Jesus Turró sailing this year in the Finn Master class (Photo Alfred Farré)

The regatist Jesus Turró, after much thought, has decided to take the step and will present himself to the presidency of the Federació Catalana de Vela, in a election that will take place on September 1.

With the motto 'Portem la veela al segle XXI' (Let's take the candle to the 21st century) The one who was Olympic in Montreal 76, the highest Olympic leader in Seoul 88, Barcelona 92 and Atlanta 96; vice-president of the RFEV and president of the RANC, now want to contribute his knowledge to the Catalan sailing.

Turró considers that the Federació Catalana de Vela has lost institutional weight and leadership at all levels, and that the illusion for the great races has been lost and that the clubs are not sufficiently attended. In addition, the fall in the number of licences has been considerable, important races such as Barcelona World Race and the Olympic Week of Barcelona have been lost, and above all it sees the potential that a federation like this can have in the promotion of the sailing, and that is being lost every day that passes.

In his electoral program, to which this blog has had access, he is strong in saying that "if the clubs close, the young will stop sailing". There is no doubt that the subject of clubs is a matter of concern and much in Catalonia, with a complicated present and an uncertain future, especially those with the administrative renewal pending, of which three have already been lost in recent years.

Turró's leadership and sports and social prestige are contrasted, as he is a good connoisseur of the territory and of clubs and athletes, he knows it well because he is still active sailing on Finn Master and on cruise. He is certainly a very heavy candidate, and for the moment it seems that he will be playing with the current president, Xavier Torres, who in his day picked up the witness left by Gerard Esteva, when he was elected president of the UFEC, as his vice president in the Catalan, and in the last election he ran as a single candidate. Now in front of you will have Jesus Turró.

Jaume Soler, nautical journalist
www.jaumesoler.net