PUIG VELA CLÀSSICA BARCELONA 13 TO 16 JULY, 2016 IX EDITION www.puigvelaclassicabarcelona.com I. PUIG AND ITS CONNECTION WITH SAILING Throughout its more than 100 years of history, Puig has “With the Puig Vela Clàssica Bar- maintained a natural connection with water sports, especially sailing. The fashion and fragrance company founded in celona regatta, year after year, Puig Barcelona by the Puig family in 1914, identifies with the intrinsic values of this water sport; and this passion is shared confirms its dedication to the city by everyone – in the company and the family. and to the world of sailing. In the beginning. As the sponsor of the Copa del Rey from This competition is an ideal oppor- 1984 through 2006, Puig worked hard to make this event one tunity to demonstrate the interna- of the most exciting, elegant and prestigious sailing events on the international yachting circuit. In the same spirit, one tional impact of Barcelona and our of the family’s company yachts, Azur de Puig, participated in company through a totally unique the world’s most exclusive regattas for more than 15 years. event.” Based on this track record, the Copa del Rey success was extended with the creation of the Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona Marc Puig, Chairman and CEO, Puig regatta, which embodies the connection between Puig and sailing. This regatta was created in 2008 out of a desire to revive the nautical spirit and tradition that has been so much a part of Barcelona throughout its history. It is an event brimming with beauty, elegance and tradition, showcasing the great historic value of the boats that come to compete. IX EDITION | 13 TO 16 JULY, 2016 2 II.PUIG VELA CLÀSSICA BARCELONA – 9TH EDITION With every edition, the Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona has become Some of the ships have interesting stories to tell. Like the recognized as one of the main regattas on the international Moonbeam IV, which had the privilege of hosting Grace classic sailing calendar. The exclusive atmosphere of the Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco during their honeymoon event and the prestige of the competitors it attracts are only in 1956; or the Manitou, built in 1937 and converted into two of the reasons why year after year more yacht owners the presidential yacht for US President John F. Kennedy. and sailing connoisseurs are becoming unconditional fans of Another legendary vessel habitually seen in Barcelona this event. waters is the Marigold, a classic cutter launched in 1982 and magnificently restored, which was one of Charles More than fifty classic and vintage boats from Spain and Nicholson’s first designs. countries such as England, France, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy will provide a vast Based on the International Mediterranean Committee (CIM) array of nautical splendor rarely seen in major cities such as Regulations, the regatta is divided into three categories Barcelona. according to the year in which they were built: Vintage Boats, Classic Boats, and Big Boats. 9th Edition. This year, from July 13 to 16, the Barcelona Royal Yacht Club will host an event that is difficult to evaluate in terms of the historical legacy relating to the boats involved. One-of-a-kind boats more than a hundred “The days during which the Puig re- years old, and more recent ones adapted to the pureness and traditions of artisan shipyards, will gather together. gatta is held each year occupy a very important part of our crews’ annual At the helm of these ships will be a select group of sailors who, in addition to competing with the same discipline and agenda. Vibrant, thrilling and uni- determination as they would for any other nautical sport, que...in the most appropriate setting will adopt the style and elegance that can only be seen in this unique event, steeped in history, competitiveness and imaginable, this city with its unbea- excellence. table atmosphere and long nautical “There is nothing more seducti- background. It’s a must-attend event ve and enslaving than life at sea.” for all lovers of the nautical world.” Antonio Bellés, captain of the Islander Joseph Conrad, writer IX EDITION | 13 TO 16 JULY, 2016 3 III. A COMPANY WITH A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH BARCELONA The history of Puig is closely linked to the history of Barcelona. The ninth edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona offers From the company’s very beginnings to the present day, the general public a rare opportunity during any given Puig and Barcelona have had a shared history and destiny. year or place in the world to see historically and culturally They have grown together, each one an inseparable part significant boats in action, an experience usually reserved of the other’s identity for a century. It is therefore not at for a privileged few. Once again, Puig will offer the world a all surprising that the firm has maintained its headquarters totally unique boat show that will provide an opportunity to even when it became a major international corporation. demonstrate