As we go to press, the classic yachts are starting to arrive in Mahon for the XX Copa del Rey organised by the Club Marítimo de Mahón. The Big Boat class brings together the largest fleet of recent years: Mariska (1908), Tuiga (1909), Lady Anne (1912), Mariette (1915), Hallowe’en (1926), Viveka (1929) and Orianda (1927)
The XX Copa del Rey Repsol de Barcos de Época brings together one of the largest fleets of classic sailing boats in the Mediterranean during the last weekend in August each year. 46 boats were registered this year including seven of the most spectacular “Big Boats” in the world. “It has been years since the large boat category has hosted so many boats, of such quality and so well preserved,” confesses Nacho Marra, director of the event. The coastal landscape of Menorca is very popular with vintage sailing enthusiasts making it the best attended of the six regattas that make up the Mediterranean Champions Cup circuit for classic sailing.
The “Big Boats” class is reserved for boats of 24 metres or more in length. Three had not been to Mahón for some time (Tuiga, The Lady Anne and Mariette). Orianda (1937) is here for the first time. She is an impressive 26-metre schooner designed by Oscar W. Dahlstrom, built in Denmark and now sailing under the British flag. Its fascinating history includes military seizures and very diverse uses, which are common in boats that are eighty years old. However, its most famous period corresponds to the 80s, when the boat was acquired by Neil Peart, drummer of the Canadian band Rush , who in his biography says that while anchored in the Virgin Islands he was inspired to compose several songs that would later become very popular.
Its current owner is the Italian Iginio Angelini, who entrusts the helm to his compatriot Tommaso Crisi.
The return of the Mariette (1915), with its imposing golden schooner rig and its almost 40 metres, is another of the notable additions to the event . Very few boats on the world circuit offer the presence of this colossus designed by Natahel G. Herreshoff, known as the Wizard of Bristol and considered one of the great geniuses of naval architecture of all time.
The rest of the fleet is divided into four categories, according to the rules of the International Committee of the Mediterranean. Boats built before 1950 are considered vintage and grouped according to whether their rig is trapezoidal or Bermudian (triangular). From that date until the end of the 1970s, the boats are classified in the Classic division. The Spirit of Tradition boats complete the fleet.
Photos:Nico Martinez/Club Maritimo de Mahon: Mariette 1915, Mariska 1908, Orianda 1937, once owned by Neil Peart of Canadian band, Rush
You can find details of all the boats on https://www.velaclasicamenorca.com/
