The official presentation in the Nautico de Vigo (Photo Pedro Seoane)

A long way to go in the city of Vigo of the project Mar de Maeloc, born in order to increase the nautical-sports notoriety of Galicia in the Atlantic Arc, both from a sports and tourist point of view. In the multitudinary presentation, which took place in the reference room of the Real Club Náutico de Vigo, José Ramón Lete was present in other authorities as the secretary of the sport of Galicia, Manel Fernández councillor of Vigués sports, Carlos Font provincial deputy, Noa Pérez responsible for marketing of Maeloc, José Antonio Portela vice president of the Náutico de Vigo, as well as Manuel Pedro Seoane director of Mar de Maeloc, and the mayor of A Pobra do Caramiñal, representing the different municipalities immersed in the race.

The first step of Mar de Maeloc has been to involve the two most important Galician cities, through their main nautical clubs... which organize the three oldest races of the Iberian Northwest: the Rías Baixas Regata of the Real Nautical Club of Vigo, the Rías Altas Regata of the Real Nautical Club of La Coruña and the Finisterre Trophy that has traditionally hosted the Herculine Club and the Monte Real Club of Yates of Baiona... which serves as a link to the two "Rías."

The main ports of Mar de Maeloc 2019, cover much of the Galician coast: Cedeira, Sada, La Coruña, Malpica, A Pobra do Caramiñal, Sanxenxo, Commud, Vigo and Baiona; the "Rías Altas" has already been celebrated, the "Finisterre" will leave La Coruña for Baiona on 2 August... and from 14 to 17 August, it is the turn to the "Rías Baixas," considered as the most important race at the level of the island, in terms of the heavy events, in the case of the port.

The Regata Mar de Maeloc Rías Baixas will leave on Wednesday August 14 for Sanxenxo from the incomparable Ria de Vigo; from there is the second stage to the Ria de Arousa, to the beautiful A Pobra... the third act culminates in another historic villa such as Commud and as the end the final jump to the Ria de Vigo on August 17.

In competition it is estimated that 70 cruise ships will participate, and even the possibility of reaching the "2019 ceiling" that is set in the 80, with about 700 crew members on board is cut

It should be noted that today there are more than 30 ships, representing Portugal, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Euskadi... which shows that the rate of registration is frankly high.

The ships of the largest length among those currently registered are the Oceanis 60 "Quimera" of José Luis Otero of the Real Nautical Club of Vigo and the Oceanis 48 "Briamin" that patronea Santi González of the Real Nautical Club of Sanxenxo.

Other ships of great length are the Dehler 47 "Txole" that patron Ignion Sánchez Otaegui of Mount Real Club of Yates of Baiona, and the "Villa of Marin" a Hanse 47 of the Marin Military Naval School.
On the Basque side there will be at least the "Akelarre" of Mauricio Gibert, who was president of the Nautical and Fishing Club of Getaria gipuzcoano, as well as the "Portu Tercera" of the Royal Maritime Club of the Abra-Real Sporting Club of Basurko.

The powerful Cantabrian fleet will have its best choice to the "Inzenhabit" that patron Gustavo Arce of the Royal Maritime Club of Santander... while Asturias will be represented by the Hanse 400 "Divertimento" of Antonio Acuña of the Real Club Astur de Regatas de Gijón and the "Antilope-Lener" the Grand Soleil 37 of José Luis Alonso of the Club Bahia de Gijón.

Portugal will have among others in competition to the "Milaneza" the Grand Soleil 37 of the Leixóes Atlantic Sailing Clube, which has as its patron Rui Amorín... in the northern area of Galicia will be ships such as the recent "Cachete" winner of the Maelos Rías Altas Regata, or the spectacular Sun Fast 3600 "Lambaix" by Antonio Rios... in the south its best units, in the case of the "Oils Apro" of Luis and Jorge Pérez Canal, "Pairo 8" by José Luis Freire or the "Bosch Service Solutions" by Ramón a la Candio Club. "

The historical character Maeloc, has been fundamental to the history of the Spanish Northwest... as he directed the landing of thousands of Breton Celts on the Galician coasts in the 6th century, which merged with the citizens of the ancient Gallaecia

The most important factor for the operation of Mar de Maeloc, is the support for the sustainability of the marine environment... in all the development of the races has been bet on the recycled materials... the T-shirts with which the participants are made of cotton from "used clothing and manufacturing cuts," as well as "plastic bottles found at sea."

The materials used from the stationery to the flags of the ships have been made from recycled or recyclable materials... Ecoembes and Ecoglass will install in several ports of Mar de Maeloc, their system of selective collection of waste.

The old aspiration of Atlantic regatists and cruises is already a reality through Mar de Maeloc... the agreement is committed, for the seasons 2019, 2020 and 2021. The initial period may be increased in the light of possible successes.

The objective is to increase national and international náutico-sports notoriety, with special attention to the entire Atlantic Arc in the medium term, both from a sports point of view... and from the promotion of nautical tourism, for which the Galaica coast has exceptional conditions.