In the Galician nautical we have historical characters of quality, characters that have been decisive for the development of our hobby and sport... perhaps indispensable in the most recent Galician history, case of Angel Ruiz, Jesús Valverde, Cholo Armaño, Rafael Olmedo, César Ouro, Aurelio Fernández Laje, Julio Migulez- Babé Ozores, José de la Gandara, Alberto Alvarez... or even among those who are still mortals such as Manuel Fernández de Sousa- Faro, José María García Lastra, Javier de la Gandara, Enrique Vilariño, José Luis Tovera, José Pedro Carlos, Carlos, and Carlos Párrio...

Galicia was the pioneer in the arrival of the snipes in Spain, as she was through the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona, to present a "challenge" by the Copa América, or in reaching the first world title of cruises by the "Manzanita" of Enrique Vilariño in Finnish waters in 1977... it was also in the late 80's and early 90's absolute attention center of the high competition in our country: on the one hand the AC of Baiona, on the other the "Galicia 93-Pescanova..." in just 20 km of the world's strongest unions... nor to say that there was more rivalry and more secrecy than between Madrid and Barça...

Well, the great artist of that "Galicia 93-Pescanova" was above all Francisco Quiroga, who supported from the very first moment that exceptional pattern that is Javier de la Gandara and who also had the support of Charo Andrade and her husband Manuel Fernández, and the collaboration as a shipyard of Cholo Marina. But for Paco it was not such a new adventure... in 1986 he had embarked with another of the great, with José María García Lastra in the construction of a catamaran, the Santa María, which was built in Astafersa in his beloved Ferrol... this ship won in real time the late Regata del Discovering, with Latra, Ramón Zarauza, Miguel Lago... and Javier de la Gandara... and its solid construction and excellent design supported a cyclone in the full Atlantic, with winds worthy of Bilbao...

But neither do the consequences of this monfortino, who loves Vigo and boast of ferrolano, end here. To his condition as a war sailor, he joins that of being a successful naval engineer and above all his love of the sea... In the 70 design and built sailing ships with the healthy intention of making them affordable in the economic and popular... in line with those Puma 23, 24 or 26... it was also the engineer that made the design of Bruce Farr One Ton... the Sirius II "which has been one of the best sailing ships in the history of the Spanish sailing... or it was in the league of the Dubois designs in three quarters of ton that it was definitely supporting that fantastic world championship held in Denia in 1982, with ships such as the Mastia and Armeigín... or also with the one of the revolutionary that was" Antio "in the time that it was in the very name of the" Antif, " "Pairo, lance and roast meat."

I hear that this is not the end of the story, because Paco was the main promoter of the ideal class in Galicia, behind the parents of Javier... José de la Gandara and Toya Curbera... managed to roar the 200 ships in Ferrol! in some race, he was also president of the Galician Federation of Vela... creating the Galicia Vuelta or the Galicia Copas... and without a doubt with him the candle advanced. Their success was taken advantage of by leeches always, who betrayed him with supina disloyalty... I'm done... because it's gonna be no. He got into the Olympic oar and managed to organize with international success the Riber's Doom that led to the Open of Nations in his beloved Castrelo de Miño... and as a dessert he has embarked on this wonder of public relations, of international fraternity that is the European Sailing Brotherhood... that this summer he more organizes, between Lisbon and Las Palmas, the Discoveries Race... that is going to be a success, sure.

Perhaps one day in this beautiful and ungrateful land that is Galicia, some politician will think of proposing it to be given the Medal of Galicia.

Thank you, Paco!