The beautiful "Artako" by Juan Olabarri took the Gitana in Las Arenas

"Artako" on classic ships, of the "Asti V" on ships of Epoch and of the "Gaitero" in the category Spirit of Tradition, have been the winners of the Gitana Cup organized by the Royal Maritime Club of the Abra-Real Sporting Club, ended in waters of Vizcaya. The two tests the Abra put a beautiful closure after a spectacular Nautical Rally that it emphasized in Hendaya, Hondarribi, Pasaia Donibane, Donosti, Mutriku, Bermeo, Getxo and Bilbao, and after a spectacular Ria climb.

The closing test was conducted with variable winds of northern component. In the category of classic ships the legendary Basque patron Juan Olábarri, led his "Artako," a real floating jewel, to achieve his seventeenth victory. The silver was for the "Wetsward of Clynder" by Eduard Vichot, the 'Rouvelon' by Jean-Thierry Aubren, the 'Cantarepe' by Iñigo Arriola and the 'Eloise II' by Dominique Urien. On the other hand, the 'Asti V' of Ibon Basañez won its seventeenth victory among the ships of Epoch, launched until 31 December 1949 and with more than 68 years old. The 'Saltillo' of José Ignacio Uriarte ended in the second square, the 'Arosa' of Antonio Mayo López was third and the 'La Gaillarde' of Patrick Pillot ended in the fourth position. In the category Spirit of Tradition was first the 'Gaitero' of Juan Valdivia, with the 'Flying Neleb' of Federico García German second, the 'Alai' of Ignacio Gandarias third and the 'Shere-Khan II' of Yann Lescan du Plessix fourth. The organization also delivered the Enrique Arriola Trophy to the Best Conservation to the 'Arosa', and the José Manuel Loredo Trophy to the Best Restoration to the 'Wetsward of Clynder'. The award was awarded by Julia Casanueva, President of the Royal Spanish Vela Federation. The sailing boats that have gone through the seas for many decades ago took part in one of the most special editions in the long history of the Gitana Cup, a competition that dates back to 1904.

25 / 08 / 2017: "Artako" and "Asti V" begin by sending in the Gitana Cup of Classical Sailing in Getxo

The 2017 Gitana Cup began in peach waters. There has been a spectacular nautical rally that has passed through Hendaya, Hondarribi, Pasaia Donibane, Donosti, Mutriku, Bermeo, Getxo and Bilbao, in addition to a Ria climb and two special open-door days at the Ria Maritime Museum in Bilbao and the Royal Abra-Real Sporting Club.

The dean of the Spanish races already sails through the seas of Euskadi

A test of almost 10 miles in the Abra, with winds from the north-east of 12 knots, was the beginning of the competition to discover in the Vizcaina waters of the Abra true jewels of the candle. After it, the "Artako 'by Juan Olábarri (15 times the winner of the race) leads the classification in the category of classical ships ahead of the" Wetsway of Clynder' by Eduard Vichot, the "Lasse 'by Jean Luc Nicolas, the' Rouvelon 'by Jean- Thierry Audren and the' Cantarepe 'by Iñigo Arriola.

For its part, the 'Asti V' of Ibon Basañez (with eleven victories in its palmarés) is first among the ships of Epoch, with the 'Saltillo' of José Ignacio Uriarte in the second square, the 'La Gaillarde' of Patrick Pillot third and the 'Arosa' of Antonio Mayo López in the fourth position. In the category Spirit of Tradition is first the 'Gaitero' of Juan Valdivia, leader of the general, with the 'Flying Neleb' of Federico García Germán second and the 'Shere-Khan II' of Yann Lescan du Plessix third.

The sailing boats that have gone through the seas for decades and decades take part in a very special edition of the 2017 Gitana Cup for classic, epoch and spirit of tradition, which has already taken out the best two tests with the end this Saturday.

23 / 08 / 2017: The fleet of classics of the Gitana Cup, sailed through the river of Bilbao

The classic and time-old ships that have taken part in the so special nautical Rallye of the Gitana Cup, with numerous participation of French ships, emphasized at the Ria Maritime Museum of Bilbao. After leaving Getxo from the Royal Maritime Club of the Abra-Real Sporting Club they made a beautiful journey of hour and half completed with a day of open doors. These wonderful ships, after returning to the Maritime, where they will remain on Thursday on another attractive day of open doors in Getxo, will begin the competition of the Gitana Cup on Friday. The sailing boats that have gone through the seas for decades and decades take part in a very special edition of the 2017 Gitana Cup for classic, epoch and spirit of tradition, which is held to the best of two tests... Friday and Saturday.

