The Illes Balears Clàssics, hosted by Club de Mar from August 14 to 18, 2024, is a must-see event on the Mediterranean sailing calendar. This regatta celebrates the rich history of classic vessels and brings together a community dedicated to preserving the art and tradition of classic yachting.
In mid-August, the first storm of the season had just hit Mallorca, forcing the event to be postponed by a day. On Saturday, Islander reporter Marlot Cathalina ventured out to witness the floating museum of classic beauties. Though the morning was marked by the last remnants of the storm, the skies soon cleared, making way for the race. Although she wouldn’t have minded sailing one of the yachts on display, a brand-new Stratos more than made up for it, offering The Islander Magazine a front-row seat to watch the spectacle in the Bay of Palma.
The 29th edition of this year’s Illes Balears Clàssics has drawn forty boats from eight different countries, which sets a record number of entries. After days of competition, Argos (Clàssics), Sonata (Bermudian Vintage), Rowdy (Gaff Vintage) and Calima (RI/Spirit of Tradition) emerged as the winners of the Illes Balears Clàssics. While each yacht is a work of art in its own, we’ll showcase a few that stood out.
The general winner: Argos
Argos, a 1964 Holman & Pye design owned by Barbara Trilling, was crowned the overall winner after securing victories in two of the three races in its group. Argos is a standout yacht based on the successful design of the Kim Holman 42’ masthead sloop ‘Whirlaway of Percull,’ a UK racing boat launched in 1963. Known for being well-suited to offshore conditions, Argos combines competitiveness with onboard comfort.
Having spent her entire life in the Mediterranean, Argos has cruised as far as Morocco and Turkey and competed in numerous editions of the Trofeo Almirante Conde de Barcelona. She has been a regular participant at the Copa del Rey de Barcos de Época in Mahon and was the overall winner of the Spanish ‘Ruta de la Sal’ race.
The Women’s Trophy: Bon Temps
The Illes Balears Clàssics ´Women’s Trophy´ was awarded to the boat with the highest percentage of female crew members, which this year went to Bon Temps, a 1926 vessel owned by Santi Godo. Built in 1926 in Palma de Mallorca by Pere Nicolau Mandilego, it was originally commissioned by José Ponsa Soca for island sailing. During the Spanish Civil War, the boat was trapped in Menorca and intercepted by a Republican submarine. After the war, it changed hands several times and underwent various restorations.
In 2001, former owner Isabel Gutiérrez donated the vessel to the Fundación Villas del Cantábrico, which used it as a school ship in the Cantabrian Sea. On its 90th anniversary in 2016, the boat was donated to the great-grandson of the original owner for restoration and charitable projects in the Mediterranean, serving as a school ship for at-risk youth. The previous skipper, Miguel Godó Ponsa, at 85, fulfilled his lifelong dream of sailing Bon Temps again.
Legends of the Sea Trophy: Baruna
Baruna, built in 1938, was honored with the ‘Legends of the Sea Trophy’ for best embodying the spirit of classic sailing. This recognition was well-deserved, as the yacht spent no less than seven years in the shipyard undergoing a meticulous restoration, bringing her back to her original glory from the 1930s.
Built at Quincy Adams yard in Massachusetts for textile agent Henry C. Taylor, Baruna features a twin skin of mahogany over cedar on oak frames. Taylor, a World War I and II naval officer, wanted a yacht for both racing and family cruising. She won the Newport-Bermuda race in 1948 but fell into disrepair after Taylor sold her in 1953.
In 2015, Tara Getty bought Baruna at a significantly reduced price due to her restoration potential. Project manager Tony Morse found extensive damage, requiring a complete rebuild with new oak frames and mahogany planks. The interior was crafted at VMG Yachtbuilders in the Netherlands using traditional methods. After her completion in late 2023, Baruna participated in several events, including Les Voiles de St Tropez, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2023 and now the Illes Balears Clàssics.
Gaff Vintage winner: Rowdy
At 108 years old, Rowdy made a triumphant return to the regatta after a significant two-year restoration. Repairs became necessary after a severe incident at the Vele d’Epoca di Imperia in Italy, where a sudden Mistral wind broke her mast and disabled her engine. Thankfully, the crew was unharmed, but Rowdy required extensive repairs. The recent restoration, which included a new mast built, has restored Rowdy’s original gaff rig, presenting a new challenge for the crew as they learn to navigate with the updated rigging.
Launched in 1916 in New York, Rowdy is one of just four surviving NY 40s, originally designed by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff for New York Yacht Club members who dominated the Bermuda Race in the 1920s. Rowdy’s first owner, Holland Sackett Duel, was a lawyer, World War I veteran, and U.S. Senator in the 1920s. His story, along with Rowdy’s, is featured in a 2015 novel by former owner Christopher Madsen, who spent six years restoring the yacht in the late 1990s. Rowdy has been a strong competitor in classic sailing, winning the Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge three times under Graham Walker. The Dyer family, who acquired Rowdy in 2013, continues her racing legacy.
Source: www.velaclasicamallorca.com
