More worth an image than a thousand words (Photo Tourism of Galicia).

On June 20, 1964, it was founded in Baiona the Erizana Yachting Club International, germ of the Mount Real Club International of Yachting Bayona La Real, in which it would become just a year later, on March 24, 1965. It was then born one of the most important nautical clubs in Spain, aimed at starring in some of the most important chapters of the history of sailing in our country.

An idyllic image of the facilities of Monte Real in 1966. The works of the social building are not yet finished and you can appreciate the tunnel,... but without a dock. That would be done in two phases the first before the 70 and the second what is currently called the Contra-Mestre Pérez Muelle on the occasion of the 420 World Cup of 1977.

A group of enthusiastic lovers of navigation and the sea had gathered around their first president, Ricardo Valeiras de Tierra, and their intention was to create a club in the Villa de la Pinta. It was worked on two fronts: one on the Santa Marta Peninsula and the other on the foot of the Monte Real walls in the upper area of the Barbeira Beach, very close to the Torre de la Tinaja, at the foot of the Escolera del Puerto de Baiona.

One of the first directives of Mount Real, under the name of Yachting Club de Bayona. In the image among others José de la Gandara on the left and José Ramón Fontán on the right, who was then President of the Galician Federation of Vela.

In the group of 29 founding partners Fernando Massó, José de la Gandara, José Ramón Fontán, Martín Barreiro,..., or families of "Vigo de la vida" such as the Andrade, the García or the Durán. But the luck played them a good pass, because it was crossed in their way Jesus Valverde Viñas! Don Jesus!!, which at that time was the Architect of Tourist Parators of the hand of Manuel Fraga (Minister) and Pio Cabanillas (Director General), and Don Jesus was very clear: "The philosophy of Paradores is that of establishing within some of its historical enclosures golf courses and nautical facilities, and I offer to use these dependencies of the Conde de Gondomar Parador that we are going to build in the Basería of the Cantijo (Cantijo)." And said and done, because in 1968 Monte Real was already a reality with beautiful facilities and even a dock built by the unforgettable Ingeniero de Caminos Pita. The Club would have to face a reasonable canon (100,000 pesetas a year then) and take care of its maintenance, as well as have a lot of activity with the promotion of nautical tourism by flag,..., and so the guests of the Parador would have free access to the Club.

Discovery Race is unrepeatable today: 60 maxis ships on the Bermuda-Baiona route

And the president of Alfredo Romero came who presided over a very "cheerful" club and given to the great meetings and social parties. After Romero he took the turn to Carlos Zulueta, a great Viguese businessman of the time, who was also lucky enough to run into Fernando Solano, a "great villa who went to New York to try to start the Discovery Race in 1972,"..., and did so with the support of Manuel Fraga who was casually in the New York City!. The most important high-rise race in the history of the candle came true, with 60 ships all maxis, with only one Spanish on board: Alfredo Lagos. The race was organized by the New York Yacht Club, the Cruising Club of America, the Royal Bermuda Yatch Club and Mount Real. One pass!

Departure from the 1st Prince of Asturias in September 1986, who gave the late and longed Catalan judge Jordi Vives.

He ran in 1973 when they convinced Rafael Olmedo to take over the Club, which was not in its best economic moments. Olmedo was able to surround himself with people of the quality of Alfonso Paz Andrade, Rafael Lorenzo, Estanislao Durán, Jacobo Fontán, José de la Gandara, Fernando García Tobío, José Manuel Retolaza, Fernando Massó,..., of those who managed to put the Yates Club on the map of the world sailing cruise, and light sailing,... because in 1977 the 420 World Championship was organized in Baiona, which Israel won followed by the USA. In 1976, the Conde de Gondomar Trophy was born as Comodoro, who would be Assistant of Campo del Rey, Rafael Lorenzo Montero, and Delegate of Vela another of the great of the Galician candle, Humberto Cervera "Piruchi."

It was difficult years because after the Bermuda Regatta and the 420 World Cup the coffins were full of coffins and debts, so Rafael Olmedo and his team had to fight and much. In 1980 a new stage of the Club was born, with Estanislao Durán de Comodoro and Jacobo Fontán de Vice-Comandoro, as well as José Manuel Piñeiro de Secretario. The three under the leadership of President Olmedo and Alfonso Paz Andrade, hire Manuel Pedro Seoane as Director-Manager of the Club, and the team achieves all the objectives proposed by Jesus Valverde: to take over the Spanish candle.

Don Felipe's love for the MRCY is obvious. Since 1986 he has participated on several occasions in the race created on his behalf.

At this time, races are organized such as General Optica, the Prince of Asturias, several World Championships, the Open of Spain, the Regata Vuelta a España, the Regata de las Autonómias, Regatas Lymington- Baiona, Regata Lorient-Baiona, the Spanish TDV Championship,..., and it goes to the Copa América as dessert! This means the entry into the Staff of the Club de Juan Carlos Rodríguez Touges, Pedro Campos Calvo Sotelo and Luis de la Peña, and in San Diego the ship flagged by Spain and with the grympola of the MRCY is located fifth in San Diego!, ahead of Australia among other countries.

After the Copa América, the Club intensifies its activity with regatists of the quality of the mentioned Pedro Campos, or Javier de la Gandara, José María García Lastra and many others. Rafael Olmedo's work is enormous and it is good for Baiona to name him an adopted son or for Jesus Valverde to name the street that gives access to the Parador. They are years of friendship of the MRCY with the RCMA-RSC, the result of which was born the ANCLA (Association Nautical of Atlantic Clubs) that organized three editions of the Bilbao-Baiona Regata (the Chrysler Jeep Cup and the Paradores).

With the new century, the activity is unwavering and the Club receives Juan Carlos I as a regatist on board the legendary "Bribon," before he had visited Baiona on many occasions, but never to compete, as Philip VI (when he was Prince of Asturias) and his sister the Infanta Cristina. The sad news of Rafael Olmedo's death, which leaves a huge vacuum in the Club. After a long impas recently is made with the helm of the Club, José Luis Martínez that gathers all the qualities to follow the very difficult stela of Don Rafael: he is an expert navigator, a good regatist and an excellent person.

The Monte Real has first-class facilities within the Conde de Gondomar National Park, one of the most beautiful in Spain and with a luxury geographical enclave in the Crab Battery, in which nature and respect for the environment are the first motto of the Club. Surrounded by historic walls built between the 11th and 18th centuries, Monte Real offers visitors all the services of a great marina, but with the charm of exquisite and personalized treatment.

It has 250 docking places, portico- travelift crane, services in the squares, more than reasonable prices for visitors, which are bonus based on a greater stay of the foreign yacht. Its sailor is considered one of the best formed in the country with 24-hour surveillance service, while the Villa de Baiona has specialists in the different needs that may be needed. The Social Building is of high quality and is the work of the great Galician architect Jesús Valverde Viñas, also offering a high quality hotel, within the offer of the Parador. The Club was basically created in the 1960s to promote the traffic of visiting ships, and this vocation remains latent today, highlighting many hundreds of ships from all over the world in its facilities. The Monte Real Club de Yates is the "The essence of beauty".

For more information:http: / / www.mrcyb.es /

Text: Manuel Pedro Seoane (MRCY Manager 1980-1988 and Regatas Director 1989-2000)
Photographs: Galicia Tourism, Helena Domínguez Blein, MRCY Archive and Javier de la Gandara Archive