The fleet made a journey from the Royal Maritime Club of the Abra-Real Sporting Club to the Ria Maritime Museum of Bilbao

The Rallye has been organized by the Royal Maritime Club of the Abra-Real Sporting Club, the Yatch Club Classique La Rochelle and Euskal Kirol Portuak. It is sponsored by Bilbao Bizkaia Be Basque, Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, Euskadi Basque Country-Gobierno Vasco, City Council of Getxo (Tourism), Viña Pomal and El Correo. The Ria Maritime Museum of Bilbao, Pasaiako Udala, Pasaia Port, Albaola, the Nautical Club Izkiro, the Real Nautical Club of San Sebastián, the Nautical Club of Hondarribia and the Yatch Club Hendaye are collaborating.

22 / 08 / 2017: The Gitana Cup of Classic Boats in Getxo to one of its most historic editions

One more than attractive "Up to the Ria" from the Real Club Marítimo del Abra - Real Sporting Club to the Museo Marítimo de Bilbao, on Wednesday 23, announces the arrival to the Abra of the historic Gitana Cup of classic ships. One more summer, although this time in August unlike years ago in July, the time comes to discover in the Vizcaina waters of the Abra to the jewels of the candle. To the sailing boats that have gone through the seas for decades and decades and that take part in a very special edition of the 2017 Gitana Cup for classic, time and spirit of tradition, which is held to the best of two tests: Friday 25 and Saturday 26 August (both with departure scheduled at 13: 00). The distance to travel in the waters of the Abra in each of the two days, at the oldest nautical event in the country, will be about 10 miles and depending on the forecasts of little wind. Around 20 ships, with large French participation, will compete in this race created in 1904 by the Real Sporting Club.

It is a very special edition with a rally of classic ships with great French participation going through different Basque ports since last August 17

Some of the participants' ships carry thick masts, others treasure elements in precious metals or noble woods loaded with much history. Thus they return to the Abra the ships of past times, which retain an innate elegance and which is worthy to admire in this very special Gitana Cup that is preceded by a rally with beginning on the 17th in Hendaya and Hondarribia. From these locations he continued with a journey that he then emphasized in Pasaia (day 18, with stay and tourist visits in this town on the 19th, especially the Albaola shipyard where he saw the construction of a scientific replica of a 16th century whale and visit to the house of Victor Hugo) to follow up to Mutriku (day 20), previously emphasized in Donostia-San Sebastián where the rally was received at the Royal Nautical Club of San Sebastián). Bermeo on Monday 21 and Getxo on Tuesday 22 have also been destination of the rally. This Wednesday, 23, from the Real Club Marítimo del Abra-Real Sporting Club at 10 a.m., will take place a spectacular Ria climb to the Museum Marítimo Ria in Bilbao and a day of open doors.

These wonderful ships will return to the Maritime, where they will remain on Thursday 24 on another attractive day of open doors in Getxo before starting the competition a day later. In the rally, together with most French ships, the 'Artako' vizcayno and the 'Saltillo' school ship took part. The rest of the entries are the 'Arren Chan Passiou', 'Eloise II', 'Jade', 'Kanthaka', 'Khayyam', 'La Gaillarde', 'Lasse', 'Ninita', 'Rouvelon', 'Saprbelu!', 'Thalamus', 'Tikaroa' or 'Westward of Clynder'. "It's wonderful to see these ships sail. I appreciate the welcome you have given us in all the ports that the rally has passed through. And there has been a time that has not been commissioned, with pleasant navigations" said at the press conference Tomás Alonso Allende, the Marítimo, who presented the test with Edurne Egaña, director of EKP, the tourist councilwoman of Getxo Irantzu Uriarte, and Eduardo Santamarina, sports director of the Club.

As far as the competition of 25 and 26 is concerned, the course of the tests, with these floating museum pieces, will be made according to the wind to facilitate the navigation of the classic and time ships. Sailing fans and the general public will be able to enjoy from different points on the coast of the Vizcaine, especially from Punta Galea, the beautiful images that these sails will offer. The 2017 Gitana Cup is disputed in several categories: Epoch Boats and Classic Boats, in addition to the category Spirit of Tradition. The organization also gives the Enrique Arriola Trophy to the Best Conservation (sixth edition) and the José Manuel Loredo Trophy to the Best Restoration, as well as to the first of each class. There will also be competition in class J 80.

- ARCOS OF APOCA: Bottled until 31 December 1949 (over 68 years old).
- CLASICAL BARKS: Backed between 1 January 1950 and 31 December 1975 (between 42 and 67 years old).
- TRADITION SPIRIT: Built before 31 December 1991.

Agenda
August 22: Arrival of the rally to Getxo from Bermeo
23 August: Riding from 10 a.m. and open day at the Ria Maritime Museum in Bilbao (from 3.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.)
24 August: Open day at the Royal Maritime Club of the Abra-Real Sporting Club (from 16 to 19 hours)
August 25: Gitana Cup. Day one. Conference: The ships of Alfonso XIII. A time race (1902-1931). Mr Luis Tourón Figueroa
August 26: Gitana Cup. 2nd day and award delivery.