In September 1990, Baiona enjoyed a frantic activity: first an atypical Prince of Asturias Trophy... followed by the Quarter Ton Cup, one of the most important "level class" world in history at European level...

But first it is necessary to go a little back, in order to tell a curious story, as well as anecdotal... essential to understand what happened in Baiona in that unforgettable month.

The Royal Mount and José Luis Suevos reached a sponsorship agreement for the appointment of the "quarter of tonne" by which Milmi provided the main sponsor of the event, as well as selling television rights with his company... that gave the Club that Rafael Olmedo presided freedom for two things: first to obtain official subsidies and on the other hand to obtain collaborations from commercial firms, which were not competition of "his sponsor".

The Asturian shipowner provided J & B as a sponsor of the World BBV as an advertiser of the daily programmes of the Autonomous TV, which would be broadcast every day at night.

The event with half a hundred ships from all over the world, and an unusual organizational and media wealth, had a budget of the order of 75 million of the old pesetas. A figure for those years, which was mentioned as historical.

This is why we were looking for these complementary supports at the Baiona Yacht Club: Narwhall and Jhonson Motors the first private agreement of importance was reached, José Ignacio Fernández Abeijón... the great 8-meter, motor-powered pneumatic, which was essential to balize the technical tests... however the "political" agreement was made to beg...

But the problem was to be solved in the most unexpected way. The Nautical of Vigo in the summer of the previous year received the UAP Open from Europe... being the great event presented in its facilities to bulb and dish, at a press conference that was hosting the then president José María Massó and by maximum authority to the unforgettable Mayor of Vigo Manoel Soto...

I remember it was 1: 30 in the afternoon when the phone was ringing at the office of the Mount Real Club of Yates... and the conversation was about this: "Is it possible that we approach the Club, call Estanis and eat with Lendiiro?..." without problem, but is something wrong?... "" I will tell you, but Lendiiro has been thrown out of the Nautico in the presentation of the Tour to Europe, he is with me and we need you not to take a wrong idea of the sailing... "

The one with the call was Javier de la Gandara, and Lendeiro, was Cesar Augusto Lédiiro president of the Deportivo de La Coruña and Secretary of the Sport of the Xunta de Galicia... and Soto had demanded Massó to "he will cast off the presentation table in front of the press, for he was the one who put the money, and not the Xunta of Galicia."... imagine the situation.

Then they arrived in Baiona and were all set up: Rafael Olmedo, José Manuel Piñeiro, Jacobo Fontán, Carlos Soto, Rafael Barreras... and Estanislao of course. What was a meal, ended up at dinner, too.... because the Secretary was planning on his schedule to stay in Vigo and in the face of what happened he took advantage of the unexpected visit to Baiona to learn about our sport in depth.

The Mayor of Baiona, Manolo Vilar and several of his councillors... that is, we have just been on the table at high hours of the night... not less than 15 people, between directors of Mount Real and Councillors of Baiona... it was really exciting when at the desserts Vilar addressed those present, strongly asking the Secretary of Sport, support for the World Cup and above all support for a nautical club, such as Mount Real, which was doing an immense job for the people of Baiona, and which was essential for the economy of the Villa.

The Xunta of Galicia immediately confirmed that he would be in the World Championship, after a call that Lendeiro made to Estanis at two or three days... and the numbers that concerned the Yates Club so much... began to square... thank you. to Compañeiro Soto and Javier de la Gandara.

And we came to the Prince of Asturias... who was starting with a serious accident that fortunately would not have the consequences that he could have had.

We are at the foot of Monte Ferro in the outside area of the Vigo Ria... 90 ships and wind of the fresh north-west... the procedure begins with numerous boats of spectators, televisions, photographers... the judges somewhat nervous for the unusual environment, in a Regatas Committee that was chaired by José María Benavides... and when the exit is three minutes away, I realize that they have made a serious mistake... on board the "Monte Real," which was the press ship... I cry to Pedro Arribere: "Is Peter the beacons by port or starboard?"... the Malagueño sees for the signal mast... he puts his hands on his head and annulment... had forgotten to indicate it with the corresponding red or green flag, of course.