its passion for sailing and its high esteem for the Catalonian capital. Furthermore, nine years ago, Puig put Barcelona back on the coveted list of major Mediterranean cities that host No other city in the world hosts a regatta of classic boats of prestigious international sailing competitions. this caliber. Only Antigua, Antibes, Newport Rhode Island, the Isle of Wight and Cannes hold regattas of this kind. A bit of history. The first sailing competition organized in Barcelona was held in 1883, but it was not until 1886 that the During this period, the city becomes the global epicenter for city began to regularly host regattas involving small racing this type of sports event. The dates for this event, July 13 boats. In 1929, the same year as the Barcelona International to 16, were identified as the most appropriate because the Exhibition, the city hosted the World Mediterranean vast majority of the world’s classic sailing ships are already Cruise, marking the start of the city’s career as a center for enrolled in premier nautical circuits along the Mediterranean numerous boat races. It was also during the first third of the coast. 20th century that some of the boats participating in the Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona Regatta were launched. “People who do not know that a sail- boat is a living creature will never understand anything about boats and the sea.” Bernard Moitessier, writer IX EDITION | 13 TO 16 JULY, 2016 4 IV. THE REAL CLUB NÁUTICO DE BARCELONA With more than 140 years of history, the Real Club Náutico “It is one of the most important na- de Barcelona (RCNB) is a major reference in the world of Mediterranean sailing. The club is a founding member of val events at the international level; the International Mediterranean Committee (CIM), the Spanish Yacht Club Association (AECN) and Barcelona a unique opportunity for the entire Sports and Culture and is affiliated with such organizations nautical family to enjoy their ships as the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation (RFEV), the Catalan Sailing Federation (FCV), the Real Asociación Nacional de in the exceptional environment of Cruceros (RANC), the Catalan Jetski Federation (FCM) and Barcelona’s Mediterranean bay.” the Asociación de Naveganst Solitaris. Félix Escalas, The RNCB has sister yacht clubs in various European countries and a range of reciprocal membership agreements President of the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona with clubs and organizations such as the Yacht Club de Monaco, the Yacht Club Italiano, the Yacht Club de France and the Circolo del Remo e della Vela italiano. “[...] And he realized that no one is ever alone at sea.” Ernest Hemingway, writer The RCNB has won several prizes honoring its career as a sports organization. In 1999, it received a Royal Order of Merit gold plaque from the Spanish government, and in 2003 it was awarded a gold Medal for Sporting Merit from the Barcelona City Council. It received the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation’s Golden Anchor Award in 1998, was na- med the best Best Catalan sporting body by Mundo Deportivo in 1997, and has been awarded a Golden Sail by the Catalan Sailing Federation on numerous occasions. IX EDITION | 13 TO 16 JULY, 2016 5 V. SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS Royal National Cruising Association International Mediterranean Committee Spain’s Royal National Cruising Association was established The Comité Internacional del Mediterráneo (CIM) was in 1974 and represents the owners of cruising boats with founded in 1926 by three legendary yacht clubs: the Yacht regard to the technical aspects of time allowances for regattas. Club de France, the Yacht Club Italiano and the Real Club The scope of its authority includes the entire territory of Náutico de Barcelona. Spain. It is the only association of its kind in Spain and, for many years, it was the keeper and representative in Spain of The CIM currently includes classic yacht owners’ associations the IOR and then the IMS international measurement rules. – AIVE (Italy), AFYT (France), RANC (Spain) and AMBC (Monaco) – and various national sailing federations. Together www.ranc.es they constitute the executive and technical committees. The CIM’s priority is to implement the means to uphold the maritime heritage and thus ensure the continuation of both Classic and Vintage yacht racing. http://www.cim-classicyachts.org/ Royal Spanish Sailing Federation Its members are sports federations from the autonomous regions, sports clubs, sportsmen and women, technicians, judges and other authorities involved in promoting or practice sailing sports. www.rfev.es IX EDITION | 13 TO 16 JULY, 2016 6 VI. A LIVELY, EXCEPTIONAL VILLAGE: A WORLD CLASS SPORTING, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL EVENT July 13 to 16, all the social life revolves around the Village, Major sponsors such as Nespresso, Coca-Cola, Estrella a leisure spot in the heart of the Real Club Náutico de Damm, Gramona or ISDIN will gather this year in the Village Barcelona.