendres meeting, explained that Mallorca “has many maritime links with France and this has never been given the importance it has. These conferences and visits that we are attending serve to highlight the work of the mestres d’aixa, their craftsmanship and know-how. We are sharing knowledge and internationalising all the good things we have on our island”.

The department headed by the second vice-president and councillor for the Environment, Rural Affairs and Sports, Pedro Bestard, has stated that “the Consell de Mallorca’s objective is to raise awareness of our maritime heritage and to do everything possible to preserve it”, while regretting that La Balear, which was the main guest at these events, was unable to reach Port-Vendres due to weather conditions”.

Events in which the Consell de Mallorca is taking part

One of the highlights of the various events was the visit to the Mallorcan pailebot boat, partially restored by the Association of Friends of Miguel Caldentey, which has served to establish a future collaboration between this French association and the Consell de Mallorca’s mestres d’aixa. This Mallorcan pailebot was built in Palma in 1913 and declared an Asset of Heritage Interest by the French government.

This Saturday, the Mallorcan delegation took part in a sailing trip on different boats and, in the afternoon, the crew members of La Balear, and mestres d’aixa technicians took part in a round table discussion on maritime heritage.

Also as part of the maritime festival activities, this Sunday there will be a conference entitled “The Consell de Mallorca and maritime heritage”, given by the technician Bernat Oliver and the teacher Josep Florit.