The Royal Cork Yacht Club, the oldest nautical club in the world: 1720

At the beginning of the 20th century the use of the engine was widespread and the candle was relegated to people sailing for pleasure and recreation. Since then, the candle has been preserved and has evolved thanks to several fans. The sailing sport began with King Charles II of England when, in the 17th century, he began to sail for pleasure in ajaghteDutch: The Mary, a 16-meter-long boat built in Rotterdam, became the first royal yacht. From there, the English began to call the ship "yacht," which would then lead to the adaptation of the word to the Spanish word "yacht." In this context, the English nobles built yachts similar to the king's, and the first known race of history was held along the Thames River.

In 1720, the first nautical club in history was founded in Cork, Ireland (the Cork Water Club, the predecessor of the current Royal Cork Yacht Club), where a group of 12-meter-long ships were gathered to eventually sail for races. The first great competition was born in 1820, due to the rivalry between this club and the New York Yacht Club (created in 1844), which took place in 1851 in the British Solent, to the American Cup, the oldest race in the world and still today.

The birth of the ocean candle

As for the ocean races, between 1850 and 1900 more than 45 Atlantic-crossing races were made. These, although they were evidence with commercial interests in which marine professionals participated in two or more-stick cargo sailboats. In 1866, the first race was made with gulets from the United States to Europe. Unlike other models of fast ships of the time, the gulets had cutting apparatus with candles that allowed to well sew and navigate on all the rushes. In this sense, the travel of pleasure and expeditions throughout the world were multiplied, mainly by English, French and American sailors.

Beautiful picture of one of the first editions of the American Cup

The first to turn the world alone was in Joshua Slocum on board the Spray, a reformed fishing vessel of 11.2 m. Slocum sailed from Boston in April 1895 and arrived in Newport in June 1898, after sailing more than 46,000 miles in 3 years, 2 months and 2 days. This old captain of sailing boats reembarked for the last time to Orinoco, disappearing both him and his ship, of which no trace was found.

The candle broke into the Paris Olympics in the distant year of 1900

In 1900, the candle became an Olympic sport at the Paris Olympic Games. From there the races are multiplied across the North Atlantic. Since these first races there have been many more, especially since the 1960s of the 20th century. The transatlantic and those back to the world with crew and alone have attracted the attention of the general public most. These competitions have been made on very diverse ships although in the end two groups have been formed: the multiships - catamarans and trimarans - and the monocascos.

The Argentine navigator Vito Dumas with the Lehg II

Chronology of the ocean candle

1900, The Sail, Olympic sport at the JJOO in Paris. Clara division between the inshore (near the coast) and the offshore (far from the coast). The races are multiplied across the North Atlantic.

1900 - 1920, Eclosion of the náutico design. Celebration of the American Cup with "great ships."

1918, The marconi gear appears that simplifies the maneuver, reduces the weight and improves the performance in the dyed. The cost is also reduced, which makes it possible to invest more in research.

1923, Bermuda Regatta (New York- Nassau), which becomes a classic in the United States. Creation of the Blue Water Medal that is awarded to French Alain Gerbault for his solo Atlantic crossing in 100 days.

1925, The Fastnet (Cowes - Fastnet Rock- Plymouth) is created. The race becomes a classic in Europe and future reference point for high sail.

1928 - 1936, Many Transats are organized in the OE sense, in favor of the dominant winds.

1942 - 1943, The Argentine Vito Dumas makes the first solo round of the world on the "three-end port" route, called the "impossible route." He does it with the Lehg II, a small, 9.55 m ketch. It becomes the first sports navigator to suffer difficulties: scurvy, beri-beri and infections. He demonstrated, as Slocum had already done, that with a small ship you could navigate any sea and spread the values of the ocean candle.

1945, the Sydney-Hobart was born in Australia. This race leaves Sydney to Hobart, Tasmania, sailing through one of the most difficult seas in the world.

1957, The Admiral's Cup is created in order to encourage American ships to take races in England. From 1965 onwards it arouses the interest of other nations and the race takes great prestige.

1960, the OSTAR was born, a solo race (Plymouth in New York), 3,000 miles against the dominant winds. The first and second edition (1964) was won by Francis Chichester and Éric Tabarly respectively, two fundamental characters to understand the modern ocean candle.

1966, Francis Chichester sails from Plymouth with the Gipsy Moth IV to give theback to the world alone by the "three ends." He arrives in Sydney after 107 days and loses 20 kg weight. Go back to Plymouth after 119 days. Queen Elizabeth II appointed him a gentleman on the same day as the commemoration of the return to the world of Drake (1580).

