All the Spanish nautical is elbow to elbow with the Real Club Nautico de Palma

The sports nautical of Baleares, handcuffed by the uncertainty of the Real Club Nautico de Palma (RCNP), today cried out in defense of the sport and against the gentification of the ports. About 2,000 people, mostly athletes, participated in the demonstration called by the RCNP to the cry of "Salvem es club." The response to the concentration far exceeded the organization's expectations. Emerico Fuster, president of the RCNP, described the protest as"historical and demonstrative of the social recognition of the work of the nautical clubs"and thanked"the massive participation of partners, regatists, piragüists and citizens."

The demonstration began at 11: 00 in the morning and concluded about an hour later at the headquarters of the Harbour Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB), where more than a hundred light-sailing and pirage vessels were installed, and banners were displayed with the motto "Save the RCNP."

The athletes Albert Torres, a member of the Spanish pre-Olympic sailing team and world subchampion, and Cristina Graneri, three times the Spanish champion of piragüismo, proceeded, before the concentrated crowd, to read a manifesto demanding greater sensitivity for the work of the club and demanding the conservation of the space where he currently performs his sports activity.

"The regatists and piragüists of the Royal Nautical Club of Palma want to continue to walk with pride the name of our city all over the world, and to do so by flying the gallarate of the historical entity where we gave our first bays and palates. We want to plan for the future, not to forget where we came from. For this we need two things: on the one hand, respect and recognition of the indistinguishable trajectory of those who have preceded us; and on the other, a space in conditions where we can carry out our activity. The nautical clubs are the gateway to the sea, and the sea is our playground. Don't take it from us.", Torres and Graneri said on behalf of their fellow athletes, in which it was certainly the most emotional moment of concentration.

The manifesto, a copy of which was handed over by Emerico Fuster to the president of the APB, Jaume Colom, also claims a"explicit legal recognition"to the social and sports work of the Real Club Nautico de Palma and, by extension, to that of all the other clubs that this morning were concentrated with their sports teams.

"This demonstration is not just from and by the Royal Nautical Club of Palma; it is in favour of social nautical, sport and the right of access to the sea of all citizens"the document, which focuses the claim on two points:"We need two things: on the one hand, respect and recognition of the indistinguishable trajectory of those who have preceded us; and on the other, a space in conditions where we can carry out our activity. The nautical clubs are the gateway to the sea, and the sea is our playground. Don't take it from us."

Manuel Fraga, director of the RCNP, acknowledged being overwhelmed by the success of the demonstration and the solidarity of the other clubs."We knew we could get a lot of people together, but this was amazing. Representatives of many other nautical clubs have come to give us their support, even from outside Mallorca. And those who have not been able to share messages of solidarity on their social networks. Two things have become clear: the first is that the nautical is a great family, with a huge critical mass capable of being mobilized, and the second, in case there was any doubt, is that the Royal Nautical Club of Palma is an institution that is part of the city's heritage and that the Mallorquins feel as their own."

Emerico Fuster trusts that the protest will serve"open your eyes"of the political class and representatives of the Harbour Authority of the Balearic Islands. In this regard, he referred to a specific part of the manifesto:"It is time to move from words to facts, and from well-intentioned political statements to the adoption of measures to ensure the survival of Spanish nautical clubs through the reserve of port spaces for sport."

Jaume de Soler, nautical journalist
www.jaumesoler.net