The entire fleet of the Diada de la Vela Latina took part in this activity commemorating the 100th anniversary of the traditional Mallorcan boat, as part of the Diada de Mallorca events.
The Balear received a great tribute this midday on the occasion of the commemoration of its centenary, as part of the events that form part of the Diada de Mallorca programme.
The entire fleet of the Diada de Vela Latina, organised by the Club Náutico de Cala Gamba, took part in this activity. Around 51 boats made a nautical salute to the emblematic traditional Mallorcan boat, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary and is listed as an Asset of Cultural Interest.
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La Balear receives a great tribute on the occasion of its centenary, a nautical salute in front of the cathedral
The tribute took place in the middle of the bay of Palma, at the height of the cathedral of Palma and consisted of a great naval parade of all the participants in the Diada de Vela Latina, making two laps around this boat.
The Race Committee then sounded the horns as a preliminary step to the announcement of the start of the salute to the Balearic Islands on the occasion of its centenary. The boats then made two laps around the centenary boat, leaving it to port.
The second vice-president and councillor for the Environment, Rural Affairs and Sports, Pedro Bestard, accompanied by the island’s director of the Environment, was an exceptional witness to the tribute on board the Balear.
Pedro Bestard thanked the fifty or so sailboats that took part in this activity and pointed out that ‘with this great tribute the Balear is highlighting the important seafaring tradition of Mallorca, our cultural and maritime heritage and, in short, our traditions’.
On the occasion of the tribute, Palma Cathedral opened its terrace, from where fifty citizens were able to watch this tribute, enjoying a magnificent panoramic view.
Events scheduled for the CNC Gamba’s Diada Vela Latina for its centenary
In addition to this Sunday’s tribute to the Balear, the Consell de Mallorca has collaborated with the CNC Gamba to add some events to the programme to commemorate the centenary of the traditional Mallorcan boat.
Thus, the festival brought together fifty lateen sailing boats and more than 300 people who participated directly in this event, which took place from the 12th to the 15th of September.
Thus, in addition to the tribute to the Balear on Sunday, other activities were held over the weekend specifically for the commemoration, such as the conference ‘The evolution of Mallorcan ox boats’ by the expert Pere Oliver. There has also been the delivery of bags given by the Consell and t-shirts with the logo of the centenary of the Balearic.
Finally, the Club Náutico de Cala Gamba presented a plaque commemorating the centenary of the Balear to the second vice-president and councillor for the environment, Pedro Bestard.
The boat, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024, was built in Palma by Astilleros Ballester in 1924 to be used for trawling.