1968, The Golden Globe Trophy was born following the return to the world on a solo, no-stop basis organized by Sunday Times. The idea is called "madness" by most sailors. They leave Flamouth 9 ships, however, only Robin Knox-Johnston ends the race after 313 days of navigation. Bernard Moitessier became a legend when he left the race because, although going first, he returned to turn the world more to end up being lost in Polynesia. Sailor Donald Crowhurst disappears.

1972, The Discovery Race, the Regata del Discovering, is celebrated, with a direct "La Pinta" tour from Bermuda to Baiona la Real in Galicia. 60 ships above all the 50 feet of length (monocascos of competition) cover the test, with legendary participants such as the Jubilee III, the Carina,..., the only Spanish representative as crew Alfredo Lagos Silva, owner of the Astilleros Lagos de Bouzas- Vigo. The event considered one of the most important that has been held at the ocean level in the history of the candle, was organized by the Royal New York Yatch Club, the Cruising Club of America, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and the Mount Real Yates Club in Baiona.

1972, First edition of the Whitbread, round the world in stages and with crew. They leave 16 yachts but only four ships finish and three crew members die.

8 September 1973. No less than 17 ships from seven countries, leave Portsmouth in Britain to participate in the I Regata Vuelta al Mundo, with a forecast to get back to the point of departure in April 1974. The tragedy that three regatists died. The first to reach the line of arrival was the British "Great Britain," the winner in compensation among the 14 ships that completed the Whitbread in its first edition the 65 Mexican feet "Sayula II" by Ramón Carlin

1977, Nace la Mini-Transat, another "impossible" idea: cross the Atlantic inships of 6,5 m long. The Mini class, currently called class 6.5, shows spectacular dynamism and becomes the quarry of ocean regatists in solitaire. It is now held every two years. In 2007, a record of participation with 89 minions is set on the way out.

1982, First edition of the BOC Challenge, back to the world in solo stages (Newport (USA) - Newport - Ciudad El Cabo - Sidney - Rio de Janeiro- Newport) with 2 classes: 45-56 feet and 32-44 feet.

1989, First edition of the Vendée Globe, return to the world in solo without stages and without assistance (Les Sables d'Olonne - Les Sables d'Olonne for "the three ends"). It is sailed with 60-foot ships. The race reaches an extraordinary popularity in France and is now held every 4 years.

1991, The IMOCA 60-foot class that will regulate monocasque ships for solo races is born.

José Luis de Ugarte with his "Euskadi 93 Europa" curated an exceptional performance in the Vendee Globle 1992-1993, which appears in gold letters in the annals of the Spanish and international candle

1994, Introduce the IMOCA 60 feet.

2000, The Race takes place, the Millennium Regatta when the City of Barcelona was nominated official headquarters of departure. It was a race back to the world without a stop or assistance in which for the first time in history the organization allowed total freedom in the design of the ships. This is a basic precedent for the Barcelona World Race.

2001, La Whitbread, is renamed Volvo Ocean Race, regatta back to the world in stages with crew. It is sailed on VO 70 monotypes.

2006, The BOC Challenge becomes the VELUX 5 Oceans, with an exit from Bilbao and 3 stages (Bilbao - Fremantle - Norfolk - Bilbao).

2007, Barcelona World Race is born, back to the world with two crew members and no stop.

"Galicia 93 Pescanova" with Javier de la Gandara as the patron and the legendary "Fortuna" by Javier Visiers that was "extended" for the 1999-93 World Tour with little fortune. The ship of Gandara achieved the bronze of the WOR60 the greatest Spanish feat in this race. The precursor the "Liquor 43" of Joaquín Coello in 81

Main ocean races at present

1) Return to the World without scales

Vendée Globe (single-scale, monocasco)
Barcelona World Race (two non-stop crew members, monocasco)

2)Return to the World with scales

VELUX 5 Oceans (solo, 3 stages)
Volvo Ocean Race

3) Road through the East-West Atlantic

The Artemis Transat (solo, mono and multicascos)
Route du Rhum (solo, mono and multicascos)
Transat Jacques Vabre (double, mono and multicascos)
Mini-Transat (single, 5-foot monocasque)
Transat AG2R (double, single Figaro)

4) Cross-Mediterranean

European Pro-Tour (4-stage crew monocascos)