History sails in front of Barcelona on the second day of the Puig regatta
- Soft wind, clouds and clearings and ideal conditions for incident-free sailing.
- Mariska, Yanira, Clarionet, Amorita, Scheherazade y Stiletto are the winners of the second day.
- Gael I, one of the largest sailing boats built by Abeking & Rasmussen that is still active, was sailing the Barcelonian coast.
The second day of the Puig Vela Clàssica once again transformed Barcelona’s seafront into a visual feast that’s hard to rival. Under a shifting sky—where brooding clouds gave way to bursts of sunlight—the world’s most elegant classic yachts delivered another masterclass in grace, heritage, and seafaring drama, just metres from the city’s shoreline.
From the beaches of Barceloneta to Port Vell and the Olympic Marina, thousands of locals and visitors alike were treated to the sight of this floating museum in motion. Many of these vessels are over a century old and have storied pasts, having once belonged to figures such as John F. Kennedy, King George V of England, and the royal family of Monaco. Today, they sailed in all their restored glory, each one telling its own tale—every tack and gybe a tribute to the preservation of a maritime legacy once thought lost. Among the standout entries is Manitou, the legendary presidential yacht of John F. Kennedy, famously dubbed the “Floating White House.” Outfitted with special communications equipment, it served as JFK’s mobile office at sea—witness to historic meetings and, as rumour has it, even a few clandestine voyages with Marilyn Monroe. Now meticulously restored, Manitou once again graces the waters off Barcelona, one of the regatta’s most captivating sights.
Also taking part are rare vessels lovingly brought back to life after decades of neglect in rivers, harbours, and lakes. Their current owners have not only restored them but brought them to compete in Barcelona—a city that, year after year, cements its status as the Mediterranean capital of classic sailing.
Barcelona, ciudad que, edición tras edición, se consolida como la capital mediterránea de la vela clásica.
Mariska
Optimal conditions: Between 8 and 10 knots of southerly wind and a calm sea
Grey clouds appeared in the sky at the start of the morning and threatened to become protagonists. However, these clouds not only did not mar the event, but they also helped in creating the wondrous atmosphere that makes this regatta something more than a sporting event and a meeting of art, nature and heritage.
The second day of the 18th Puig Vela Clàssica offered yet another good day of regattas, specially to the Big Boats fleet, which has enjoyed an excellent field. The soft and constant wind with a southerly component (170º), which has blown at an intensity between 10 and 8 knots, barely raising a swell and allowing for fast and easy sailing.
A thrilling day on the water: Bold manoeuvres, tight starts, and reinforced leads
Right on schedule, the race committee initiated the start sequence at 13:00 ahead of Course No. 1, which began off the Olympic Port and sent the fleet towards a mark off Masnou before returning to Barcelona. The race opened with a short windward leg following the mandatory offset mark, totalling 16.8 nautical miles. The outbound leg to Masnou was a lively broad reach, sailed on a direct heading, while the return was a near-straight beat, allowing for excellent boat speed across the fleet.
The standout start came from the Big Boats, with Mariska charging down the line at full tilt, seemingly on the verge of jumping the gun. But just a few lengths from the pin, she peeled away to create space for a port tack start, crossing ahead of her rivals—a tactic mirrored by Stiletto in the Modern Classic and Classic divisions.
Yanira
At the offset mark, Yanira (RCN Barcelona), helmed by Jan Heuninck, executed a flawless strategy, hoisting her blue spinnaker and maintaining the lead all the way to the finish. After 2 hours and 27 minutes on the course, her performance and the boat’s suitability to the conditions earned her a commanding win in Classics 1—beating Nerissa (RC Marítim Barcelona, Leonardo García) by 25 minutes on corrected time, with Kahurangi (RCN Barcelona, Pepe de Miguel) just 40 seconds behind in third.
With two races now completed, Yanira leads the overall standings with 2 points. Tomorrow, Nerissa and Kahurang
In Classics 2, today’s results mirrored those of yesterday: Clarionet (BC Yacht Club, Andrew Harvey) remains in the lead with 2 points, followed by Kanavel (RCN Barcelona, Javier Mestre) with 4, and Sea Fever (CN Vilanova, Enrique Curt) with 6.
Clarionet
The Modern Classic division saw Stiletto (Suffolk YH, Scot Yeates) start the day with a 3-point penalty for a technical infringement. Nevertheless, she repeated her victory on the racecourse. Melbac (RCN Barcelona, Belén García Guillén), featuring ocean racer Bruno García among her crew, took second, while Legolas (RCN Palma, Jens Rickie) placed third. Despite the penalty, Stiletto tops the leaderboard with 5 points, followed by Legolas and Melbac with 5 and 7 points respectively.
Drama unfolded in the Big Boat division as Hallowe’en (Iñigo Strez) was penalised for crossing the start line prematurely. Despite winning the race by 1 minute and 10 seconds over Mariska (Dan Pojsak), and by over 16 minutes ahead of Star Sapphire of London (Jakob Glatz), the penalty reshaped the standings. Mariska now leads comfortably with 3 points, followed by Hallowe’en and Star Sapphire, both on 6 points.
Stiletto
In the Época Bermudian class, Amorita (Claudio Mealli) claimed victory by just 20 seconds over Argyll (Griff Rhys) after corrected time, with Manitou rounding out the day’s podium. With two wins under her belt, Amorita leads the overall standings with 2 points, ahead of Argyll with 5 points and the portuguese Falcon (De Barros) with 9.
In the Época Cangreja division, Scheherazade (RCN Palma, Luis Sánchez) took today’s win, followed by Le Temps Perdu (RCN Barcelona, Nelson Hausmann), who retains the overall lead.
Scheherazade
GAEL I: Classic Elegance and Mediterranean Soul
Built in 1962 by the renowned German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen, the sailing yacht GAEL I is a timeless gem measuring 23.16 meters in length, seamlessly blending the elegance of traditional yacht craftsmanship with the comfort of a modern charter vessel. Featuring exterior design and naval architecture by the legendary Philip Rhodes, this yacht’s graceful lines and noble character continue to sail today with all the splendor of her prime years.
Behind this dream vessel stands a French owner who has skillfully preserved and enhanced the yacht’s essence over time.
With a beam of 5.18 meters and a draft of 2.9 meters, GAEL I displaces 85 GT, boasting a hull and superstructure crafted entirely from wood, further emphasizing her artisanal and warm character. Powered by a Caterpillar engine, she reaches a top speed of 10 knots — though this yacht isn’t built for speed, but rather to savor the journey, the sea, and the wind.
Inside, wood takes center stage. Rich paneling, classic finishes, and a welcoming atmosphere greet guests in the main salon and the three available cabins. At the helm is the experienced skipper Mick Creach, whose extensive expertise ensures safety and deep knowledge of the Mediterranean coasts.
With a history that includes years of noble ownership and a present that maintains her as one of the most beautiful and charismatic sailing yachts still afloat, GAEL I ranks as the 63rd largest sailing yacht ever built by Abeking & Rasmussen and stands as a living piece of European nautical heritage. Her presence on the water is synonymous with elegance, tradition, and excellence.
Tomorrow will take place the last and final day of the regatta, with new opportunities for the city and the sea to embrace following the rolling of these nautical beauties that make Barcelona a unique stage in the global classic sailing scene.
WINNERS DAY 11/07 PUIG REGATTA 2025
BIG BOAT: MARISKA
CLÀSSIC I: YANIRA
CLÀSSIC II: CLARIONET
ÈPOCA BERMUDIAN: AMORITA
ÈPOCA CANGREJA: SCHEHERAZADE
MODERN CLASSIC: STILETTO