Second attempt... with an enormously competitive fleet... with the wind reeling... the complicated maneuvers are happening... something was masking in the environment...

There were many "quarter of tonne" in the middle of the fleet of great length... it was certainly dangerous.

Among the "small" the first ship with female crew in the history of the Spanish Navy: Judel & Vrolijk "Mogor" with the student cavalry María Dolores Bedmarand that he had some "reinforcement" of the Yates Club, as in the case of that great Viguese patronPiluca Presa.

In the middle of the mess, typical in the numerous exits of cruises, with wind... the "Mogor" appears in the middle of the mess in an unexpected way between the mogollón of the "big... "and the sigma 38 lusitano "Marta" with Antonio Serodioto the reed... he sheds his bow on the starboard side of the ship of the"girls."Several crew members in the water... and a real miracle that the damage was only material.

By the way, the "Mogor" would be repaired in two or three days of emergency in a shipyard in Villagarcía de Arosa and would later participate in the World Championship.

The Prince ended with the victory of the "Ave" with Jane Abascal to the cane with 111 points, second was "Palace of the East" with Tiago Roquette to the cane armed by José Luis Freire who was the best of the "quarter of a ton," third the "Lada" of Gorostegui... completing the first squares "Bobadilla Gran Captado" of Pedro Campos, "Inespal" of Toni Tió, "Bombay Gin" of Gandara, "SalaoBV" of Fernando León, "" Sony "of" Castor "and" of "Abrago and" of the other "of the" Abrago and the "of the" Abrago and the "of the" of the "of the" Abrago and the "of the" of the "Abrago and the" of the "of the" of the "of the" of the "of the" of the "of the" of the "Abrago and the" of the "of the" of the "of the" of the "of the" of the "of the" of the "of the"

As the end of the party a large reception in Monte Real, in an act that was threatened by two great friends of José Luis Suevos "Felipe & Botamino"who made the delights of all... two huge musicians, with past in the unforgettable Catalan set" Pop Tops... "that were common in those years in Baiona, by the hand of the Milmi.

And after that, the Quarter Ton Cup was started... with the measurements of the ships that assumed a job on the deck... measure half a hundred ships from top to bottom in three days!... anecwhole in my office on the eve of the "measurements"...

The Gulf War was there... the situation was very tense... we were worried that Mrs. Cristina I couldn't come to participate in the World Cup... starting with your brother. Don Felipe I was already lost in advance.

I went to Theresa Zabell, who was the patron of "Don Cotton," And I asked him, "do you know if there's any chance that Cristina will come and talk to you at the World Cup?" and today's double Olympic gold medal, he told me "because I don't know... it's hard... for what's going on in the Gulf... but we're gonna get out of doubt we're going to your office and call him on the phone."

And there we sit at my table, one in front of another... Theresa called Zarzuela... she spoke to Cristina for a few minutes and suddenly the Malagasy tapo the micro so the Infanta wouldn't listen to her and told me "is crying, for they do not let her come... as it is logical..."

We were on the eve of the beginning of the Quarter Ton... to the "real" absence, added that of the great project of the Milmi... "an ONCE ship"... is something we never could understand about how I could navigate with guarantees "quarter ton with a crew of blind people"...

Suevos was talking about I'd put some rattlesnakes or something... and logically I'd wake up to the curiosity and the cachondeo... we'd tell him "Jose, how will they know the direction of the wind"... because it was very simple with the fresco on the face of the pattern... and it was so big... Milmi stuff!

A World Cup that on its eve began at the level of communication with the broadcast of the autonomous TV (all at the same time) of the first program, as before... which started with a simply fantastic BBV spot: "sAnd he sees a game of football and suddenly he stops... you hear a beautiful voice on the off that says... so that the sport doesn't stop... just as a boy introduces a coin to keep playing in the box and that the playing balls fall... BBV puts the media "...

But this World Cup, which marked a before and a later for the Spanish candle... deserves as justice is a full chapter... but that remains for next Friday.

(continued)