The nautical call "disaster" the possible loss of the Sailing Club

The Association of Nautical Clubs of the Balearic Islands, has expressed its support for the replenishment resource brought by the Club de Vela Port d'Andratx against the car of the High Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands, which grants the practice of the entire marina of Andratx to the company Initiatives Portuàries Mirall de Mar Mallorca.

The entity considers that supporting the resource is a "question of justice and coherence," because otherwise it would mean leaving the only nautical club with social and sports roots in the west of Mallorca without physical or operational space.

"Losing the Sailing Club would be a disaster for the nautical. It is the only entity that, for almost six decades, has demonstrated a serious and sustained commitment to sport in its surroundings," says the Balear Association.

The Balear Association supports the Andratx entity in its appeal to the courts to keep parts of its facilities and to save the sport

The Association adheres to the thesis of the Sailing and Ports Club IB, which defended option 4.1 as the proposal that best suits the spirit of the 2017 Supreme Court judgement. This alternative, the ACNB explains, gives the new concession company more than enough space to develop and rent its marine activity, while preserving the viability of the club and maintaining its social and sports functions.

Option 4.2, finally accepted by the Balear Court of Justice, minimizes the presence of the Sailing Club and seriously compromises the continuity of its sports and social activity. The Balear Association recalls that this proposal was put forward by Ports IB as a subsidiary option, "hence, it strongly draws attention to the fact that the public body itself has not appealed in defence of its thesis and interests, even though the court decision rejects its original proposal."

The Association reiterates its concern at the lack of legal protection of nautical clubs, non-profit-making entities that support the basis of nautical sport in the Balearic Islands and that, despite their social function, are forced to compete in an increasingly speculative port market, which limits access to the sea in the middle economies. The case of Andratx is in addition to those of the Maritime clubs of Mahón, Náutico de Ibiza and Molinar de Levante, who have seen their concessions extinguished for the benefit of companies that have only looked for their economic interest and have abandoned any practice intended for sports promotion.

In this context, the Association calls for sensitivity and collaboration with public administrations and calls on parliamentary groups to discuss the reform of the Balearic Ports Act not to use the nautical clubs as a "mere pretext for their party battles."

"The nautical clubs are public utility entities that do not enter into competition with the marines (no club has presented itself to a competition outside of its concessional facilities) and that deserve a deal in line with our uniqueness," said Antoni Estades, president of the Balear Association.