End of the Rias Baixas and with it the Regatas Mar de Maeloc 2019-22... in which curiously Oils April achieved the three victories in the Maeloc Rías Baixas (Photo Pedro Seoane)

Three years ago, through the nautical company Wor60 Spain, the brand of the Corporación Hijos de Rivera... Maeloc, named it an illustrious project for the sailing of the Iberian Atlantic in general, and for Galicia and the Cantabric in particular.

To the initial project were invited the Real Club Nautico de La Coruña, the Real Club Nautico de Vigo and the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona. The official presentation of the great project took place in the main hall of the Herculine club, a presentation in which it was shown that it was a new setting; in which the sponsor committed himself for a period of three years... then after this period the turn would be opened for a mature reflection, studying the desirability of following, not following or changing the parameters... that is, the results would mark the future, as is logical and reasonable in this type of sports sponsorship initiatives.

It is clear that the design was ambitious, very new and at the same time conservative... so it was chosen to base it on the three most traditional races of Galicia, with the view set in the Maritime of the Abra de Vizcaya in the short term... that is to say in the Rías Alta Regata, the Rias Baixas Regata and the missing in combat since the beginning of the century: the Finisterre Trophy.

Seoane (Representative in the Maeloc Regata of the sponsoring company), Nano Yáñez (MRCY Baiona), Roberto García (Xunta de Galicia) Portela (RCN Vigo), Noa Pérez (Director Maeloc), Nores (RCN La Coruña) and Villaverde (Federación Galician de Vela) was on 7 July 2019 (Photo Pedro Seoane)

The Dios de Rivera Corporation with regard to Galicia, it is very clear that the group is by definition Galician... therefore the founding concept of Mar de Maeloc, with Galicia Norte and Galicia Sur nautical speaking to him in a certain way... from the first moment.

The event planning except for the consolidated power of the Rías Baixas, had interesting events, as well as problematic... case of the Finisterre that he had in the trunk of memories for quite a few years or the Rías Altas, that while he had in his history some acceptable editions, the fact is that participation was his weak point, as a general rule.

On Thursday, July 11, the Sea of Maeloc Rías Altas began with ports based in La Coruña, Malpica, Sada and Cedeira. The figure of illustrious ships with 15 ships that looked many, in view of the very low figures of the past. The Finisterre that had a final in Baiona and as a dessert the Rías Baixas that did not fail... were finally made to participate 80 ships with about 600 crew members on board. To the success of sports he accompanied a large volume of communication... so everyone is happy.

We arrived in February 2020 when in the middle of the second edition the idea of considering a Getxo-La Coruña Regata as a pre-Circuito, but at the beginning of March the worst news comes... there comes the confinement forced by the serious health problems... the cancellations of races outside our country, and in our own.

Princess Sofia is first cancelled, then the King's Cup... and the Maeloc project as a mortal is staggering. However, at the beginning of spring, widespread hope and good times seem to be near... the emergence of short-term vaccines, it previews that from July there will be better results... and that it is possible that in August and September we can start to compete at sea again.

The 2020 design is turned back in August as the health situation is estimated to improve ostensibly

Therefore Maeloc is made a hole in August with the same planning in all events as in 2019... unless the Finisterre for this reason would also be moved from Baiona to Vigo, provisionally.

The figures that are handled are similar, as well as the quantity and for a year as terrible as 2020, the levels of competition and communication achieved are good. That the success was to finish the three races, no one questioned it.

Partial image of the exit in El Abra de Getxo, heading for La Coruña (Photo Manolo Seoane)

This year there is a differential fact about the two previous editions: the Xacobeo Regata 21.22, which was held from July 21 to 25 between Getxo and La Coruña... this was the completion of the Maeloc project, to enter a new stage, and was achieved... thanks to the great work of the Royal Maritime Club of the Abra-Real Sporting Club of La Arenas that led a dozen good cruises to the 250-mile Xacobea crossing.

The call of the Abra was attended by ships from La Coruña, Gijón, Santander, Getxo, Zumaia and San Sebastián... a success on all levels. The Rías Alta Regata, in which the expectations generated were not met... perhaps the route that did not help, perhaps the pandemic, perhaps the time... the truth is that only 9 ships completed the race, which was disappointing. It is true that the level of the fleet was good in general, but the amount is certainly weak.

The Finisterre was the third act, and there were ten registered... which was not a bad figure. In the end there are five who arrive in time to Vigo, and with this they still add step by step few ships to the total computation.

As it closes the Rías Baixas that had a good edition with high quality, or we would almost say a lot. It can be said that all or almost all of the participating ships, which were 52, had options to win... and it would not be a sin of overstatement.

Boats of Galicia (north, east and west), Asturias, the Basque Country (the number of previous years was recovered) and Portugal (less than expected)... also there were cruises of Castilla-León, Madrid and Catalonia.

So far the history of Mar de Maeloc, which has closed its first chapter... what happens in the future depends on converting all the data in the appropriate way to be applicable... what has happened has been meritorious... because most of the great races punctured in 2020 and the races met their calendar scrupulously.

The great doubt is whether the road started in 2019 is the right one, or whether it needs a great reflection after the not so good results of 2021 and to make it a stop on the way... the goal remains the foundational and is no other than that the heavy candle of the north and north-west to return to the path of brilliance, and to the institutional harmony between the different spares and clubs.